New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-12

Of the Epalish in India, in tho character, NO
of traders, but of ruler is in itself alone such
shock. not merely to tho prejudices Of the hin
does and Mohammedans, but to universal and
deep planted sentiments Of human nature that sh'
addition of such grievances IS those which MI
Disra.l would make the occasion Of the pending
revolt, would be but mere drop in the bucket
mere dust in the balance. In reducing tho native
prices to the condition, at the best Of mere de-
pendent allies, obliged in all things Except - to
oppression and plumber Of their immediate suhjects)
to conform to the wishes-in other words, to the
eommanda-of the English, ample ground of dis
satisfaction had already been given-dssatsfc lion
which would never fail, however scupulous'J care
full of change for the future the Indian Adninistra-
ton might be, to find abundant pretenses for an
outbreak whenever favorable opportunity seemed
to present itself Still more must this be the case
with those princes whe, stripped Of all substantial
authority, are merely left, Mr.. Disrae expresses
it, the pomp and pageantry Of power in the shape
of good round pension. 1t was not any feeling
of gratitude to the English-it was not any per-
sonal satisfaction or hearty acquiescence in their
rule-that for seventy eighty years past has kept
these princes quiet. II has been nothing but the
fear lest, in attempting to get more, they might
lose what was still left them.
Then, again, a. to religious prejudces. 1t
hardly worth while for the Indian Government, or
the English people in India, TO attempt to eonssa'
their adherence of the cruel idelatry Of the Hin.
10 Ill L. Ehsyf of
vsn to tho extent Of permitting them to strip o.
their property such natives as may change their
religion, or still to permit Hindoo widows to DO
burnt under the superintendent Of British officials,
out of craven fear of offending prejudices, al
ready outraged to the last degree By the mere fact
that slch low caste, or rather no caste, people
had become the rulers of India. Prsjudces OF that
kind are apt to become all the stronger the more
they are humored; and, since it is impes-
sibs for the English to adopt the policy Of confSrm
~ to the Hindoo faith, nothing is likely to be
gained BY yielding to that faith, on points where to
yield would hardly be construed by tho natives
themselves as anything else than confession of
weakness.
The held which the English have gained, whsth-
er upon the respect, the gratitude, or the fears
Of the native population Of India, they have gained
not upon the conservative principle Of keeping
everything as it is, so much e1eoled BY Mr. Dis
rael, but upon the exactly opposite principle Of
innovation and change If the English rule has at
this moment any moral hold upon tho people Of
India, it is based entirely upon the idea that tho
extensive innovations introduced BY the English
have On the whole been beneficial to the country.
It is based also, to certain extent upon the idea
that the English, in point of intelligence and NOR
ais, as we'll a. in arts and arms, are superior 10 the
natives This idea is not to be maintained BY con.
forming in all things to native Institutions and
prejudices 1t is the prerogatve of 81 perior intel
lixence to introduce changes and innovations. The
very fact of the presence of the English in India
makes it necessary and inevitable that the old
heather manners and institutions Of the country
should give way, faster or slower, 10 European
ideas. As it would be absurd and suicidal for the
Indian Government to attempt to prevent this
modification, 30 nothing is to be gained BY pre-
Tossing On Indifference to it, Its progress is the
most papable proof of English power. We can
not but think that If the history Of the English in
India presented fewer instances of conformity to
tie customs of the Countrywide custom, especially,
Of extracting from the unhappy cultivators the last
rupee that could be squeezed from them-if it e1'
hibited somewhat lesi rapacious pursuit Of power
ard money and little more zeal to introduce civ
ilized usages and Christian ideas-we cannot but
think that with such a history the hold of the
English On India would be, to say the least quite
ss strong as at present.