The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-01-14
rbe course Of tbe British East India Company,

The course of the British East India Company,
in the s~ubjugation of Hindostan, rs well as in
their method Of government, has been severely,
and to some extent justly commented on But 1t
should be remembered that at the time OF the be-
ginning of the English rule in that Empire, it
was in an advanced state Of decay The glorles
of the Mogul dynasty had eliminated in the reign
of Aurungzebe, and at this period the nation,
subjected, not to the authority of the Grand
Mogul, but to the despotic tyranny of his unscru-
pulous lieutenants, was but q wreck of former
days. The Empire of the Mogul Tartars was
drawing to a close, and in common nature of
events it was inevitable that some great change
must speedily occur. The English anticipated
this change. Commencing their career defen-
sively, they soon found that the shortest way to
restore peace and promote prosperity was to be
come conquer-rs themselves and in becoming
such they but followed the example of the Moguls,
who had subjugated Hindostan with fire and
sword centuries before.
The Mogul power, in its turn, has paled before
the luster of English arms, and under the auspices
of the new invaders another order of government
has been established, which. although far from
perfect, and liable to great abuses, is nevertheless
much superior to that of the olden time. 1t has
ameliorated the condition of the people and we
doubt whether the government of any other con-
quering nation, under similar circumstances,
would have approached nearer the standard of
perfection. The taxes imposed by the company
are oppressive; but they leave the peasants
enough for the support of their families. The
Ep0lscb still focif1v nnrvust man Of tho old Ob,ac-
tionable practices but the most glaring outrages
and inhumanities Of the native chiefs have been
abolished. The horrible custom of suffice or widow
burning has been checked. The Ganges canal,
one of the greatest undertakings of the age, and
now almost completed, will, by a~ffording the use
of water for irrigation to the inhabitants, cover
the great plain between the Ganges and Jumna
with u~nfailing harvests, and thus render famine
impossible in the North Of India, and the Hindoos
will plant their seed with the certainty of reap
ing their crops, unmolested by the robber bands
of Mahrattas and Rajpoots that formerly despoiled
their farms. The Grand Trunk Railroad, con-
under the auspices of the English govern
ment, and now nearly completed from Calcutta
to Lahore, q distance of eleven hundred and fifty
miles, is one of the finest highways in the world.
AN SOhSSSS lin AoSpitdic, cuppOIl mtiiiiS
by the company, are scattered throughout all the
large cities of Hindostan, while the administra-
ton of law and justice among the natives is more
equitable than they have experienced before for
1t is impossible to conjecture with any degree
of certainty, at the present time, the real causes
and origin of the present sudden and unanticipated
war. In the years lS49 and 1850 the eccle-
and civil laws of India ceased to recognize
Hindoo distinctions of caste, thus giving rise
to a wide spread feeling of religious discomfort
and jealousy among the people, which continued
to the time of the breaking out of the rebellion,
and which, connected with other circumstances,
triAing in themselves, but confirmatory in their
minds of the intention on the part of the British
to rob them of their ancient religion, is thought
by many to have been the chief instigating cause.
Others attribute it mainly to the insidious man
agement of the Mahomedans of India, who
actuated by a desire to recover the influential
in connection with the government of
the advent of the European unbelievers had
them, stirred up the Hindoos to the war,
theehope of throwing off the British yoke.
Probably both of these causes contributed to
excite the sedition-united, perhaps, with others
IF which we have as yet received no account.
But although the cause of this rebellion is en-
in mystery, the results which must follow
t are evident. 1t will tend to strengthen and
the power of the British in their
indian provinces, and to bring Hindostan more
directly under British rule. Years may elapse
before the country settles down again to its
ormer condition of contented vassalage. But
that period arrives, the advance Of the na-
ion in all the important attributes of national
greatness, will be more rapid than ever before
md perhaps there are those now living among us
Sho will behold the faith of Bramah and Vishnu
md silva pass entirely away from India, before
he teachings of the disciples of the cross. We
notice in our exchanges a fact in this connection,
worthy of mention. The mutiny has appeared
hitherto in those districts, in which the influence
If the missionaries has been least apparent, while
n the districts where the Christian religion has
made most progress, no signs of mutiny have as
ret appeared. 1t is even asserted Tin the Friend
# China if we remember aright) that in the very
districts in which the revolt is strongest, sepoys
we're not allowed to enlist in the army, if they
lad embraced the Christian faith. Heretofore
of the officers of British India have opposed
he progress of evangelizing the population, but
70 apparent have the good effects of religious
been, that the English press speaks plain
y on the subject.
The House of Mobiles.