The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-20
cA....l..i,x m indie.

Christianity In India.
The House of Lords have lately acted upon
this subject, BY the indefinite postponement Of
A motion Of the Duke Of Marlborough, con-
,emplating suc- change Of policy in India
a. would be likely to facilitate the extension
Of the Christian religion. The Duke of MARI
borough advocated the measure, for which
nearly two thousand petitions had been sent
up to the House of Loris, while Lord
BRorGHAM, Lord ELLENBoRoUen and others
spoke in opposition.
No one can question the wisdom or the JUS
tice of disclaiming policy OF inseTferehee :"
an official or compulsory way, with the reh-
sion of India. Fanatics. who won'd ioiSo
their religious views upon others, pursue
course more likely than any other TO be fatai
~ their own purposes Nor do we question
thu respect for Christianity, of that majority
IN the House of Lords which has concluded to
,sh.re 20 the old policy of the English Gov
ernment. with respect to religion ia India
Ru, now. that they have determined not to
interfere with the faith of the Hindoo in
that country, We hope the petitioners will
be permitted to amend their petition, and
pray the British Parliament no longer TO in
terfe.e with the Christian faith in India. For
thaN 10 thV phiy Aibu VI WIN Ac-
ligion in India which they have ever prac-
ticed, and to this, it seems, they are determined
TO adhere.
1t is said that the Hindoos are more invete-
rately welded TO their religious ideas and
ceremonies than any other people on the face
of the earth; that they are shrewd and intel
igent, and look with extreme suspicion upon
every action which they can possibly construe
nto design to convert them from their cher
shed faith. This is all true, and, being true,
ney cannot understand how it Is that religion
Of less importance in the eyes Of their rulers
han in their own. They see them protesting
% believe in a system of faith which COM
mauds its apostles TO disciple all nations. and
II the same time pretendjng,-for in their eyes
4 is all a pretence,-to have no intention
shatever of converting a single soul of the
hundred million OF heather over whom they
nold sway The Hindoos, naturally subtle,
toubIe- IN inded and treacherous conclude that
All this is a menstrous sham, and that, by some
-ecret and underha nd contrivance, the English
will seek to accomplish that which they dare
not attempt openly and above board. The
creased cartridge they at once bounced upon
Us n GRITTY device Of the British Government
'sa,nst their religion, and the vast insurrec-
non of India was the result undeniably the
result, traced TO that cause and proved to be
80 by the ablest writers and soldiers in the
Government service in the East. 80 that with
al the excessive caution of the English not
I'd offend the religious prejudices of the Hin
docs, an accidental Oversight (which NAV
happen again in regard to some supposed
.rifie-prnduced an explosion which shook
the British Empire in India to its foundation
How much more manly and honest would
it he for England TO avow herself Christian in
her Indian possessions as well as in her own
island and, whilst she disclaims all desire or
intention 20 force her religion upon her sub
iects. to make no secret of her desire that thew
should adopt the Christian faith, and, above
all. no. to prescribe her own religion and
nut under the ban those Hindoos who are
along been doing in India, and what it would
seem from the late vote in the House of Lords,
she intends to continue doing. A Court Mar.
tial was actually held on one occasion at a
place near the very spot where the late mu >
tiny commenced, for the purpose of investi-
eating the case of a chaplain charged with
being in trument al in the conversion of Hin =
doc soldier The soldier himself, one of the
gallant, faithful reliable men in the whole
army, was put on the retired list, and never
after permitted to seek honor and promotion
in the battle field. Do not the Hindoos at one
glance see through and despise this policy {!
Let the British Government give its own re-
ligion the same federation it extends to that of
it's subjects, and il will command more re.
sppct and even confidence among the Hindoos
than it can now boast.