DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9550#0254
204
THE BRAHMUNICAL MAGAZINE.
if any natives of low origin become Christians from
the desire of gain or from any other motives, these
gentlemen employ and maintain them as a necessary
encouragement to others to follow their example.
It is true that the apostles of Jesus Christ used to
preach the superiority of the Christian religion to the
natives of different countries. But we must recollect
that they were not of the rulers of those countries
where they preached. Were the missionaries likewise
to preach the Gospel and distribute books in countries'
not conquered by the English, such as Turkey, Persia,
&c, which are much nearer England, they would be
esteemed a body of men truly zealous in propagating
religion and in following the example of the founders
of Christianity. In Bengal, where the English are the
sole rulers, and where the mere name of Englishman
is sufficient to frighten people, an encroachment upon
the rights of her poor timid and humble inhabitants
and upon their religion, cannot be viewed in the eyes
of God or the public as a justifiable act. For wise
and good men always feel disinclined to hurt those that
are of much less strength than themselves, and if such
weak creatures be dependent on them and subject to
their authority, they can never attempt, even in
thought, to mortify their feelings.
We have been subjected to such insults for about
nine centuries, and the cause of such degradation has
;been our excess in civilization and abstinence from
the slaughter even of animals ; as well as our division
into castes, which has been the source of want of unity
among us.
It seems almost natural that when one nation
THE BRAHMUNICAL MAGAZINE.
if any natives of low origin become Christians from
the desire of gain or from any other motives, these
gentlemen employ and maintain them as a necessary
encouragement to others to follow their example.
It is true that the apostles of Jesus Christ used to
preach the superiority of the Christian religion to the
natives of different countries. But we must recollect
that they were not of the rulers of those countries
where they preached. Were the missionaries likewise
to preach the Gospel and distribute books in countries'
not conquered by the English, such as Turkey, Persia,
&c, which are much nearer England, they would be
esteemed a body of men truly zealous in propagating
religion and in following the example of the founders
of Christianity. In Bengal, where the English are the
sole rulers, and where the mere name of Englishman
is sufficient to frighten people, an encroachment upon
the rights of her poor timid and humble inhabitants
and upon their religion, cannot be viewed in the eyes
of God or the public as a justifiable act. For wise
and good men always feel disinclined to hurt those that
are of much less strength than themselves, and if such
weak creatures be dependent on them and subject to
their authority, they can never attempt, even in
thought, to mortify their feelings.
We have been subjected to such insults for about
nine centuries, and the cause of such degradation has
;been our excess in civilization and abstinence from
the slaughter even of animals ; as well as our division
into castes, which has been the source of want of unity
among us.
It seems almost natural that when one nation