On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
< Jer theiir Censors -far exceeded that of the most licentious Free Press . Like a Fr ^ 6 Press , the Censors couki warrant tlie publication of any falsehood ; but , unlike it , were subjected
to no refutation—to no punishment . The Censbr claimed absolute power , and could and did silently suppress truth . The tight of coining- political falsehoods was the exclusive prerogative of the orthodox Doctors of the
Inquisition . This Corporation of Liars , in the full . exercise of their prerogative , invented and propagated their encouraging , animating , additory , translaiory , detractory , defamatory , prodigious , miraculous falsehoods : and no friend of truth was
allowed to expose their slanders , or contradict their assertions . The same evils exist , though not to tire same extent , even under the best governments where Censors bear sway . —To return to the cruel intolerance of the
Inquisition . Assuming that the kingdoms of Asia belonged to Portugal , they pillaged , oppressed and murdered the Hindoos , and threw down their pagodas . All this they did imder the sacred cloak of religion .
Acts of intolerance and oppression having tended to degrade rather than to ameliorate the state of Hindoo society , numbers of pious Missionaries have had recourse to the gentle arts of persuasion . Yet their attempts to overcome the deep-rooted prejudices
of irrational men have proved ineffectual . How , then , it may be asked , in this society to be reformed ? By preserving the most perfect religious freedom , by the exertions of worthy Missionaries and enlightened '
Brahmms , by the virtuous education of youth , by delivering the presa from those odious restraints which have hitherto impeded the progress of civilization , and by the establishment of improved Panehayeta , * and of a rational code of laws suited to the
character of Asians . A glorious revolution is at this foment advancing in British India . Among the popukttioi \ of Bengal a lar ge portion are receiving the rudiments of an improved system of education , and thousands of elementary works are ch ^ talatoing throughout our
* Trial by arbitration—a aort of jury .
Untitled Article
empire . Even Hindoo women , against whom widowhood , and consequent burning alive , are denounced for learning- the alphabet , and who must ; not read the Veda under pain o £ death , have placed their daughters at the
public schools . The Brahmins , Ram Mohun Roy * and the late Bruja Mohuna , the great Hindoo Reformers , have held public monthly meetings at Calcutta for the purpose of freely
discussing the tenets of their religion , and exposing the cruelties and polytheism practised under it . The 3 e Brahmins have also , by their publications , endeavoured to prove that every Hindoo rite has its derivation from
the allegorical adoration of the Deity , and that God alone should be worshiped . Abulfazil supports this opinion . < € It has come to light , V says that wise Mahomedan , " that the g 6 ^ nerally-received opinion of the
Hindoos being Polytheists , has no foundation in truth ; for although their tenets admit positions that are difficult to be defended , yet that they are worshipers of God , and only one God , are incontrovertible points /* In the Institutes of Menu too we read this
sublime sentiment : " Goodness is the very essence of the Supreme Being . God is one whom the mind alone can perceive , whose essence eludes the external organs , who has no visible parts , who exists from eternity , the
soul of all beings , whom no being can comprehend . " The superstitious Hindoo of the present day , on the contrary , deems it heresy not to believe in his rabble of gods , and blasphemy to assert the Unity of the Supreme Being .
The Free Press of Calcutta * is , however , what has operated most powerfully towards the reformation of abuses . Already it has triumphed over superstition in her strong hold . During the last festival of Jagarnaut
there were so few pilgrims present that they were unable to drag the car . The Brahmins called in other aid * but no devotee could be persuaded to sacrifice himself to the Idol . They now talk of removing the Rath to ^ « t more central situation . Let theirLtake it " beyond the sphere of a Free Pte&s ,
* There are seven native presses at work in Calcutta .
Untitled Article
A Letter to a * J > $ putif ~ yfi ih& Portuguese Cortes . # 15 *
Untitled Article
V XVII . 3 H
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1822, page 417, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2514/page/25/
-