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INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS.
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Untitled Article
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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.
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India And Indian Progress.
INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS .
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ONE STEP BACKWARDS . Among the energetic measures taken during the revolt , was the appointment of a large body of English residents in -Bengal as " honorary magistrates , " in other words , justices of peace , who rendered most essential services , according to the opinion of the authority under whom they acted—the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal . It admits of no doubt that many districts were preserved from ravage and insurrection by their exertion ? , while in others the cause of peace , order , and progress was maintained . It was not in the natui'C of tilings that appointments so abnormal should be vijwed by the ¦ mandarins and their adherents without horror . The native oflicials have fortified the prejudices of the European officials , and the . latter have moi with sympathy from those fossil specimens of Indian retrogradation , which may still be discovered in some of the offices in L , ea < leuliall Street , and the last of which it is to be hoped will ere long be placed in the Museum . It must be remembered that all the honorai ^ y magistrates were" iriterloper . V . that they do not drink their champagne and chauliowith " , " that-they did not move with " iis " in the first circles of exclusivisin in beleaguered Lucknow , an-d - ( whichis truly dreadful } many of them belong to that abhorred set , the indigo pi a nters , who have fomented that disturbance of mandarin rule , which "we now witness , betokening the fall of that body , and the establishment of the Government of India in the handji of the ablest men , whether Indian or homebred ,, whether covenanted , uncovenanted , military , or political , European , Eurasian ^ or native . The mandarins have designated the indigo planters as oppressors of the natives ; the indigo planters have exposed the inefficiency and deficiencies of the civil service . It was , therefore , to ha expected that the mandarins would , at £ the first opportunity , make a stand for the maihtenanc . ¦ : of their order , and the suppression of the interlopers ; but we had hoped they would receive rio countenance from the statesmen of India , and we are concerned , indeed , to . find ; a rumour already prevalent , which we have alluded to elsewhere , that the instructions have already arrived in India to abolish the honorary magistracies . . . It is publicly affirmed that the measure- does not originate with the Bengal statesmen , for they have reported their approval of the honorary magistrates , but that it emanates from home , under positive orders A reason is alleged for this proceeding , which is , that the honorary ma « f istracies make an invidious distinction between Inglishmen and natives . This can be no real reason ,. because , as . pointed out by the JFJnglis 7 iman , the invidious distinction itself could have been abolished , by appointing competent natives as honox'iu ' y magistrates . The real reason is that the existence ) of honorary magistrates invades the monopoly of power in the hands of the privileged parties , and prevents tliu extension of patronage , So iur Jrom the abolition of the honorary magistracies being any " concession to thu lmtivoK , it is one of the most serious blows that has boyu ahnud at their political udvaiioouient . Xhe prcyalonco of the old system would exclude the natives generally , and more particularly the upper classes , 1 ' rom power ; and tho honorary magistracy was one Btop provided for native progress . Tho mandarins profuas the most devoted uilbution for the natives , whom they overshadow with their protection , and for whom they huvo taken the watchword , " India for tho Hindoos ; " but their system has had the tendency und tho result of destroying the political rights and political iudopondynco of the wholo of the upper classes of India *—a most fatal measure in the peculiur state of sooioty which the country has now reached , As a compensation , they raise up a now sot of orotvturus of their own , m tho shape of tho Ami ah and nativo oflicials , who propagate and preservo tho ancient oppressions of the oountx'y , and are tho most oilloiont onoinios of individual indoi >
ondence or general progress . The aims of those win ,- have been assailed as the enemies of the native ; _^ as the " foreign party "—are very different . Th < . statesmen in the India House , and in theGovernr ments and Commissionerships of India , agree ! with their countrymen in- seeking-to elevate tli ( native . They do not wish to keep up the sove-; reign claims of individuals which are prejudicia to the community ; but they are earnest in pro-. viding for the political education and genera advancement of the natives . One most important measure , which is now taking effect throughout India , is the ' appointment of munieipalcomnii . ^ sioiis and local road -b oards . ; and although these have met with the bitter hostility of the monopolists , they are the means of creating a spirit ' of energy and independence among the , higher classes of t ^ e " community . As a matter oi course ; Englishmen , must be the leading men . in these commissions and boards , because they understand the course of business , jutt us t )) cr are the leading men in the direction of banks , assurance ivilioes , and other , public companies , on the like grounds , and because by sueli co-operation _ they ts-aiiV-up . a ' nuiubyr- of natives , in habits of business . The honorary , niagistracy is another stage of preparation ; " and although hr the firstiltstance it was as a matter of necessity given to Englishmen , i-fc followed in due . course that natives would have , been appointed , as they are in the commissions of the peace iii Calcutta and Bombay . Theabolition of . ¦ the . magistracy is tine , blow to native privilege , and is what must be expected fioni the retrograde party ; and , if successful , they will not end till -they have abolished the rudiments of municipal institutions , to which they ' , constantly . exhibit hostility . The road boards have been repeatedly assailed , and the ' municipal commissioners , in . many cities , are destitute of power . Iii . Ici . h 1 , India at the present moment ,, instead of possessing , . the energetic influence of municipal action , is placed under a scheme of red-tape servitude , to which the administration of France and Prussia is alone . comparable . . . No city in India is allowed a ' mayor , and the municipal commissioners of iv city of half a million of people , are as much under the thrall of the Government , as the pettiest country commune or parish is , in France , under the prefecture and administration . Paternal government , that is to say , despotism , is the principle of the protective party in India , and of a section of theoretical politicians at home . Everything for the State , everything by the State , is their system , while true statesmen seek the reconstruction of India , as they have obtained that of Ireland by fostering independent svrtion . The municipal commissions arc the rudiments of true municipalities , and the lionorary magistracy of the commission of tl » e peace , an institutution most useful for working out the government of a country like India ; and it in to be hoped it will bo so employed , and not abolished . It is , after , all , one of the most ancient institutions of our rule in India ; it was introduced inro J 3 qmbny nearly two centuries ago , and has existed for about-a century at Calcutta . Under this system Englishmen , Ijfindoos , Muliom . eda . nH , » nd Pa races , Imv . e sat together as justices of tho peace , and the only thing to be regretted is , flint tluiir functions have not boon more extensive . This oltieo gives tho Parseo merchant of lJombay an assurance that ho rocoivo 3 a privilege and can guarantee protection , nnd it in regarded " with just estimation . ' The commission of tho peace , in its accustomed form , is woll suited to India , 1 k > ciuisi > , by constituting certain portions , who must bo Englishmen , to bo of tho quorum , without whom no business can bo transacted , a sulHciont security is obtained for tho conduct of those who arc unfniinod and untried . There are , too , in India , the Supremo Courts , with the functions of tho Court of Queen ' s Ucnch , to exorcise a jurisdiction over the justices of tho peaoo , to correct their errors , nnd to punish any malversation . Tho commission of " the peace , if well filled up with Engjishmen , ' oflicial , military , nnd civil , nnd iVooly rocruitcd with natives , would , at tho rate of
3 three natives to two . Englishmen , provide India witl s what it wants— : d good and effective local adnii-3- lustration of criminal justice —and relieve the ¦ country from great difficulties and a vast expense . j As matters now stand , the number of English 2 official magistrates or stipendiaries must be largely - increased , imposing an enormous burthen on the I country ; but by providing for the extension o : - unpaid j ustiees , provision will likewise be made foi L the maintenance by localities of the expenses 6 i criminal administration . " When all tbe _ rajahs and zemindars of a zillah were engaged in its government , there would be less difficulty in levying local ; rates for local improvements . The present magis' terial start' would exercise the functions o ! " stipendiaries in large cities , chairmen of quarter sessions , recorders , and judges of * county courts , improving i . thereby the administration . of justice in its higher branches . In a small city , a captain , a European merchant , and two native merchants ; in the country , a planter and two zemindars would do effectively what is now inefficiently . performed by the ' native oilicial . They would be able to examine the witnessesin the vernacular and the record would be m Eh'li ? h , while they would be independent of the amlah . A remedy for any abuse would always be obtainable before the Supreme Court , while there would- be . tW usual ¦ appeal , in some oases , from petty sessions to quarter session ,- ? , or to the ¦ local recorder . Thus , "instead . of a man 1 / l-nig forty or ' fifty ' ¦' -miles , away from a > magistral ' . ' , \ mhm a very few y-cars justice would be accessible at his own door ; as it is in England ; a regular system of petty sessions being ; organised over tho . country , and . magistrates being available in every lie ^ hbourhood . * . " ' , '
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LATEST IXDIAX INTELLIGENCE . Tjie Culi-utta mails have arrived with news to the 9 th of February The intelligence is not important . India is a train quiet . . There are riots in the Deccan , and riots ' reported from Travancore ; and there are sepoys who still refuse to submit in Tiehnr ; but war , for tire first time since May , 1857 , has censed . The " people of Oude have at last comprehended their position , and returned to their ordinary avocations . 433 forts have been levelled , and the number of arms surrendered will shortly reach a million ' stand . ¦ Tantia Topee has disappeared . He and his men entered the desert of Bikaneer , and . have hover . been heard of sinco . Apparently , they have split into small parties , but whether to disperse or to reunite ut some point still further to the ndrtli is not yet known . Neither he nor Ferozc Shah has been capturcd * With regard to the issue of Exchequer bills the 77 /// e . nor . cent ., and another at 6 'J- pov cent ., daunted speculators , by making them believe afi per cent , loan imminent . Tho truo reason of those failings is tlio porvorso aocroqy always maintained by tho rndiim Govcrninont about its financial position . No capitalist can obtain tho smallest idea how much Government is Jlko . ly to want , or whon . lt willceaso borrowing ! ana confidence , particularly among natives , Is destroyed by financial coups de theAtrv " Tho post of Foreign Secretary for India , vacate * bv tho promotion of Mr . Ulphin . itoiu ; , lias not yot been llllod up . It is general y surmised that Mr . Beadon , tho Secretary to tho ( ioyernor-Gencral , will bo named to fill tho vacancy . Certainly u more ftpproprlato nnd popular nomination could hardly be made . IXDIAN I'OI-ICK . A recent Culcultn letter says that : — " Mr . Montgomery In a singly night ( aotli January ) dismlssod 1 ovory member of tho old police force , which was as corrupt , aa cowardly , and ns mofllolont as
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¦ * ¦ *¦ ' . ' ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦ . '¦'¦ ¦ ' ' . . . ¦ '¦ ¦ . . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦' .. ' . . . a ^^^^ fg ^ THE LEADEB . 375
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Leader (1850-1860), March 19, 1859, page 375, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2286/page/23/
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