Answer by George Combe to the attack on "The constitution of man,", contained in "Nature and Revelation harmonious ... by the Rev. C.J. Kennedy, Paisley."

  • George Combe
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Answer by George Combe to the attack on "The constitution of man,", contained in "Nature and Revelation harmonious ... by the Rev. C.J. Kennedy, Paisley.". Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/26 page 8
    8 Here, then, we see the Mahomedan conquerors fused into similarity to their subjects in their physiological qualities-— the chief distinction remaining between them being in their religions. This presents the greatest obstacle to their being- combined and acting as one people. One consequence of this amalgamation of blood has been that the Mahomedans have lost much of the natural superiority of race which they possessed when they conquered the country ; and this corresponds with history, for I read that their empire was falling to pieces when the British conquests began, and that our rule became possible by the natural dissolution of theirs. If I am right in these facts, the only question that remains is—Whether it is either the duty or the interest of Great Britain to take upon herself the conquest and government of such a country ? The Mahomedans lost their strength and their empire by amalgamation. What, then, are our prospects of maintaining a permanent dominion in India P We cannot live and multiply there ; and we recoil from amalgamation by intermarriage. We must, therefore, rule by the sword, and keep up our numbers by constant immigrations of Britain's best sons and daughters. If we abjure plunder and extortion, I do not see how we can enrich ourselves by our conquest. Granting that our government will be more beneficent and just than any of the natives could establish, is it our duty to act as their guardians and governors ? Look at the pages of history. England had a heptarchy, and perpetual wars raged between her petty kings: Germany had eighteen Sovereign Princes who fought furiously for centuries with each other. Did the people of those days sigh for foreign conquerors to extinguish those contests ? Europe has now many Kings and Emperors who, to this day, lead hostile armies into each other’s territories, and try to conquer. Do we now pray for a more powerful and more highly gifted race to come and conquer us all, and rule us in peace and justice ? Our civilised nature re- volts at the proposition; and how much more must the nature of a semi-barbarous race—who feel the pride of independence more strongly than the emotions of beneficence and justice— be affronted by it ? We are agreed that the natives of India never can love us or our yoke, because we are conquerors and foreigners. Let us not, therefore, force unacceptable peace and justice on them, which they do not prize at our hands. What we call peace and justice must appear to them oppression, because conquest poisons its source. Let us, then, restore order, and devise means to slip out of our conquered territories as soon as this can be advantageously accomplished,—I am, &c. Geo. Combe.
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image