Page:The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia (IA journalindianar00loga).pdf/46

 ends, than of the economist for his, to take every practicable measure for the improvement of the external condition of the natives of the Archipelago, We need not now suffer our minds to be disturbed by any misgivings as to the benefit derivable from European influence. In the first place, the influence hitherto has not been that of Europe in her noblest characteristics; or the lower and more selfish have so much predominated that they have not yet dreamt of Europe in her earnest devotion to the bettering of humanity, her pure and deep love of ail truth spiritual and physical, and her ever extending knowledge of the secret springs of nature. For, altough [sic] we fully appreciate the earnest and noble labours of the missionaries who are found in many of the islands, we cannot be blind to the fact. that their numbers and resources are, as yet, far too limited to make more than a slight impression an the great field which lies around them. In the second place we have no choice. We may deplore that same tribes, happy in their simplicity and guilelessness, should be roused from their repose of peace to pass through the turbulent period which separates man first awaking to a sense of new wants and setting out on his career of dissatisfaction and action, from man when civilization has thrown off its early vices and evils, and is bringing all human wants and desires into harmony. But we cannot, if we would, arrest the march of events; and as the necessities and enterprize of China and Europe are yearly more and more invading the recesses of the Archipelago, and the most secluded tribes must in a short time be brought within the circle of general economical intercourse, we must dismiss from our minds distrust and hesitation, and substitute in their place, the fact that this intercourse is now most extensive, will soon be universal, and is a mighty agent for good as well as for evil.

Unfortunately the Chinese, who are so rapidly spreading, can only corrupt and debase the natives. Living but for gain and merely physical enjoyment, and pursuing these objects with a combination of the most mature patience, laboriousness, duplicity, craft and often fraud, which is the more dangerous from the easy, open, plain and plausible manner with which it is accompanied, the Chinese flow into every opening which European powers effect whether by supplanting or weakening native governments. If every