按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
n every direction； some of the finest coffee plantations in the world surround the villages； interspersed with extensive rice…fields more than sufficient for the support of the population。
The people are now the most industrious； peaceable； and civilized in the whole Archipelago。 They are the best clothed； the best housed； the best fed； and the best educated； and they have made some progress towards a higher social state。 I believe there is no example elsewhere of such striking results being produced in so short a timeresults which are entirely due to the system of government now adopted by the Dutch in their Eastern possessions。 The system is one which may be called a 〃paternal despotism。〃 Now we Englishmen do not like despotismwe hate the name and the thing； and we would rather see people ignorant； lazy； and vicious； than use any but moral force to make them wise； industrious； and good。 And we are right when we are dealing with men of our own race； and of similar ideas and equal capacities with ourselves。 Example and precept； the force of public opinion； and the slow； but sure spread of education； will do every thing in time； without engendering any of those bitter feelings； or producing any of that servility； hypocrisy； and dependence； which are the sure results of despotic government。 But what should we think of a man who should advocate these principles of perfect freedom in a family or a school？ We should say that he was applying a good； general principle to a case in which the conditions rendered it inapplicablethe case in which the governed are in an admitted state of mental inferiority to those who govern them； and are unable to decide what is best for their permanent welfare。 Children must be subjected to some degree of authority； and guidance； and if properly managed they will cheerfully submit to it； because they know their own inferiority； and believe their elders are acting solely for their good。 They learn many things the use of which they cannot comprehend； and which they would never learn without some moral and social； if not physical； pressure。 Habits of order； of industry； of cleanliness； of respect and obedience； are inculcated by similar means。 Children would never grow up into well…behaved and well…educated men； if the same absolute freedom of action that is allowed to men were allowed to them。 Ruder the best aspect of education； children are subjected to a mild despotism for the good of themselves and of society； and their confidence in the wisdom and goodness of those who ordain and apply this despotism； neutralizes the bad passions and degrading feelings； which under less favourable conditions are its general results。
Now； there is not merely an analogythere is in many respects an identity of relation between master and pupil or parent and child on the one hand； and an uncivilized race and its civilized rulers on the other。 We know （or think we know） that the education and industry； and the common usages of civilized man； are superior to those of savage life； and； as he becomes acquainted with them； the savage himself admits this。 He admires the superior acquirements of the civilized man； and it is with pride that he will adopt such usages as do not interfere too much with his sloth； his passions； or his prejudices。 But as the willful child or the idle schoolboy； who was never taught obedience； and never made to do anything which of his own free will he was not inclined to do； would in most cases obtain neither education nor manners； so it is much more unlikely that the savage； with all the confirmed habits of manhood and the traditional prejudices of race； should ever do more than copy a few of the least beneficial customs of civilization； without some stronger stimulus than precept； very imperfectly backed by example。
If we are satisfied that we are right in assuming the government over a savage race； and occupying their country； and if we further consider it our duty to do what we can to improve our rude subjects and raise them up towards our own level； we must not be too much afraid of the cry of 〃despotism〃 and 〃slavery；〃 but must use the authority we possess to induce them to do work which they may not altogether like； but which we know to be an indispensable step in their moral and physical advancement。 The Dutch have shown much good policy in the means by which they have done this。 They have in most cases upheld and strengthened the authority of the native chiefs； to whom the people have been accustomed to render a voluntary obedience； and by acting on the intelligence and self…interest of these chiefs； have brought about changes in the manners and customs of the people； which would have excited ill…feeling and perhaps revolt； had they been directly enforced by foreigners。
In carrying out such a system； much depends upon the character of the people； and the system which succeeds admirably in one place could only be very partially worked out in another。 In Minahasa the natural docility and intelligence of the race have made their progress rapid； and how important this is； is well illustrated by the fact； that in the immediate vicinity of the town of Menado are a tribe called Banteks； of a much less tractable disposition； who have hitherto resisted all efforts of the Dutch Government to induce them to adopt any systematic cultivation。 These remain in a ruder condition； but engage themselves willingly as occasional porters and labourers； for which their greater strength and activity well adapt them。
No doubt the system here sketched seems open to serious objection。 It is to a certain extent despotic； and interferes with free trade； free labour； and free communication。 A native cannot leave his village without a pass； and cannot engage himself to any merchant or captain without a Government permit。 The coffee has all to be sold to Government； at less than half the price that the local merchant would give for it； and he consequently cries out loudly against 〃monopoly〃 and 〃oppression。〃 He forgets； how ever； that the coffee plantations were established by the Government at great outlay of capital and skill； that it gives free education to the people； and that the monopoly is in lieu of taxation。 He forgets that the product he wants to purchase and make a profit by； is the creation of the Government； without whom the people would still be savages。 He knows very well that free trade would； as its first result； lead to the importation of whole cargoes of arrack； which would be carried over the country and exchanged for coffee。 That drunkenness and poverty would spread over the land； that the public coffee plantations would not be kept up； that the quality and quantity of the coffee would soon deteriorate； that traders and merchants would get rich； but that the people would relapse into poverty and barbarism。 That such is invariably is the result of free trade with any savage tribes who possess a valuable product； native or cultivated； is well known to those who have visited such people； but we might even anticipate from general principles that evil results would happen。
If there is one thing rather than another to which the grand law of continuity or development will apply； it is to human