The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-08
England and Russia in Asia.

England and Russia in Asia.
We published yesterday an account,
from the New York Herald, of the gigan-
tic projects and movements Of Russia in
Asia. These movements are calculated to
awake . deep and abiding interest in A.
merica. The great and monster of the
North has n foot upon our own cont.
|nent. If he should become sovereign of
the u and governments of north.
ern. eastern and central Asia, with one
half Of the people OF the earth in fealty, o.
verriding them by his Cossacks, and hold
ing them within the grip of his absolute
power, he will present the most formidable
front to human freedom which n system
Of desPotism has ever presented. History
speaks Of none so great. The dynas.ies
of old, under which the teeming millions of
Asia abjectly toiled to crafty the lust of
luxury and power Of one man, and m
times Of n woman, will not compare with
such an extensive and all absorbing en-
pire, as this projected by NICHOLAS Of
Russia. So splendid a project and such
persevering activity in its attainment, are
apt to inspire enthusiasm in some who are
Indifferent to the great results which may
follow. These results interest US more
nearly than we are wont, IN our present
conception of their remoteness, to imagine.
England will have much to do, to check
the growth Of Russian power in Asia, so as
to preserve her India possessions. True,
she has moved onward in India, conquer
ing and to conquer. One Of the English
reviews has traced the progress Of British
supremacy in India, with figures of fear
full magnitude ; fearful, for how much OF
ruth and wrong lie below these swelling
statistics.
"In 1857, not quite a hundred years a.
go. England, besides being mistress Of a
few factories on the coast OF Malabar and
Coromandel, exercised sovereignty over
1852 square miles OF territory, which she
had acquired from the Nabob Of Bengal
Ia 1898, the date of Lord Cornwallis's
permanent settlement, upwards of zoo, 600
square miles Of territory, with a population
little short of 4O, 0OO, 900, acknowledged
her supremacy. The former had grown
in 1913, when the charter was renewed,
to about 3O.0O0 square miles, the latter
to 81. ZOO 900. which again were increased
in 1888 to 400, 1000 square miles, peopled
by at least 100000, 900 Of natives. AT
this day the surface extent of land actually
contributing 10 the India treasury, and
managed by covenanted servants Of the
company. falls little short of6oO 900 square
ln:!!es; while the population will be placed
under rather than above the mark if we
assume that it reaches 100 100000.
ADA H. = 80 lN,n,
Comorin and the Ilimalaya mountains.
and from Bombay to Artacan, there is no:
a ~principality, State or province but is
more or less connected with the British
Empire. by treaties admissive Of the supe-
riority of the stranger. Thus nor,hward
Of the peninsula, extending 10 the centre
we find Cashmere. CHS, Sutledge, Nepaul;
the northeast frontier states. Rajpootna.
Dude. Bundeclund the southwest frontier
states, Berar, Sangeor, Malna and Hyder-
bad, with other less important principali-
ties /; to the south. the Mysore. the Orissa.
Taghires, Travencore, &C., and to the
chieftainships besides. All these present
ing a surface extent of upwards of $780,
200 square miles, and comprising a popu-
~la,ion which has been taken at SO, 1000. 0O0
of souls, are, for every practical purpose,
at the absolute disposal Of the British gov
eminent. Some Of them are connected
with it by subsidiary treaties +; that is to
say. they supply funds for the maintenance
of a given number of troops, which the
British government ~disciplines and officers
others pay tribute, and undertake, in case
OF war, to swell our army with %contingenis
OF which the strength is fixed while the
residue, accepting our protection. hold
themselves bound, when called upon, to
cooperate with US in any contestini which
we may enter. In a word, England has
become far more extensively than could
have been predicted Of the most powerful
Mahomedan Emperors, lords paramount
of India, having vassalage under us whose
aggressive military establishments show
muster-roll, in round numbers, of about
400 900 armed men,"
A onster power! Ard still spreading
Cabul has recently been overrun. The
Irawaddy has been assembled. Burmah
is about to be used as Q frontier !; which
means a ground of vantage for further ex.
cursions. A%fghanistan and Belochistan
IL GukidHu CuoScs WOuiu uu'ho 'h0'A oSS
TIMES with that Of the English power in
India. The Burmese peninsula being O.
pened to the arms Of England and her al
lies, nothing could prevent her from pene'
trating Central Asia nothing but the grea
power Of the Gar, which has preceded
English diplomacy and valor, and has al
ready a foothold upon Chinese soil.
Between these powers q great confic
must take place. The transfer of some
four or five hundred millions Of souls, is il
the contest. Both powers are just nov
busy with diplomatic management. Thu
noise Of the battle is not yet heard but TIT
noiseless elements more potent than arms
ara al work. With jealous and eager ey'
the Muscovite and Anglo Saxon are watch
ing each other, to take advantage Of ever.
false move, or to make holder pushes 70
sovereignty.
In the mean time, the United States can
not remain Indifferent. Russia represent
nothing but despotism, barbaric and ab
sorbing. Anglo Saxon aggrandizemen
means something more than mere lust TO
power. If it does not mean Democracy