Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-01
The British Power i'm India.

1t will be seen by the foreign news in another
column that the mutiny of the native British troops
in India has excited the serious attention of the
government; and that the most vigorous measures
are on foot to suppress it. Thirty thousand native
troops, it is stated, have deserted and the disaec
ton pervades in greater or less degree the whole
native population. The London Times of the 9th
July has welconsidered article on the subject, in
which it states succnctly the causes of this result
1t says, "there may have been criminal neglect, "
on the part of the British authorities and officers,
"of the native superstitions. These causes may
have FASTENED, aggravated, and excused the out
break But at the bottom of the whole is the sense
OF su6Jection and the reliance numbers to shake
1t Off" That paper thus sums up the condition of
affairs in India, the apprehcnsons that must natu-
rally be entertained, and the necessity for energy
and vigilance on the part of the government:
4" But the British public, as a whole, looks and
talks as if many like danger had vanished as soon
as known, and if our good fortune or invincible
courage must carry us as easily through a Sepoy
mutiny. Yet what is the fact, and how does that
fact address itself to the geographical ideas of our
continental neighbors? The fact is growing dis
satisfaction and sudden mutiny, long lurking and
eventually breaking out for the length of thousand
miles across the whole peninsula, suppressed with
cautious tact and great display of force at Calcutta
and in the Punjab, but triumphant far at the
Gent capital Of the Mogul empire the prophetic seat
fpower. This is the state of things in territory
where less than 900 Europeans of all kinds hold
in subsection seven times their number of armed
men and population of 17O,OOO,0OO. The meshes
of such fabric cannot he very close The stations
must be very wide apart, the communications diff
cult and slow, the detachments must be numerous
and small, the travellers many, and but feebly es-
~kal N1kLsr L,,k-
pied to in Indian affairs to have become orr.
enalism. can give strength to so limsy web and
lull the tempest that raised, would sweep away
every thread of it. Think how many French troops
are necessary in Algeria. scarcely out of sight of
their native shores, and along thin coast. Yet if
the Hlndoos are not generally lsarlike race, there
are still mixed up with them. and forming the best
part Of the native army numerous races much
stronger and more ambitious. We deal with the
descendants of conqnerors; with those who still
inherit titles of sovereignty; with hardy mountain
ers; with recent marauders; with men whose very
strength and savageness made it polite to enlist
them. The scene Of the long smoulderng discomfort
and the sudden outbreak is vast country, much of
which is little known, but where conspiracy turks
in populations created by ourselves and breaks out
at the very headquarters of dominion. Such
are the hard facts of the case and bystanders who
look at the hard facts must marvel at composure"
The Times is evidently deeply concerned II the
danger is not now very imminent and startling, it
yet sees it in the distance and would guard against
it. The European papers received by late arrival,
contained letter from DR.. Duff, the distinguished
Scottish missionary, dated Calcutta, in which he
gives the causes of the outbreak and expresses ser
Gus fears for the result
Great Britain may lose her hold upon the Indies.
Stranger events have happened IN the histories of
nations. But even if her power should be perma-
nently disputed and il she should retain it only by
constant war, the effect would be disastrous upon
her wealth and upon her future prospects for do
minion. 1t would be step backward in the career
of conquest, which would most seriously affect her
character for inSncibilty and power among the
nations