Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-01-16
Persia md England.

The war now beginning to progress in the East, 10
attracting even more attention than the European
difficulty between Prussia and Switzerland because
the belief is generally entertained that before the lat
ter eventuaes in actual hoslties, the powers of Eu
rope will intervene TO settle it in way-not be-
cause the monarchies would not be willing enough 10
the little mountain republic crushed, but because
they know that there in their midst the ele-
ments of revolutionary explosion to which the out
break of war between monarchy and republic,
in their very centre, might apply the match which
would again throw things into state of confusion,
more disastrous to themselves, perhaps, than the events
of 1848 All the unquiet spirits of France, Hungary,
Italy, Poland and Germany, would flock to the
standard of the Cantons, and the fire would be apt 10
spread to the adjoining States.
But this contest between England and Persia is
another matter. 1t is in reality the beginning of the
final struggle which has been approaching for years.
and TO meet which England and Russia have long
been shaping their policy Persia alone divides them
in Central and Western Asia China in Eastern and
Northern Asia. Hindostan lies about the middle of
the Eastern coast and is the great point.
Looking at her history from the earliest ages, Per.
sa is one of the most remarkable countries in the
world if not the most remarkable. Now ruled by a
Sahean Presthood-then adopting the Magian system
of Zoroaster, pepetuaed to late period by the Cue
bres or re-worshippers, and at the present tire
MISUNDERSTANDING has tried nearly all faiths but
Christianity. Tracing back by written record or au-
thentic tradition, distinct nationality to over a
thou and years before our Saviour-springing up tc
an almost universal Empire under Cyrus and his sue
cessors-suhjected by Alexander, and again by the
Palthians- becoming again prosperous under Chos
and!his lnke-swep over by the tide If Arabian
conquest devastated by Genghs Khan and Tanner.
lane, by Tartars and Aghans-she has still emerged
from each CONFUSION distinct and seperate nation
atty and in her turn rolled back the tide of conquest
Little changed in any way, by the commissions through
| which she has passed, she is even despotism
such as she was twenty five hundred years ago. Hel
people are the most polished and intellectual in thu
East-braver, but not more faithful than the average
| of Asiatics.
| At present, the Persian dominions occupy space
of nearly half million square miles, with some
twelve millions of population, and revenue of fit
teen 10 twenty million dollars a year. The stand
| ing army is said to amount to about 20, 600, bu
sweled on occasion 10 ten times that number, by a
sort of feudal levy. There are in the Mahommedar
| Church-lt we may so call 1.-TWO great sects,-
those who recognize the three first Calphs after Mo
manned, and those which do not The body of The
Mosem world belongs to the fFst-the Persians tC
the second and are therefore, hated by their fellow
( Mohammedans with an intensity even greater than
that visited upon Christians that, in any contest
they would be isolated from the sympathy or assis
lance of their coregionists of the East, whose feel
ings would all be with England and against Persia
and Russia. Russia touches Persia on the North
| West-at the Caspian Sea-wbere she has IN army
corrs of 10000 men, and can send in more, although
with difficulty, the shores of that sea being swampy
and unsuted to the movement of troops and lis har
bors of little no account, besides being of difficult
access from the interior of Russia, from which
supplies must be drawn.
On the east of Persia are Afghanistan and Belo.
chistan. The history of the disastrous British occu
patton of Cabul some years ago is generally known
since that time, however, British gold and British