Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-07

o. A century ago this very year, Suraja Dowlah,
Nabob Of Bengal, captured " The Town of Calcutta
and Factory of Fort William" and forced large
humber of the English into a close and confined
room the prison of the Garrison, where the greater
number died of sufocation, and the Black Hole of
Calcutta became historical. The suferings of that
awful night of confinement form tale Of horror to
appa the boldest.
Surajah Dowah and his race have passed away.
His SUPERIOR too, the Sovereign of Delhi, and para
mount ruler OF India, has also gone from the stage,
and his descendants are mere pensionaries. Fer
fifty years even the shadow of independent power
has departed from its ancient seat n the imperial
city. In 1sO3 Delhi became part and parcel of the
territories of the East India Company.
This anniversary of the Black Hole of Calcutta is
marked by another terrible outbreak in India-by
hosilities on larger scale, by suferngs mote ex-
tensve if less terrible. It is not now Suraa Dowlah
and his fierce but undsciplined hordes, attacking a
weak trading post. 1t is not now mere unframed
valor against Western discipline. 1t is vast insur-
recton throughout an immense empire, empire
kept in subsection by native troops. The discipline
that England has taught these men, has been turned
against herself regiment after regiment of the Indian
army has mutinIed and others of doubtful ideli-
ty Terror overspreads the land, and no mans life
is safe. The fabric built up by Give and Hastings,
and Wellington, and CORVALLIS and Cough, trembles
TO its base and England is now entering strug-
gle expensive and more threatening han her Rus
sian campaign. She might fear that Russia would
sometime find her way to the Indies, but still she
boosted that then, the soldiers of the Northern
power, exhausted by their terrible march, would be
overwhelmed by the masses and hurled back by the
valor of her Sepoy army of 100000 men, whose
fidelity had never been known to waver in time of
war. But at moment of profound peace, that
boasIed army has wavered. Its arms have been
turned against those who organized it for the defence
of their own power. The struggle in India assumes
wider dimensions, and more porentous character.
Even now it is less the suppression of muiny than
the reconquest of India, that the British before
them Troops must be hurried off to the East as
earnestly as ever they sought the Crmea, and the
burdens of the Russian will most probably become
beIittled by those of the Indian difficulties.
Fourteen thousand men are Immediately to 60 from
England, and other large bodies getting ready
The Chinese war must languish-the forces used
against Persia must hurry back for the defence of
India-heavy debts must be accumulated by the In.
dian and the Imperial Government, trade must be
checked and life sacrificed, and then, even after the
rebellion has been misunderstanding that it will be
crushed, long years must elapse before mutual
idence can be restored before the native Indian
my can be relied upon, if it be again. Is
not this indeed serious business? We love not
England much, but we doubt if any regular govern
ment be not better than the state of misrue and law
essness which prevailed in India before the rise of
British power il that country, and feel that the
fall of that power there, would put back all hope of
civliz alton in Asia for untold generations
We think she will succeed this time, bat at fear
full cost. War and glory and foreign dominion are
expensive things.