The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-13

lily laws to prepare to enlist soldiers here. A
hundred thousand men may be had for the ask
ing-greatly to our relief-if the business be IN
dertaken in the right way.
The Gagging OF the Indian Press-A Blum
der OF the Epglsh Government
Of all the indications that come to us relative
to the true state Of affairs in British India none
is more pregnant with assurance of Ill and fore
boding of danger than the announcement that a
censorship Of the press there had been established
by the government
| Such course can be looked upon only as q
confession Of the existence of indefensible wrong
and of determination to perpetuate it, or else
of the utter cowardice and incapacity on the part
of those who govern, to grid on the armor of
truth and meet, like men, the exigencies of the
situation. Surely the press of India, which is
entirely in the hands of men of English blood,
cannot be amenable to the suspicion of treason to
that civilization of which they form so noble and
prominent part The only possible defence
that we can imagine for such step is the fear
that the information Of passing events which the
journals might publish would convey intel
lipence to the dissatisfied masses of ma
tive population, and thus give fuel to
the spirit of rebellion But this argument is per-
fectly mtenable 1t is we'll known to every one
at all conversant with Indian affairs-and we
have had occasion to allude to it in these columns
that the transmission of intelligence among the
native population of India is more rapid and per-
feet than ii is through the regular channels Of the
governing race, with the sole exception of the
lately established magnetic telegraph. As the
native communities are not therefore dependent
on the English press for early Intelligence, and
as the telegraph is entirely under the control Of
the government, and no information by II could
be divulged without the consent Of the authori-
ties, the only effect Of such measure can be to
inspire the civilized world with want Of conf
dence in the intelligence from India and to de-
prive the governing class there of that moral in
fiuence which fearless and uncaring announce
ment of the truth always gives. 1t is in itself a
confession of weakness and fear IN the face Of one
hundred and seventy millions Of discontented
subjects.
But the act itself has higher significance than
that appertaining merely to Indian affairs. At
time when all the civilized nationalities Of the
world, with the single exception Of those spring
ing from the English stock, are receding toward
the absolutism of the dead past; when the press
of France, of Germany, Austria, Russia and
Spain are placed under the gag Of a government
censorship; when the only civilization In the
world that dares maintain the torchlights Of free
speech and free press In its midst IL that which
looks TO England as its mother, that one Of the
divisions of the great Anglican should
find 1t necessary to hide the truth, or should fear
to meet II in the open light of day and before the
whole world, is an abandonment Of what we
Americans hold to be the essence Of our progress
and the soul of our increasing influence ever the
| destinies Of mankind
We are disposed to look upon the present
struggle In India not merely as pertinent to the
rule Of England in that country, but as one Of
| the events that mark the triumphant march Of a
social and political civilization, In which we hold
family interest and play most important
part In that light the American people were
disposed to give to England in the present crisis
not only cordial and hearty moral support, but,
should occasion require (which however, we
have never anticipated something, perhaps, Of q
more tangible and material character. II, how.
ever, England mast sustain any branch Of her
civilization by an appeal to those unworthy
and hitherto un English resorts that characterize
the policy of other nations, we can have nothing
TO do with It, and can give il no support. The
| American people never will, nor can they sym.
| patbize with ANYTHING that dares not meet the
light Of free press If the system that exists in
India is of such character, England owes II not
only to herself, but To Anglican civilization all
over the world TO sweep II away at once, and to
establish one more consonant with the spirit and
tendencies of every people that speaks her Ian
ruage and looks 10 her as the cradle of their
civilization.
WILL KANSAS BE SLAVE STATEi-We fnd
the following In the Albany Journal as an Tex
tract of letter written by Col. Orr, Of South
Carolina, on bis recent return from Kansas