Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-10-23

India So far, the barbarites. OF tnas PEG
pie are unsquallsd in history. unless II b
In the bloody massaeres Of the whites 0
this country by the Indians, at the instiga
ton Of the British, Can it DO retribu
ton, 50 long delayed2 On this point
more hereafter. .,f.sf 4
As we wish our paper to be useful q
the young, we devote this article NOR
particularly 10 what India Is, and where
is. Take your msp--any School Atlas
open to the map Of Asia, and you viii SCI
the Southern psninsulas marked IsDrA.-
The scene of the present bloodshed is ye
chiefly on the Ganges.. Most Of that coun
tryiis virtually British Colony, not un
like, in reality, the American colonies
prior to the Revolution. Its history how
ever is an anomaly While all others have
been Indifferent, a company Of Brit
ish MERCHANTS have gone on extending thei
own possessions, and the dominions o
their sovereign, over one Of the oldest and
most fruitful regions Of the earth. The
immense resources and. gigantic proportion,
Of this vast colonial empire, were at length
slowly attracting public attention, when
news Of the present out break turned all
eyes in that direction. ..a...f :. T
In It's physical. character it is vast, yari-
Gus, and rich in whatever contributes tc
mans material or mental wealth. But &c
the Christian and philanthropist its people
present ths most interesting, though moi
the most pleasing. objects Of thoughk--
Nearly two hundred millions Of people
there dwell In vast cities, and in innumer-
able towns and villages, with wide spread
though imperfect civilization, and often
displaying barbaric magnifcence quite
unknown even 10 European royalty. And
yet these almost countless thousands are
little mors than an unorganized mass, des-
tituse ofnearly evry attribute Of nationality
an dalmost without social order. OF the
character Of the country they seem to be
entirely ignorant, and the sentiment Of pa
triotism appears 10 have gone no further
with them than tte merest clanship. Re-
bellion and internal strifes have been their
habitual pastimes from the earliest an
tiquity, and probably this Inconsistency un-
der authority. quite as much as religious
fanaticism, has brought about the present
troubles. The territories Of the rulers of
any given period were without definite
limits, and the ages Of dynasties were Of
ten measured by the lifetime Of their
founden- 81 fsalaes esgs lss
The wealth Of India Is proverbial,
and apparently inexhaustibls. From the
earliest antiquity merchants Of Persia, Ara
bia, Syria. and Egypt enriched themselves
by her commerce, and when Europe awoke
from her sleep Of ages, and entered upon
her career Of Improvement, her frst efforts
were directed toward gaining share of
the trade Of the East England, at length,
entered the field, and soon outstripped all
her rivals. Agreeably to the policy Of the
times, the East India Company was char
tered by Queen Elizabeth, and vested with
the monopoly Of the commerce Of the
East; and advancing by steady progress
this giant company. under the protection
Of the imperial government now holds
and governs all that immense region, a
territory Of equal extent with the whole
Of Europe except Russia, and a population
yet greater in proportion. The achiev-
msnis by which these stupendous results
have been effected are among the marvel
Gus realities Of history, compared with
whichthe tales ofromance are tame and spir
itless. In future times they will, perhaps,
constitute the most deeply interesting por-
ton Of the history Of our age. The pres
ent position Of Indo- British affairs pre-
sents, perhaps, more interest than any
other current question Of the Old World.
For long time that region has been tho
field Of an extensive and successful mis-
sionary enterprise, TO which the British
rulers have extended, at least, a protection
from Hindoo and Moslem violence, and so
afforded an opportunity for tho free exer-
else Of Christian philanthropy. Who has
not read Of the God-river Ganges, and
sung Of nNHefai eg 80 - hn
"rndiAs coral srasd," - 10 II.
A recital Of the idolatry and hsathsnism
Of that country where "''
"Evsry prospect plss.ss, and only man is vIis,"
has stirred many christian heart, and
many a devoted one to 60 in
quest Of the lost and degraded there
Many OF our readers win remember the
solemn ceremonies Of such devotion in
Indiana q, few years ago. Among the
chief sufferers are these missionaries.
We do not doubt the ultimate result
India will be christianized. How far the
British sword may. DO necessary. we cam
not tell. How many precious lives win
be sacrificed we know. not nor why the
carries on his work by such, in
Though the end Is not
yet we doubt not the success Of tho Brit.
sh government With less than CITY
hsusand European troops, scattered over
he whole territory, tho mutlny has been |
held In chsck from the beginning, aud owl. |
lently the tide OF events turned against
he insurgents; while already very large
e-sniorcsment has sailed from England to
the hands Of their countrymen
n the hour Of their extremity, and all the
'ower Of the British nation is pledged TO
ice the conflict brought to a satisfactory
ssus. Very soon. therefore, II may DO an
ieipated that all India will lie Ia the most
complete helplessnoss at the feet OF her
aritiah ,.,t,.,,.,.,x. And tkA., .,lfi An -. |