The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-04
rron n, y. Y. ysurnal q oonmercs.
'V1It1EI N7tl1I11IN
TgE CAUSES ON THE INDIAN REVOLT.


m THE CAUSES on THE INDIAN REVOLT.
The belief seems 10 be gaining ground in wellinfonned
% in England that the revolt in Bengal insiigated
he Mohamnledan intrigue and that the story Of the cart
ADDE'S was a cunnngly devised scheme to excite the f
nacal preudces OF the high caste Bahminl soldiers
and by thus causing the only class with in their
hands and capable Of making stand 10 orsake their
ooors To effect temporary junction between the Mo
banmedals and Hindoos the avowed object Of which Is
10 break the yoke Of the foreigner while the real object
10 restore the dominion OF the Mogul Emperors
Aparl from the mutiny Of the soldiers and the
OF which they guilty there has been no act OF me
Haoos which indicates any settled purpose so far they
are concerned; while the only really revolutionary acts
that have been committed denote attempt TO re-
store the Mogul dynasty in the person OF the King
of Delhi and ayengc the wrongs of the King OF Dude
and other Moscm princes whose territory has been
nexed by the British government, Next to Delhi the
ancient seat OF the Mogal empire the ying point OF
the rebels Is Lucknow the capital of Dude the most
Gently annexed Mohammedan territory The time chosen
for this attempted restoration OF the Moslem rule is the
hundredth anniversary of Gives great victory at Plassy
and if these leading facts viewed in connexion with
the tradition which is said to prevail in Bengal that the
Kooapanie Sahb shall reign for hundred years and
then be ovsrown and with the mysterious distribution
Of cakes aud lotusfowers among the villagers and the
throncd king of Dude and his minister well that
OF other Mohannedan princess and the Mussulman
spacy at Calcutta and Ashabad. it does not appear
violent presumption to suppose that the Mohammedans
are the chief nstgators Of the revolt although the Hin
doc soldiers have been the most prominent actors in it.
If this view Of the question be accepted it would also
explain in great the cartridge excitement and
how soapparently tihng prctext has produced such
mighty results Among people VIGOROUSLY cxcitable
and fnatc the high caste Hindoos in all that relates
to their social distinctions and religious observances
more eecal excite them to revolt could have
been taken than to convince them that the design
of the British government TO sorce them to become
Christians by making them violate Of the most sacred
of their religious oservances and thus reduce them from
their high social position priests to the wretched con-
dtion OF Pariahs oucasts 10 comprehend the terror
with which high caste Hndoos regard this degradation
IL should be known that from the moment Hindoo be-
comes a Pariah, he is denied the common rights of hui
manity he is deserted and oathed by his wife, parents
children and friends his property is forfeited he Is ex
Guided from all the charities and social connexions Of
life and his very touch is considered contamination 1t
matters not that the offence voluntary the reverse
the punishment is the same and subsequent act of the
offender no amount of contrion, restore him
to his former position To for vile purpose any
mart of the reverod idol of Hindoo worshp-the COW
would he visited with this fearful punishment, and
be considered one OF the greatest acts Of sacrege
that a Hindoo could commit. 1t would appear
almost incredible that this reported attack on their
religious belief by the British officials should obtain
such universal credcnce amo:-g the Sepoys but the
p,reson that it was the design of the British to
throw their faith does date from the alleged discovery
Of the offensive substance in the cartridges The aboli
lion Of the Suite or elfmmoation of widows the per-
mission of widows rcmarry the establishment of Eng
lish schools native children and the rapid spread OF
European ideas and institutions which have taken place
Within few years have generated deepseated distrust
az the designs of the government and rendered 1t much
more easy for interested ntrgucs to persuade the Sepos
who are brought Immediately in connection with the
government that 1t the intention of the latter to CO.
erce them into breach Of the laws of caste, pre-
liminay step to the total overthrow of their idols and
lipous institutions To make the more credible,
and at the same time establish community of feeling be-
tween the HndosS and their Mussulman comrades, the
latter pretended that pig fat which they hold in re
gio,ls abhorrenee was mixed with their cartridges for
the same purpose bulIocas fat mixed with thoe
Of the Hindoos
In the absence Of positive evidence therefore, thl
real cause of the revolt it is probable that 1t originate.
with the Mohamcdans, the former masters of India I'M
til dispossessed by the British II such to be the
ease IL may add to the difficulty the British army will
have in subdung the outbreak but IL will by
add to the danger the British dominion in India The
Mohamn,edans constitute but small portion Of the pop
ulation Of Bengal The nonmiIitary Hindoos Of that
presidency continue well affected, and whom once the
sepoy rebels have been brought to justice and punished
there little chance that the Hndoo population win be
induced aid in their TO their most griev-
ous and tyrannical foes that they - forget what
they had to suffer under the Mohammcdan dominion,
when they constantly prey to every lawess Nah
rata chief Mussuman lieutenant of the Mogul tynnt
Their present lot may be hard and oppressive but it u
ncomparay better than that which they had to endure
before the establishment of British dominion.
Washington Aqneduct.