The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-15
The Fall OF Delhi.

The Fall OF Delhi.
The fall of Delhi may be considered the
turning point of British reverses in Hindostan.
As an English writer pithily expresses it, it has
broken the back of the revolt; and although
here and there the sepoys may be able for
time to maintain themselves, it is evident that
the rebellion will soon be crushed out. Even
the desperate circumstances to which the mutt
neers may consider themselves reduced by the
reported determination Of the British to grant
no quarter will fail in protracting the struggle.
The terror inspired by the examples that will
have been made in the captured stronghold of
the insurgents will spread to every other point
held by them and coupled with the fact, now
clearly demonstrated, that Anglo-Saxon valor
can make up for almost any disparity of num-
Der in conflict with them, will c5vvince the
mutineers that no alternatives are left them but
unconditional submission or flight. In view of
the wide extent of British power and influence
they will probably adopt the former. preferring
to trust to their clemency to mourning the risks
Of a fugitive life amongst uncertain allies.
They know we'll that, notwithstanding the
powerful motives Of vengeance with which they
have furnished the British, the creed and prin-
cples of the latter forbid them from indulging
in sanguinary reprisals upon a wholesale scale.
That their leaders will incur all the penalties
of their treachcry and wanton bloodthirstiness
the sepoys are we'll assured, but they are also
too wal acquainted with the principles which
guide civilized nations in their warfare to
doubt the certainty of their securing the Gle
mency of their conquerors by timely submis-
sion. II was the expectation of these results
which rendered the capture of Delhi an event
of such vital Importance to the British arms,
and now that We have reasonable assurance
that its fall il complete we are inclined to
place faith in the anticipations expressed BY the
English journals that this cruel and savage war
is approaching it, end.
The struggle once over, Great Britain will be
left leisure TO reform the abuses that led TO it,
to pave the way by mild and concilietory mea-
surcs for the wider diffusion of christianity,
and TO extend her political and social
influence over the vast regions that
she bas appropriated. This, with the
maintenance Of her political position
in Europe. and a more careful government of
her colonies, will give her sufficient occupation
for the future. In the meanwhile the other two
great European Powers-France and Russia
are both working out their destinies France
IL actively pushing the influence Of her present
political system. and difusing the tone of her
ideas throughout the European continent; and
she has succeeded 10 the extent Of making her
policy the pivot on which the political arrange
men,s of the Continental Courts turn. Russia,
forced back from the approaches which she
had made in the same direction, is directing all
her efforts to the extension Of her dominion
over Central and Southern Asia These-the
three great living nationalities of Europe-are,
therefore, each occupied In the task which their
Importance, their geographical position and their
political destiny seem to have allotted to them.
OF the other nations such ~ Austria, Prussia
and the German and Scandinavian Kingdoms,
we need say nothing Their influence Is but
secondary, and they are liable, at any moment,
to bc dismembered by the throcs Of revolution.
or by the collisions and political necessities OF
the larger Powers.
Wills, Great Britain France and Russia are
working out uncontrolled their respective des-
TIMES, and giving full development to their in
ffnence in the channels which Providence seems
10 have assigned to them, II IL not too much 10
expect that the United States-thc only first
rate Power on this continent shall be allowed
70 accomplish, without interruption, ts national
duty Of extending the benefits Of civilization
and good government throughout every portion
Of IL. If Great Britain in ITndostan. France in
Africa, and Russia In Central and Southern
Asia lay claim to a sort Of divine authority for
their proceedings In those regions, may We not.
with equal reason, allege the humanity and the
necessity Of putting an end to the anarchy, con-
fusion and bloodshed which constitute the nor
NAL condition Of the Central and South Ameri-
can States? We will venture 10 say that no
powerful nation placed in our position ever ex-
hibted half the forbearance that we have done
in regard TO these latter. A time may arrive
when we shall have reason 10 repent of this for
besrance, and when we shall regret not having
pursued the Undertaking and decided course Of
the great European Powers In their relations
with their turbulent neighbors Thus far we
have erred on the side Of moderation; let IA
not push our squeamishness TO the point of ga
cri6cing to IL not only our own interests but
those Of humanity.