The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-29
The military Issurfectson IN India

adyices from Delhi-that beleagured city had not
fallen into the hands Of the besiegerA General
Barnard's army still Lay entrenched before it,
awaiting reinforcements, and occ aionally engaged
in repulripg desperate sallies made from time to
time by the besieged. Atthecommencemento the
siege the LONDON journals expressed the hope that
Gen Barnard's qualities were rather of daring
and desperate than of q cautious and calculating
character because the British sway in Iadia
hinged upon the prompt and decisive extinguiAh-
ment of The mutiny. Their hopes in that respect
have not been gratided. Instead Of exhibiting
that desperate daring which is often successful
in war, and which, indeed, is sometimes the high
est evidence OF generalship. General Barnard
seems to have adopted the Fabian tactics, and to
avoid fighting unless when forced to do 30 by
eallies from the city. We notice that there is
considerable dissatisfaction expressed at the In
action in which the beaieging army is kept, and
that the anticipated effect of this has actually
occurred in the universal spread of the mutiny
throughout the dominions of the exKing of Dude.
The British force entrenched before Delhi on
the 9th of June consisted of about 5000 Euro
pesn troops, of all arms, and of about 5000
native troops, Of all arms Reinforcements were
daily arriving and an order for general assault
was anxiously expected from day to day. Much
confidence seems to be entertained that general
assault will result in the capture of the city, and
the Wholesale slaughter of its defenders As
they sho wed no mercy to the helpless Europeans,
men, women and children, who fell into their
hands, so they cannot expect that any mercy will
be shown TO them. Therefore, if Delhi falls, we
nlsy expect to be shocked with terrible tale of
| bumen carnage.
! We do not think that in the present struggle
in India the sympathy Of other nations should be
exclusively given 10 England. To be sure, every
one must condemn and deplore the atrocities per-
petrateo by the mutineers upon women and chill
dren: but still there were many creditable excep-
lions 10 this rule OF blood and violence. In
several instances, particularly in the garrisons OF
what was recently the Kingdom Of Dude,
the revoltcd sepoys mounted guard over their
discarded officers, protected them anu the
European women and children from outrage
ind violence, permitted them to carry away their
private arms and property, and furnished them
with boats to leave the territory and with money
10 defraJ their expenses. They were only pre-
vented from carrying away any public property,
which they were reminded belonged of right to
the King of Dude, who is now prisoner in one
Of the fortresEes Of Calcutta.
This toIbearance on the part Of the natives of
that plundered and violated kingdom ought to
be balanced against the inhumanities practised
by the insurgents at other points. And then,
too, it must be recolected that all the natives OF
Hindostan have been for the last centary perss-
cuted to the utmost limits of endurance They
have witnessed the effacement Of their nationality,
tie plumber of their property, the demolition of
their cities aud strong places, the destruction of
their industry and commercial prosperity, aud,
worst of all, the revilement of their religion
All these are causes sufficient TO incitc in their
mods deep feeling of hatred and re-
vtnge against everything English; and the
recent ridiculous attempts by the connivsnce of
the government officers to force the sepoys to
violate their religious scruples only aided to de-
velope and to iDfame all the pent up elements Of
hate In the Indian character. The sanguinary
cruelties practised by them upon the English that
ell into their hands must be recognized as acts
Of retIibutiop not unnatural under the circum-
stances.
The history of The English sway in the East
IBdies is but long extended series of oppres-
sion, spOiation, cruelty and torture prsctised
upon the usually patient and inoffensive aindoos
Now and again, at short intervals, have the East
India Company ana the English government had
to contend with one OF other Of The petty king
doms OF independent teibes into which the couu-
Try was diyided but these struggles have gene.
rally resulted in the subjugation Of the people
and the annexation Of their territory to that of
the company. Ia this way the English sway
over Hndostsn las been extended until nov. out
Of population Of one buudred and eighty mil
lions, 70 less then one huudrtd and tbirty-tg
mIlious are subj eotea TO The CALLING yoke Of the
Last lrdia Company.
/ Ii The DIiish conquest of India we're made by
/ the government Is gOvesnm,n.. Il would be per.
! haps cxcusahle or justifable. An governments
! have been, in a. ages of the world more or lees
disposal to e1ieud their power over other people,
/ ard TO acquire territory by conquest. Bus the
condition ot E0elish power il the E4s. Indies is
an anomaly. The British government does not,
On It's own account, end at IT. own expense, make
var upon the AGgbaDs o. the Skhs, annex the
! dominions of this OF thst sovereign, or plunder
ihis or hat territory 1t leaves all that to b.
done by The East India Company, and only stands
/ on, lends hand When required. picks up ocea-
sonsl sros, ike the Koh-ino9r diamond, and
avails itself Of ;he general advantages Of victory
Ii Ia difgrace to England, With all her enlghten-
mont and her affected regard for Christianity 70
tolerate for day the existence Of the East India
Company. Here is a population Of one hundred
and thiriy-two millions farmed out, in fact, to
this inzatiable corporation Their political rights
are ignored, their social rgbts are trodden upon,
their religious feelings are outraged, and they are