The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-01
What should be the Feeling In the United
States on the Indian Affair.

states the Indian Affair.
There is one point Of view in which the Indian
mutiny has not yet been considered by our peo-
pie Admitting that the Eoglish have pursued
an unprircipled course of filibusterim in the &C
QUESTION of territory, and very oppressive and
'yrannical policy in their method of retaining it,
it cannot nevertheless be denied that they have
conferred some benefits on India by their rule.
OF late years especially, honest and well meant
efforts have been made to introduce European
civilization into the country; works Of irrigation
have been undertaken on large scale; railroads
and ,elegraphs have been established; roads for
the convey nce of produce from the interior to
the seaboard have been projected and even COM
mepced; an administration of justice-faulty and
corrupt, no doubt, but yet far superior to the ma
tive courts--has been solidly planted; large and
beneficial Improvements have been made in the
Hindoo laws concerning land tenures, marriages
and wills. Under ordinary circumstances, the eff.
feet of these and the other similar improvements
which are going on would, in fifty years, make Of
India far greater country than she has ever been.
II, however the present insurrection is to succeed,
ard the English are to be driven out, these works
of civilization cease, all internal improvements
are stopped and India relapses first into anarchy,
next into a desolate barbarism.
Again, the possession Of Ioda, aud The irwin
cibility OF the British army, cannot be sacrificed
by England without an awful loss Of prestige
and credit. She could not raise her head again
in Europe if she suffered the Hindoos to drive
bar eho no oft trrda of
equal, in dealing with this country, if che were
snar,iDg from 20 humilating and irreparable a
defeat. Indeed, we have no hesitation in saying
that in general terms the power and prosperity
of England depend upon tie prosperity and
maintenance Of the Indian empire. If the latter
b. lost England will, like Portugal sink to the
rate Of fourth rate Power, and Will cease to
I'll any place in the worlds eye.
The question for the practical American mind
is Therefore, how would this country be affected
by relapse Of India into barbarism? And bow,
by decline of England from first to fourth
rate Power? The answer to both queries is the
SAINT: the United States would in both cases be
affected ipjuriously.
Time need not be spent in argument to show
that we should be losers by the relapse of Hindos
tan into barbarism. Our trade with East India
is not large, though ii is large enough
for its Withdrawal to be felt But, every
year, as our capacity to produce and
the capacity Of the Hindoos to consume
increases, II would swell and become more i'm
portant. Moreover, as a leading nation Of the
world, We are to a certain extent partners Of
every other race, and sharers in their prosperity
and their reverses. The relapse of Hindostau
into hai barism would affect us as iniuriously as
for instauc,-a commercial couvulsion in
Enelsnd-and with more permanent results
But the decline and fall OF England would be
a far more serious matter. Besides bsing our
best customer ard our clesebt commercial ally
England stands in position that is peculiarly
interesting 10 US, a. the head and home of liter.
ty m Europe. England is the only country 10
Europe where speech, thought the press aud ac-
ton are free; the only home for patriots exiled
by despotisms. Were England destroyed there
would be no refuge on that side Of the water for
such men as Victor Hugo, Kossu'h and Mazzini
70 dam or breakwater against the ferocous ty-
ranpy OF the royal houses and oligarchies. There
would not BE- foot OF soil in all Europe where
an honest man could safely speak his mind on
political matters From the Frozen Sea to the
Mediterranean, Europe-freed from Eogland -
would be scaled TO the sespots: and ia their ex.
ultation at being released from their terrible au-
tagonists--tbe great free press and the bold free
mind Of England-there is no saying 70 what
lengths these despots might proceed The fall
Of England might quench European liberty for q
whole century.
To an event which might possibly lead to such
an end this country could not by any possibility
remain indiGei ent. It is claimed by our states
men and our poets that our mission in this world
il to disseminate and plant the roots of pure
liberty: a pert of that mission is evidently the
maintaining and succoring Of liberty wherever
il is planted.
For fess, therefore, on the one hand, that
successful mutiny Of the Uindoos should replunge
Hindostsn into barbsrism, and lest on the other,
Indian disasters should prccipitate the fall of the
only country whose face is not set against liber-
y, the only country bcsides our own whose ex-
stence is plea for human dignity and capacity
Tor self-goveinment the temper and feeling Of
This country would if property handled, take
strong turn in favor Of England in the Indian
matter Nor need spch sympathy be barren.
Were proper means taken to place the contes. in
India in a tue light before the people of the
United States il is highly probable that active
aid could be obtained here for the Indian govern
mont The United States contain far Iuore mep
who ATE ready to serve as troops in actual war
fare, thai Great Britain; aud as we have no