Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-04
TuE RICHMOND ENQUIRIES.
TIE BRITISH EMPIRE.


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TIE BRITISH EMPIRE.
The insurrec;ion i'll India seems 10 have AWAKENED
tho home government, Of England, to an apH''''
sense Of the danger Of dsstfsction among INC COW
MES. Aud we'll it may excite the interest," no' 49,
most serious apprehension Of all who wish urea
tain q God-speed on her mysterious mss'o"
Of amelioration and liberty, or o extoro''' ""pos
ton and ultimate despotisin, the Future asohe o'n
dstsrm;ne. The wealth and strength OF the BRUSH
Eu,,rs ara densraeut almost entirely upon IFS pro
v;,cial possessions. Aud that magnificent territory IN
the East, which is now the scene OF rebellion anu
strife. affords fund.- which is to the e1chequer Oh
England as the waters OF the Nile to the agriculture
OF Egypt. The Sepoys are up in arms; ana tney
count ,hsi. effective force by tens OF thousands Oh
wsltraned fighting men. The government al
home has, Of course, adopted as immediate &C.
t,oa and as summary measures for the sup
preston of the revolt, circumstances will admit.
But India is not to be reached in day, ana
where the ;neurrec,ion RACES is hundreds OF miles
from the landing places OF the transported troops
Tie English army, in India now, is utterly unequal
20 ;ne task OF crushing out the revot-and shousc
the spirit Of disaection continue to extend as there
] $4,000
people are aroused with the fury Of fanatics from the
H,nmsea mountains to Cape Comorln, it may re-
quire more men and money than England expended
in the Crimea to subdue the revolution and maintain
her sway over her invaluable dominions in the East
The British navy is proportioned in Its number OIL
vessels and guns, to the widely extended and uncon
nected empire aud its commensurate commerce, winch
it IL designed 10 protect But no navy or army can
be adequate to the subugaton aud continued control
of a people whose numbers are equal to all the force
that ON be sent against them; who have wealth WIN
on: measure who accustomed to exercise IN arms
and who have risen in rebellion TO burst the bonds OF
oppression which nature never intended them 10 bear
The Sepoys, in India, who have been made soldiers
for the subsection Of their own country, toer own
kipsmen and comrades, have turned at last upon the
oporsssors of their race; and England shudders al
the scene.
Tps time has come when the British empire fur
pjsbes a fruitful topic for speculation. Whether It's
tendency to liberty at home is only the result OF re-
laoant concessions to an enlightened people, while IN
the distant provinces. it is grinding still more deep
" in the dust, every element of freedom whether
il i, increasing or dessnerating u influence and
power, and indeed whether its continuance even as
an equal among the first nations OF the EARN ID n'
threatened, are all questions which sages and states
men may we'll begin gravely to discuss The pres
tipe of British arms was obviously impaired IN the
Crimeau war, ard the potency Of the British name
in arts or in sciences. ndiplomacy. in every thing
has had little to increase it for some time past.
The destiny of the British empire suggests pro.
bem in pocs difficult OF solutios, 30 much 30 'ndeec'
that the circumstances now surrounding II must %
rourcss of serious apprehension to its abest and as
tutest statesmen Australia is incning to the estao-
ishment of separate and distinct government OF it's
own Ireland il ever restless aud the alert for en-
opportune occasion to throw of tue thraldom oil
England And now that India is in open rsvolu'
.ion, it is truly question Of debate and specu'
l.,iou. whether ths mistress Of the seas" OH
whose domiuons it is said the sun never sets.
10 not rapidly declining in some Of the esseE-
tial elements Of influence and strength. IS the
revolt of the Sspoys result of an insane
spiri, of unprovoked INSTRUMENTATION or Of Engands
usurpa,ion and tyrannic rule over people who have
calmly determined to avengs their wrongs! British
dominion in India. from i's first establishment until
now, hes never been regarded by mankind otherwise
than as evidence of the unscrupuous capidity aud
repacy Of people, whose empire has been extended
By fire and sword and in contemptuou, conravention
Of all recognized law, both human and divine. The
wealth of Inds has contributed millions to the Golfers
of Great Britain, at the expense of the liberty aud
necessities Of its downtroddeu Hiudoos. 1t is, then.
no matter of astonishment that, at last the luxurious
repose OF the oppressor should be disturbed by the
shout of war and the clash OF The poor per-
secuted descendants oi the nabobs. who bent their
necks to the English yoke, and once bowed huinby
n obesance to Warren Hastings, are no longer over
awed by British bayones. The fame Of revolution
is enkindled; and England, We apprehend, will
end no little difficulty in subdung it. That she will
eventually succeed, however, have little doubt
And it is probably better for the cause of civilization
and Christianity for The development aud proper EN-
ploymen Of the of that rich region for the
commerce Of the world aye, for the interests Of In
dia ha, the power OF British oppression should
not be broken rather than that people should relapse
into barbarsm idoatry and superstition. But this
revolt should teach the British rulers a lesson.
It 10 one thing 10 conquer aud colon,ze country,
IA elevate it in religion and laws aud alneorate it in
morals and it is quite another thing 10 Cypress tie
wesk and extort their riches, as reward for that
civilas alton which makes them feel the loss more
sorely still. Unless the iron rue of Eogland is mo
fed the day will come whsu India will raise war
cry that cannot be hushed by the of the British
lion.