Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-16
The Contrast.

The Contrast.
The inhuman atrocities committed by the
mutiueers 10 India, have sent thrill Of hor-
For throughout all Christie de- 1t Go seem
that il anything could arouse nation to I'M
solicited, immediate action, the recital Of the
butcheries and torturcs Of England's defence
less citizens in India, would have aroused
England's people ut home. We Americans
look on with surprise at the inaction Of the
people Of England in this emergency. Her
soldiers have proved themselves worthy Of
their old renown,-haTe retrieved the laureIs
lost to EnglAnd'S army in the Crimea. Her
government, by means Of its immense wealth
and power, have been enabled to send large
and powerful and well equipped reinforce
ments to the relief of the gallant troops in In
dia; but still recruiting goes on slowly, b" say
the papers of Great Britain. Extra pay is
promised and every possible means adopted to
gil her armies, and yet with unsatisfactory sue
cess.
II is true that when Lady HavelOck, the
wife Of the hardest fighting soldier Of the day,
probably, mud who has won imperishable fame
for England and himself, appears in the the
alter, she is enthusiastically Chcercd. British
poets have sung Of vengeance, her statesmen
have, by their elOquence, attempted to arouse
the people, and have succeeded 80 far as to in
still into them the desire to receive news from
India, and to applaud those who hcapthc most
epithcts upon Nena Sahib and his ScpOys, and
to curse those who dare speak Of tcmpcring
just retaliation with mercy. But still the ranks
Of the regiments fill slowly; her young men
show no disposition to do England's fighting
to avenge her wrongs at the hazard Of their
own comfort and perhaps lives.
And why this backwardncss? - this rcluc-
lance TO take part in the contest? 1t is not for
lack of courage, for her people are brvc
none, perhaps, more so. 1t is because it is not
the peoples fight; it is the fight of England's
government, the struggle of the huge East In
dia Company to retain its wealth, power and
influence. Besides, what have her young men,
who are born without the limits of the privil.
edged class, to expect, if they do risk all for
their country, in u perilous struggle in a dis
tant landI Perhaps a silver medal might dec
crate the breast Of the advcnturer, and per-
hapS he would share u banquet on his return;
but no promotion from the ranks is offered
to him, no social or political elevation can he
win by his galantry.
Now for the contrast. In these United
States, thank God, the people make the wars
and the people fight the battles. No Admins
tration dare plunge this nation into war with
out the approval Of the people. Each man in
the nation feels that he is part Of the Govern
ment, and that his countrys fight is almost his
individual fight. And no sooner is the call to
arms made, than the question is not who shall
answer to the Gull, but who shall be compelled
to stay at home! In anticipation Of the COM
ing fight, the young men form into companies,
their services offered in advance, and when n
requisition for soldiers at last comes then men
ride at break-ncck speed to the capital, lest the
required number should be obtained before
their company can be reported as ready
There are always more men ready and willing
and cagar to go than can go, and loud and in
dignant are the complaints Of those in distant
counties, of the "unEirncss and partiality of
giving those near the capital oil the chance of
serving their country. Such spirit renders
our country invulncrablc. lnfusc little of It
into England, break down the barriers Of rank,
start Democratic party there to instil into
the people some consciousness of the individ-
uGl dignity Of the rights of man because he
is q man-give 10 the gallant private soldier
the right to claim promotion because Of his gal
lantry, and recruiting for England's armies
would not long continue discouragingly
slow. "