Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-08-27
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WIInNGToN. y. O., FRIDAY. AUGUST "a, 1858.
a Great Power Passed Away.

existed for two centuries and halt, first as great ira
ding corporation and for the last century as great Pc
tca institution the arbiter OF India and the most for
mdabe military power in Asia Its arms or its dplo
macy have extended its territories, until from mere
trading post on the Hoogly, held fef of the Great
Mogu they now cover territory larger in area than
all Europe leaving out Russia, and comprising popu
laton taking in the tributary States not much inferior
to Europe in numbers.
From the date Of the decisive victory won by Give
at Passy, in 1851 up to 1857, the year in which the
great rebellion broke out the of the Company
has been onward seldom meeting check, and annexing
kingdom after kingdom almost matter of course
Prior to the outbreak Of last year. the military force in
the Companys service was 10 us Europeans, and 1884,
685 natives in addition to which there were troops
in the Queens service stationed in India The revolt of
last year destroyed the confidence reposed in the native
portion of the army and demonstrated the ineicency
of the existing SYSTEM either to preserve reconquer
the possessions eopardzed by the rebeous Sepoys. To
India the flower Of the British army had to be hurried
and the weight of its defence reconquest fell upon the
Imperial Government which has its most expert
enced Generals and something like eighty thousand of
its best troops there employed in crushing out the move
ments got up for extinction of British power IN the
East. The work has been fearful one but it has
been, or will soon be- accomplished The sphere OF re-
volt is narrowing day by day. Hemmed in by forces
concentrating from various points, the nsurgent leaders
driven to the last extremity and doubt fearful
vengeance is being taken by the conquerng Europeans
The stock of the Company under the act of 1888
fixed at six millions of pounds The holders of this stock
elect or we ought rather to say did elect the Court Of
Directors Of the East India Company and these Direc
tors appointed the Governor-Genera and Governors,
with the Supreme and Provincial Councils, subject to
the approval of the Board of Control The greater por
ton of all the patronage in British India was held by
the Directors of the Company The several officers
in ats service The SepOys the soldiers of the Hon.
East India Company-wars were commenced and carried
on by it and conquests made not unrequeny in oppo
sition to the wishes of the imperial government It's
revenue amounted to one hundred millions of dollars
year-it made and unmade kings. It's opium trade
brought on the British war with China in 1913. The
ambition of its Governors General seems to have carried
them too far, and the absorption of the Kingdom OF
Dude doubt helped to precpatc, if it did omalny
occasion the outbreak of last year AT any rate Dude
has been the heart and centre Of the opposition to the
British Not Delhi itself has given as much trouble
Lucknow nor has any other territory in India cOntrbu
ted as many and brave troops to swell the ranks Of
the patriots or insurgents in whichever light they may
be viewed
Since 1885, the East India Company has ceased to be
engaged in trade. 1t has simply been corporation
governing India in trust for the British Crown 1t did
not sell opium directly to China. 1t took the opium in
payment for rent or tribute, and at certain times and
PLACES public official sales were made of it under certain
rules where the opium traders obtained their supplies
The Company its agents alone could purchase opium
from the producers.
That any very great immediate change will be Or
can be made in the practical administration of affairs in
India is not to be expected, as it would indeed be i'm
possible Still il is believed that gradual ameoratons
will / G aimed at and accomplished.
A bill has passed the British Parliament vesting the
rnnent of India directly in the Crown and the fact
has oeen announced in speech from the throne. A
corporation such as the world has never before seen has
virtually ceased to cxst-a power affecting for good OF
evil the destineS Of nearly fourth Of the human race
has quietly passed away become vested in other hands
The of this stupendous company belongs proper
y to the romance of history few feeble traders beg
cling foothold from the Great Mogul then the wealth
lest and most magnificent sovereign earth gradually
become the masters of his mighty empire the rulers oa
domain wider and more pOpulous than that of Rome ir
its pamest days. and almost its last act is to try auc
condemn as traitor the latest descendant of tue mighty
Arunzeebe.
The Hudson Bay Company, the last of the great pro-
pretary corporations called into existence some two hun
dred years ago. is also the verge Of extinction The
erection of portion Of its territory into the Imperial
colony of British Columbia is the first step in this drec
tiOn Others will shortly follow, and it, like the Eas
India Company be among the great names of the past
AeA,A great excitement exists among the iron-mer
of Pennsylvania and Maryland, owing to an oversight
of Captain Megs, in not inserting proviso into thu
contract for supplying the iron watcrrpes at Washing
ton City, that said pipes should be OF American
facture out of American iron. In the absence of an
such restriction in his bargain the contractor has 60
them In Scotland, and the Pennsylvania papers howl.
Upon the WHOLE we do think that national prid
would lead most people to desire that articles for tn
public service should, far as possible be of American
production but, then it is bad rule that won't wor
both ways. Suppose Louisiana should make fuss be
proviso is not inserted in all advertisements 70
supplies for the Army Navy STIMULATING that the ST
gar and mOlasses must be of American growth an
manufacture. Or, suppose North Carolina should max
fuss because the restriction is not inserted in
gard to pitch, tar, and so forth Our projections
friends at the North only side of every question
The North Carolina Statist.