Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-08-30

During the agong ofour Indian rebellion, when
the fate Of an empire trembled in the balance,
and the proud heart Of England was shaken with
anguish the 81 mpathy OF Europe, in the pre-
sence of calamity in which the whole OF
ChristendOm seemed to partake, was all but
universally expressed. Ancient enmtfee, foreign
iealousies, held their peace for awhile and
''natural enemies" We'd with the nearest aud
dearest friends in generous grief and hope.
Among foes and aliens. ii a tone of sneeIing pity
or contemptuous regret Jared upon the public
ear, il was instantly covered with shame and
reprobation of nObler voices. Over the narrow
seas gallant people watched our varying fortunes
with that fraternal interest which brave men
feel in the actions Of the brave faint and few
indeed were the mutterings' Of humanity and
malignant exultation at the tragic Vicsstudes OF
mortal struggle which history shudders to re-
call.
But among our kinsmen beyond the Atlantic
il was not mere interest that was felt for Eng.
land at that terrible moment or common human
sympathy it is but the simple truth to say that
the heroes and the victims Of Lucknow and Gavin
pore were honored and lamenied by the people Of
the United States, and the trials and exploits OF
English courage and endurance treasured up as
the immortal part of an indiyisible inheritance of
blood, language and renOWn. And yet there
were voices OF hate, envy and savage joy to
break the Tesoute stiffness of the national sor-
row, and to insult the sympatbies VI Christian
Europe. Abroad and even at home there were
"Sepoy" journals, which recounted With un-
disguised satisfaction the horrors of the mutiny,
and frantcully fOletold the end of British rule in
India. The "Sepoy" Journals however, had one
redeemng merit-the frankness of their ierociOu,
taunts and sinister predictions were appalling
but it is more tOlerable than insult and outrage
disguised in protecting pity, or stimulating re-
gretful amazement aud compassion.
When the day of trial and trouble comes again
for England, We trust it may not be remembered
that the most powerful, and therefore most re-
sponsible of English journals celebrated the issue
of the first great battle between the army OF the
southern rebels loss Of all, "even OF military
honor" TO citizen volunteers who had fought for
nine hours Of summers day against over
Whelming odds, for canse sacred as law and
order, as precious as national liberty aud unity
Our contemporary would iain, it should seem,
endeayOr to reduce the conflict TO the dimensions
Of border raid or haTbAroua brawl. But, as
this is impossible, it degrades war from which
anarchy and slavery, or purified and ordered
anew for higher purposes, must spring, 10 the
proportions Of ga senseless and bloody strife.
This is not only to earicature living facts it is
to give the lie to history. Civil war it was that
made the ancestors Of the men who fought al
Bull Run great and free; though, no doobt,
there were disinterestcd persons in those days
by which our forelathers dearly purchased al
the cost of their lives all that their descendants
now enjoy.
Civil war, too, though, no doubt, II was some
times "a sensoless and bloody strife" has done
something for the strength hnd grandeur, it not
for the freedom Of France. Had England dis
played that humility and contenimehl which
facilitate peace" in the days of tho Stuarts, OIL
Franco in the face of the coalition of old monar.
chirs, we know not il France would now be
greater or England freer, but assuredly there
would be little enough upon which to coneratu
late the survivors Of either revolution.
The cynical sefshness with which the public
opinion Of England is so often credited by
foreigners has never found q more exalted OK
preston than in these reckless utterances. MOI
are these opinions, even in their own sense, dis
corning or acute. It was to be expected that {
defeat Of the federal army would, in the eyes o
the adrot and abject believers in the sacrednes
Of success, lend 10 the cause of the South (
legitimacy which no reasoning could ever gail
for it, Yet already il is clear that the results o
the action of the Dist were not so disastrous II
the federal army as to forbid altogether a south
ern advance this year.
The victory Of the southern army was due n
dlubt to superior skill gifts leaders, but the choic
off defensive position and the arrival oftmely re
enforcement must be taken into account on III
same side aud the "panic" that decided the ia
sues Of the fight is On incident not unparallele