Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-20
@blo Statesnan,
FROM CALCUTTA.
CALCUTTA, February 81, 1868.
correspondence of the Ohio sta.esman.l

agH CALcuPTA, February 81. 1861
There are two railways, the construc-
ton of which sir John Lawrence is
bound at once to promote-the line from
Lohore to Peshawur, and that through
the Euphrates Valley. Nothing has
contributed so much to spread the belief
lately expressed by Colonel Adye, that
the policy of masterly activity is " poor
and ignoble," as the long opposition of
the Governor General to the Peshawur1
railway. The root of that policy is the
assertion that India will best meet at
tacks on her power at the foot of the
passes yet the means declared by Sir
Henry Duran and Sir w. Mansfield, as
essential for that purpose, have been
hitherto neglected. But now that a
scheme of guaranteed railway extension,
worthy of the author of our railway sys-
tenn, has been resolved on, we doubt not
that the Lahore and Peshawur railway
will be the very first recommended by
the Government of India to the money
market at home.
No less important on political grounds,
and far more urgent for commercial and
social reasons, is that project of a rail-
way up the Euphrates Valley, which We
have advocated for the past twelve
years. The subject has again been
formally brought before the foreign and
Indian Secretaries of State by no less an
authority than Viscount Stratford de
Redcliffe. So long ago as June %, 1857,
when the first news of the mutiny
reached England, Lord Palmerston as
sured a deputation introduced by Lord
Shaftesbury, Lord Carnorcvon, and the
leading mercantile members of Parlia-
ment and authorities on the subject, like
Sir w. F. Williams. Sir Trestin Shiel,
General Chesney and Mr.. Lynely, that
his Government was fully alive to the
great Importance of the Euphates route;
they had supported and would continue
to support it; but he could not give an
opinion as to giving the guarantee to the
capital without consulting his collea-
CUES. His death has changed the ira
ditional policy of England in reference
to Turkey, for there cain be no doubt
that he was prepared to give warm sup
port to the undertaking, aH the best
means of guaranteeing Turkey her pres
ent power, while promoting internal re-
forms. But the subject is one which can
be considered altogether apart from the
fate of Turkey. Such a railway would
enable England to outhank Russia, just
ais the Peshawur line would meet her in
front. 1t would give Persia her natural
outlet to the Mediterranean, and atone
for the wrong we did to her and to our
selves by abandoning her, and our treaty
engagements with her, for the last CEN
tury. 1t would bring London and Kur-
rachee within from 10 to IA days of each
other, and pour our troops through the
very heart of the East 1t would restore
to progress countries which were once
the granary of the world; were once the
abode of its earliest civilization, and are
certainly destined to recover their pris-
tine glory. ~
Two schemes have been before the
public for many years. Assisted by let
ters from Lord Palmerston, Sir Mac
donald Stephenson made preliminary
arrangements with Austria and Turkey,
SO long ago as 1850, for line from Bel
grade to Copstantinople and thence to
Bussorah, throwing off branch to some
port in the Levant for Aleppo. The
Government of India, with such man
as Lord Dalhousie as its head, was not
slow to perceive the immense advan-
tages offered by such scheme, and in
1856, Sir George Edward Stone was in
structed thus to express the view of the
most noble Governor General in Coun-
Gil. Such an undertaking once COM
. pleted, a reducing the distance between
England and her dominions to little
mora than ten days journey, would
prove of vast material importance, and
would be great step in the progress of
the world. The Government Of India
has no hesitation, therefore, in express.
: ing, to that extent, its approval of youl
project, and its readiness, at the proper
time, to give such assistance in respect
to surveys and otherwise as its author
ity and the means at its command may
enable it to contribute. Has not "tht
proper time" come, thus spoken of
twelve years ago? Will not Lore
Dalhouisie's greatest lieutenant
now sitting in the masters seat, redeem
1.-THE pledge. The second project is tina
Ii1qG s1qs-Jf5Ja. 7