The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-05-15

ccSStul now as II USED 10 DC IN Ine LOWllS
and villages Of tho old country, there
would be no need Of utilizing the dusky
soldiers of India. Others condemn the
introductionof Hindoo soldiery into Eu-
ropean warfare as an innovation which is
insulting to Western civilization in gen.
eral and to Russia in particular. They
say that as Great Britain is in the van in
the march of civilization she is acting un-
worthily and ~unbccomingly in transport
ing her semi-civilized Sepoys, Silks,
Puniaubccs. Bcngalees, and Ghoorkas to
Europe for the purpose of confronting
them in battle with the soldiers OF the
most Christian Car. The New York
| Herald, which has constituted itself or
has been constituted the Cars own
American organ, and as such is more
pro-Russian and anti-British than if it
were printed in ST. Petersburg, is very
much exercised over this introduction Of
the Indian contingent. 1t finds only one
source of consolation in i%t-namely that
if England will only organize a suffi-
GENTLY numerous army of Hindoos to
help her in a war with Russia, like the
soldiers led by Hcngist and Horsa they
may turn against their employers in sue
ccssful mutiny, thus hosting England by
her own petard and breaking down the
British Empire q consummatlon
which the NeW York Herald seems de-
voutly to wish.
It is useless to speak of the martial
spirit OF England. History is as truth
tul in the main as are newspaper articles
and ''evcry s~choolboy" knows what its
pages tell concerning British bravery.
And if history were silent, the unadorn-
ed reports of the recruiting sergeants OF
to-day show that it is easier to enlist men
for the regular army now than ever be-
fore; and as the pay is better, the recruits
are of a better class than formerly. Be-
sides the regular army, and the militia,
there is in Britain q volunteer force OF
infantry, cavalry and artillery, number
ing about two hundred thousand men,
who after twenty years training stand
now almost on m equal footing with the
regular army with regard to discipline
and efficiency. A large part of this vol
untcer force have already offered them
selves to the government for foreign
service in the event of war; and should
war be proclaimed the whole force OF
volunteers would to a man place them
selves at the disposal of the government.
No lack of the martial spirit is it, there
fore, that ncccssitates the use of Indian
soldiers.
AS to the danger to Western c~iviliza-
ton and the insult to Christian Russia
this is a captivating and specious preteXt
of great use to Russophilists. One might
speak with better reason Of the unfair
ness to British soldiers in placing them in
the field against the semi-civilized hordcs
of Russia. The Ethiopian cannot change
his skin, nor the leopard his spots,
neither can the Cars uniform make a
civilized and Christian man out of a Cir
cassian or 4 Don Cossack. Tho half
German nobility Of Russia are q refined
and highly educated class, but outside Of
them Russian civilization as seen in the
mass Of the people is only a thin veneer
ing, or at best is only skin-dccp. Scratch
a Russian and you find a Tartar; shoot a
Cossack and you kill a Mongol. 1t is
eminently right and citing that the Ash
attic subjects of Victoria should be pitted
in battle against the Asiatic subjects OF
Alexander.
Is it peace or war? The answer is not
yet. But both powers are preparing for
the war which seems unavoidable. Rus
STA has abundance Of men but little
money or credit. Britain's purse is mex
haustiblc, and her army can be expanded
indefinitely. On the sea, Russia burst
not face the British fleet. The prepondcr-
ancc of chances is in favor of Britain.
Russia had hoped to make 4 successful
inroad into India and stir up rebellion
there. She secs the Mohammcdan In
dams volunteering by thousands to fight
against the enemy and conQueror Of the
Sultan. Turkey, after kissing the victor's
hand, has gone back with renewed at
tachment to England. All these things
are against Russia, and they seem to be
disposing the minds of her rulers towards
maintaining peace.