The Wilmingtonian., 1886-09-18

south of the Russian cohorts. Every step
forward of the Cossacks the people of AT
ghanistan well know to mean filching of
so much of their territory by the Russians.
1t is this fact alone that will probably cause
them to side with the English.
When war is declared between the two
Western empires the question will naturally
arise what dependence can England place
upon her Indian troops. The plain answer
is, not much upon the Mohammedau sold
iers, but some fair reliance it is stated may
be placed upon the Hindoos. Also it must
not be forgotten that when this argument is
used, of the uselessness of placing reliance
upon troops enlisted in a conquered prov
ince as is the relation of Bengal, Madras or
Bombay to England, the very same argu-
ment holds good in regard to Russas very
unwilling allies from the newly conquered
provinces Of Bokhara, Khiva, and Turkes-
tan
The Hindoos who represent eighty per
cent of the religionists of India outside of
the sc, 100000 Mohammedans, are well in.
formed upon the fact that Russian oecu-
patton of Hindostan would not be an i'm
provement upon the present status under
British domination. The natives of India
are strongly opposed to Russia's customary
wholesale proselytization. Under English
rule the government carefully abstains from
Interfering with the religion of the natives.
1t is plainly demonstrated in the native
press, by simple assertion of the fact by ma
tive writers that while the Hindoos would
much prefer entire independence and that
India should take its place among the ma
tions of the world, they concede that as a
whole the country is by no means ready to
exercise such powers. The native press rec
ognizes the fact that the tutelage of such a
power as England is still necessary, for In
dia could not protect herself unaided by En-
gland from the inroads of Russia. The Brit
sh flag is preferred to the Russian. The
educated Hindoo confesses that while Eng
land has made good thing out of her
Indian commerce she has not dealt unjustly
by her vassals, She has given Hindostan
railroads, canals, roadways, irrigation, better
land laws, government protection to every
individual of her 250,0o0,0OO population, a
good judicature as far as conditions allow,
good educational system, and in general
sense the rights Of the most obscure are
guaranteed in court of justice accessible to
every one. These are conditions that never
before existed in the history of India. Ii is
very improbable that Russia could improve
this internal status for the inhabitants of
India. 1t is sufficient to state that the lead
ing native minds argue against such prob
ability. They are satisfied temporarily with
the present condition of things. The young
or generation of educated Hindoos look for
a future when the status of the native will
be indicated by general advance of the
whole country in the teachings of Western
civilization, that India is not ready for indie
pendence yet, she would only be a prey to
Russia-and between the two England is to
be preferred
Now, under these circumstances it may be
inferred that Russo-English war would
not be necessarily fatal to British rule in
India.
Both Afghanistan and India are opposed
to Russian annexation. There is fair proba-
bility of finding loyalty to England among
the Hindoo soldery whenever the British
order ior the advance is given Undoubtedly
if Russia can trust her iuhumanly subiugat.
ed Tekke Turcomans to carry the Russian
Eagle into Afghanistan or even leave them
behind as corps for the defense of their
line of supply England in her turn can risk
certain portions of her East India dominions
which for the last two decades have been
governed in liberal and successful manner.
This last being fact conceded by the
harshest critics of governmental practice. 1t
is quite plausible also to expect a certain
show of loyalty to the British flag by the
by the prospective Indian corps which is
destined to aid in upLuldng the integrity Of
the Ameer's territory.