New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-06

sngleness of purpose into the scales against the fone
tiers of dscOd tried 10 restore conference to the
decrep Moghu Empire ard to secure peace ana sietS
to the tormened and oppressed people of lndli. Tic
was a prominent member OF that ilndu CoHleuc'"''
which, in the words of Mr.. Keene, indicates an ep soac
in that perennial struggle which has been gong on
for eight centuries in India between the social ana re-
giOus system OF the liindus and that Of their Muau
man compatrOts." sndha appeaied upon the scene
when the MOghu Empire was near lis hnal stage Oh
decline. Though modern in time That It's last rep
rcsentave has long been dead 1t was In all essen
tials fragment of the ancient world; counterpart
I'm all but its religious ystem. Of the great monarcmcs
of Babylon ana Persia There was IN such an Empire
neither security the possibility OF security e'heF
for the ruler the ruled great gun yawheu De-
tween the Of the people and the wealthy ana none
classes. Intrigue ut home and rebellion abroad men
aced the head of the state perpctually. Mr.. Keene
owes the following vivid sketch If the general situation
In such an Empire there could be no Act OF settle
ment' or Responsibility o. GaDnes on" nco tnn
despOtsm, falls into the INSANITY Oh po"ci oI .,o
into the doage of decay. PROVINCES il on to' n, pst
allegiance. the despo brushes or 9Iusmr w mi
he disappears perhaps killed IN battle, perhaps po!,
soned in Palace hgne' ne eri Is fnricidai sons
and the hdeOuS business begins anew In such revo-
tons the Empire is often weakened, sometimes puIN
dissolved In lis incocent way IT coiacS ,oSv.n a
again, old parts lost some new members eslhed
the wealth wrng from helpless subjects are concen-
traed the person and palace OF the rucr' !, Is
moment becomes the victim OF aho'ner OF tne puPp%vo
of able minister But always there rema'nS we
decoration The auocrat-no better. saner or happier
than the meanest of his peasai-,wathes ms 9cIdih.
seat upon couch Of gold. sun ounded BY obSequonN
kn,men and i6giay pTncg are IN m GCeG the
courerS. ministers. generals the chicfs OF peace ana
war and the messenger, and representatives. OF those
who are absent in the distant REGIONS U M the prov
inces Of The Empire or commanding is military forces.
10 Cfpsi4 he
French jewel merchant, ana Bener the correspondent
Of Colbert.
such was the Moghul Empire where Sindhia played
mis- part upon the stage. His first important act
was nearly rrnOus Il himself In 1850 he and his
brother Dattaj shared the command of the Naiathas
in IIindustan and took part in the famous battle OF
Panpat. which was fought rs part Of plan TO drive
the Mussulmans ont Of lIiudusan and acquire the uni
versal rule Of India for the MaIathas The army OF
the latter had been rcorganizcd 1t longer con
sisted of sort of guerilla cavalry, but included large
force of regularly trained horscmcn. and also con-
siderable body OF infantry drilled by French Instructors
and n train of artillery under veteran MuSsulman
soldier of fortune. who had learned French discipline
md tactics under Busy. Among the great chiefs
present with their contingcntS Iolkar and suai
Mall. These wished the Ehao who was commander
in-chef, to follow the Old irregular warfare OF the
Maratha; namely to waste the country TO cut of con-
voys, and not to risk battle until the enemy was re
duced to famine scattered in search Of food. The
cplined troops in southern campaigns, and believed
that these advantages his side. But
he mistaken. The MghanS contrved to drive
the Hindu under the walls of Panipat and held them
there two months, until their supplies failed and famine
Mt last drove them To risk general engagement The
disciplined Hindu troops and artillery held Their own
well. But the general>hip with the Afglans and
Rohas, and a body of heavy Afghan cavalry finally
broke the ranks Of Cards force. and panic and pro-
miscuou, slaughter followed. In Oicntal battles OF
the time there any thought OF orderly retreat
In the event q u reverse. Panic flight, dissolution Of
tie beaten army. was the rule At Panipa Sindlia
fed for his life, but was overtakcn by an Afghan
trooper. who crippled him for life by blow the
knee but contented himself with stripping his helpless
foe and SO left him.
lie was saved by peasant who lifted the wounded
man into his cart and sheltered him. >ndha never
forgot ills help and aterward made the fortune OF
the peasant who rose TO be general OF distinction
In his benefactor's army. 1t might be thought that
the battle OF Panipat would have dscredted tie French
discipline; but slndlha perceived clearly that the
fault not with the discipline but lay in the paucity
Of the disciplined force and the weakness Of tue I'M
disciplined factors of the army. lie himself subse-
quently secured the services OF De Bolgne French
soldier OF reputation, and eventually put him in
mand Of all bis forces, and continually increased the
proportion Of disciplined troops in the army. But
after Panipat Sindhia showed his wisdom in cult
ratng caution lie repressed his Maratha impusive-
lie became "a soldier Of reiown and Il statesman OF
widespread fame. he was often defeated. and more
than once reduced 20 really desperate straits. This
was largely due TO tie fact that in that time Of
anarchy the Indian princes usually deserted and then
Tell upon, any ndghbor ally who seemed 20 be in
perl!ous There such thing honor,
good faith friendship IN Indian politics and every
statesman had 10 reckon upon the possibility that
todays warmest allies might be t0-morrow's bitcrcst
enemies.
In spite OF all vicissitudes. however Slndhia made
steady progress In influence. lie came to exercise
virtually absolute control over the MOghul Empire,
ruling nomnalIy as the deputy Of the aged Emperor
who had been blUded and sorely misused by an ad-
venturer who seized Delhi as such adventurers were
prone to do. sindha drove of the rufan, though
too late 10 the old Enperors eyes tcnccforth
he cared for the shadow OF n monarch and used Ids
to screen his Initiative. pretence OF hu-
manity, somewhat overdOne. a favoritc
With him. IT does not appear 10 have deceived his
contemporaries. lie quarrelled seriously with
the East India Company. Warren Hastings esteemed
lam highly, and played into his hands With Lord
CORVALLIS he did not get on so we'll and tried
rash experiment upon that ruler by announcing that
he proposed TO demand tribute OF the company The
answer he received was so prompt and stern that he
instantly disavowed the intention. Throughout ,t
entertained wholesome respect for the British.
soldier and never could be brought TO Join any
scheme for attacking the English In India. The ac-
count OF his character here given certainly GOES far IN
Justify Mr.. kcencs assertion that "amongst Asiauc
public men, at least there is no otter name that
be fairly matched with that OF Mandlava Sindbia:
and even to these I've SUPERIOR alike I'm tie scale
OF his success and In the qualities OF his and
heart During his lifetime he stood preemnently
among his fellows and bis farsigltcd policy prepared
the way for the changes which were 10 follow though
much Of his achievement fell to the ground later
through the Incompetence OF his SUCCESSORS
His death was sudden II was officially ascrbed
70 fever; but crcumsantial legend Is given ly
contemporary writer TO the effect that ac was at
tucked while riding in the evening near Poonah
by body OF the reniners OF enemy and though his
escort beat of the assaants Sindbia received wounds
from which he died the following day. The exact
truth concerning his death will never be known but
assassination was 50 completely In accordance with
oriental euhcs and politics during the eighteenth
fury hat he llunuo ain