The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-25

Every now and again come reports
from India that give rise to the most
uneasy forebodings in England and
throughout the civilized world. Hints OF
uprisings have been heard during the past
year, but Of late these mutterings have
grown until among close students of Eng.
lands mushroom empire in India the fear
has reached almost to dread certainty
that the time is near at hand when once
more the teeming millions of India will
seek to overthrow England's power, re-
establish their own governments and
again enjoy their religious beliefs un-
hampered by British interference.
The present situation in India is
alarming although many Anglo-I Indian
officers deride the idea and persist in
the optimistic belief that revolt is out
OF the question.
The same optimism was noticeable in
1857. The more experienced an officer
was the more impossible it was to con-
vince him that his Sepoys would revolt.
Yet the world was plunged into the
deepest horror by the news from
Meerut and Delhi, by the awful massa-
ere of women and children at Cawnpore
and the fearful scenes throughout the
North West provinces and Bengal. Sir
Charles Napier had seen the storm COM
ing and raised his voice in war ming but it
vain. In 1860, after brief service as
commander-in-c of the British forces
tn India. he resigned and devoted the
remainder of his life to q memoir in
justification Of his action and prediction.
1t was published in 1853 after his death
under the editorship Of his brother,
Lieutenant-G General Sir w. f. p. Napier,
with the title of "Defects, Civil and
Military, Of the Indian Government"
in which, in referring to the mutinous
spirit which appeared in 1s49 in some 80
Sepoy battalions, no declared ''mutiny
with the Sepoys is the most for
danger menacing our
Indian Empire" Yet the warning
passed by unheeded and the whole world
shudders as it recalls the awful tragedies
Of the Indian mutiny. What caused it?
Primarily, of course, discomfort at the
subjugation and the interference of Eng
land in religious as well as civil govern
ment, although the English had at that
time endeavored to keep aloof from religi-
ous interference. 1t was only the chance
remark OF native who, when taunted
by Sepoys with having lost caste, turned
on his tormentors saying, "who are ye
hat thus taunt me with losing caste
when daily ye taste pigs grease and
cows fat at the command of
he English dogs" This allusion
70 the cartridges covered with grease
20 prevent smoking their new rifles was
enough to arouse the widest suspicious
hat the English had not only conquered
hem but were preparing to substitute
he Christian religion for their own, and
Is preliminary step had creased the
cartridges in order to destroy their
,aste and ruin them for the life to come.
Chis idea Of a device to pollnte them
md destroy their caste as the first step
oward a general and forcible CONVEX
ion to Christianity, groundless as il was,
Ifforded no hindrance to its ready re-
'eption, nor was the absurdity of
he design attributed to the ruling
,owers apparent to the obscured in
elect Of the Sepoys. The first sign of |
evolt was laughed at, the danger was
lallied with aud soon the whole Sepoy
Irmy of Bengal was in revolt, The men
must bite OF the end Of their cartridges.
md so the Mohametans and the Hindoos
ogether were aroused; the former defiled |
~ the unclean animal and the latter by
he contact of the dead cow.
On the 10th of May at Meerut. SIS
roopers of the Third Light Cavalry.
who refused to use the obnoxious
cartridges having been sentenced |
o imprisonment, the mutiny broke
'ut at eyentide. Three regiments |
eft their lines and fell upon
svery European man, woman or child |
hey met or could find, murdered |
hem, burned half the houses in the
tation and started of to Delhi, where
'ther regiments joined them and the
iorrors Of Meerut were repeated. Like
spread the revolt and England
was for time powerless TO aid Gavin
'ore showed that even the more civil
zed Sepoys acted like devils. Sir Hugh
Wheeler In comman had been Seas-
ured by assurances Of friendship and
'romises of and from Neua ssuhib.
he most powerful OF the neighboring
lative potentates, the adopted son
II the late Peishwa of Poonah. This
'rince had apparently become reconciled
o British rule, exercise a jovial hos
Vitality TO Englishmen travelfn, an that