Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-29
SHOULDERS In INDIA.
At ANY MOMENT WAR MAY DE-
sTROY THOUSANDS.
BRITISH DOMINANCE THREATENED.
sedItion Is Rife, and from the Pun
iab 10 the Mysore, from Calcutta
10 Bombay, Danger Is on hFer'
Hand.
lcorresnondence o. the plspatch)

rorrespondence OF the Dispatch)
BOMBAY. INDIA. August line
black cloud OF the plague mas given
place TO the electric flashes that por-
tend the coming Of war. Never since
the days Of the Sepoy rebellion nave
the conditions existed in India that are
annarent to-day. The British Govern
ment must face that most DREADED oi
conflicts, a religious war, Tor the ma
tive agitators have spread the senO-
meut broadcast among the popuiace
that the English have violated theH
dearest customs. and that the future
contains only more ruthless treatment
should British rule continue 10 prevail
The storm is not that of day, nor
month brewing, but OF years prepara-
ton. The mutterlngs were low at hrst'
ant with the coming Of tho plague ana
.he indefatigabe perseverance OF ue
British authorities in ferretinS out mo-
zen gases. the murmured dlScohleh.
broke into roar OF wralh' anu t"o
oative OF India, mild hammered 'housn
ne "a ordinarily. almost speechless win
European and defied him.
II has gone from bad 90 worse unli
now all across this broad land, as i"r
as Calcutta, there is open ana aNo"eu
hostility TO the British ana an eA-
pressed determination to restore the RUE
M the ancient powers OF the country y.
while IL is true that the source Vi
the feeling is OF quite early origin, the
fact remains that the disai1ecuoh u .
been greatly strengthened by the IN
tr,gue with the natives by the Ainee'
Of Afghanlstan. ,. Tho,
the Raipootana country rs wen as ~, ~
puniab. is rather inclined 10 favor tnt
p~Itish THE reason for this Is simple
enough. The Sikh sodiery all come
from the Punjab They are born hght
.rs have been the flower OF the ma
tive army for many generations, aho
were the last 10 break away from Inc
rule OF civilization during the Sepoy ie
beuion. The >Raipoots are very hsh
class natives, particularly open 10 pro
eressiye ideas. and for that reason no
nearly so inimical to association wiz
the whites and to adaptation 10 tnon
customs as their countrymen VINO nV'
in the southern portion OF INDIA IN
Raipoot Is thoroughly reliable an.
honest, Oh Bti'AS N'~fN
morals. ,. T.,
Cashmere, although an Independent III
dian state. and not directly suDJec'e
,o british rule. Is inclined 10 favor IN
Crown. II It came 10 open hosuhue'
The chances are that Cashmere WOul
Give 10 Great Britain its moral supper
for IL would really be not in the quarIe
the natives OF that province by no mean
considering themselves British supJecu
To be sure the Ameer of Aisanlstah
a potent power in their eyes. put eve
that cunning official cannot persuade u
Cashmere natives that a qoarrel WIN u
English would benefit them IhelI C"'
toms have not been disturbed ana lhe
ancient traditions are still thoroughly II
spected and liyee up TO.
In this section OF INDIA, an 'hrous
peccan Gundwana, and Bengal. clear
the borders of the independent states
Nepal and Bhotan, there Is cry iS
war ana death. AS far south as whei
the uttermost limits OF Carnatic frow
uron distant Ceylon, the blood fever
mn Rombay itself is In the throes
incinient rebellion. and before the wore
mere written reach the eyes or the pal
Tic the fires OF carnage may be hghtii
the streets Of the city. IL is oniy sho
distance from here TO Poonah, where op.
hostnities began with the murder of n
BrItIsh health officers. and 1t Is safe
say that in every village between the tN
places. the rawlings Of the Mad Mullah al
household words,
The rising OF the Swats, the Peshaw'
raid the Molokand disturbance. and
dozen other events of similar natur
indicate only too well that the Zoo
tide Is on. and that no man knows wh'
the ebb WIFI set. Never since the BIRTHS
gained supremacy Of India have they bee
confronted with such crisis as esis
to-day.
Despite the fact that IL Is very loI
time since Queen Victoria became Ed
press OF India. the majority Of the pc
Pile here consider her OF less importan
than one Of their own Gods. To the
her name III an empty one. always throw
at them by men In red uniforms or CIV
49, ~he cisir~ ia hAiieve That q