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v $$0 fll X.3EA D a B. [No. 281,flAOTttt...
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Torture in Ini>ia.—Papers relative to th...
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("IN THIS DEPARTMENT, AS AM. OPINIONS, H...
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There is no learned man but will confess...
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SABBATARIANISM IN SCOTLAND. (To the Edit...
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(JTo the Editor of the Leader." ) Sir,—Y...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Progress Of Russian Policy In Central As...
shamefully delivered up to him , toco-operate with the Persian forces , as by so doing they ^> uld be rendering good servieeto their country . A Russian agfcat , Captain WHkiewitsch—better known as Vicovieii—was likewise despatched to Cabul , to induce I > ost Mahommed to ally himself with Persia and her powerful ally . Count Shnonieh also arranged a convention with Kohundil Khan , Sirdar of Candahar , engaging to protect the
Afghans against the Sikhs , or any other hostile power . Meanwhile the counsels and warnings of the British envoy were treated with cool contempt , and a courier in the service of the embassy was grossly ill-treated . As the Government obstinately refused to offer any apology or satisfaction for this outrage upon the law of nations , Mr . McNeill very properly broke off all relations with the Persian Court , and withdrew to the Turkish frontier .
But the valour of the Heraftees , guided by the great military talent of Lieutenant Pottinger , baffled every attempt to carry the place by assault . And , finally , the occupation of the rocky island of Karrack , in the Persian Gulf , by a detachment of 500 Sepoys and two 6-pounders , under Lieutenant-Colonel Shirren ^ compelled the Shah to retire with disgrace into his own territories . It is true that the Court of St . Petersburg pretended to disavow the' intrigues of its accredited envoy , as well as of the Cossack officer Witkiewitsch . And
when it became manifest that these agents had failed to do more than lay patent the designs of their Government , they were recalled from their respective posts , and treated with unmerited rigour . Count Nesselrode expressly declared that Witkiewitsch had been sent into Afghanistan for the sole purpose of concluding a commercial treaty with Dost Mahommed , at that prince ' s own request , and that he had grossly exceeded his
instructions . [ Russia , he said , was naturally desirous to possess a moral influence in Turkey and Persia , but not with a view to injure British interests ; nor had she any intention of taking part with the Afghan chiefs in their internal dissensions . Indeed , all that Russia demanded was a fair share of the commerce of Central Asia , and she altogether deprecated a struggle for political ascendancy in the intermediate countries that lie between Asiatic
Russia and British India—for their perfect independence is to the mutual advantage of those two great Powers . Such , continues Count Nesselrode , ' * is in our opinion the system which the two Cabinets have a common interest invariably to pursue , in order to prevent the possibility of a conflict between two great Powers , which , that they may remain friends , require not to touch each other , and not come into collision with each other in the centre of Asia . "
The key to this moderation is , no doubt , to be found in the fact that an English force was actually in command of the Persian Gulf , and threatening the heart of that kingdom , while a powerful army was being concentrated at Ferozepore , for the invasion of Afghanistan . The Russian Government had long since adopted the Persian aphorism that Cabul and Candahar are the gates of Hindostan . " With these districts subject to its pressure , and Persia a mere steppingstone , it considered a descent into the Punjab as only a question of time and circumstance . And
this was also the opinion of our own diplomatists . The fall of Herat , said Mr . Ellis , " would produce a serious change in the prospects of our Indian Empire , and might possibly not be without influence on the politics of Europe . " The extension of the Persian monarchy m the direction of Afghanistan appeared to him as certain to bring Russian influence to the very threshold of our Eastern dominions . Persia , he adds , would be " no longer an outwork for the defence of India , but as the first parallel from whence the attack may be commenced or threatened . " Mr . McNeill continually wrote to the same effect , and warned
his Government that the country between the Persian frontiers and Northern India was far more fertile than ho had expected , and that it was capable of producing ample supplies for the maintenance of a large army . The road from Teheran to Herat was so good that Count Simonich proceeded to the latter place in a carriage , and consequently there would bo no difficulty in _ way of transporting artillery arid ammunition . In Persia itself it had become a proverbial saying to speak of " the road to India" as lying through that kingdom ; and Dost Mahommed ' a agent at Teheran reminded him that he had " a toll lower down the road . " He likewise informed the Ameer
that the Russian ambassador , Cbunt Simonich , had verbally promised the-support of his Government , should the Shah fail to assist him againBt the Sikhs . " The object , " he continues , " of the Russian Elchee , by his message , is to have a road to the English , and for this they are very anxious . " The necessity , real or imagined , of closing this " road , " led to our invasion of Afghanistan , and to all the disasters that thence ensued . It is now universally admitted that that proceeding was as ill conceived as it was wicked and unjustifiable .
But , although no defence can I 5 e set up for the invasion of that country , we arc not equally certain that it was wise and politic to withdraw our troops after the second occupation of Cabul . The revolt of the Afghans may be easily traced to a variety of causes that would not again have occurred , unless we refused to benefit by our dearbought experience . This question , however , would demand more time and space for discussion than we can now afford ; and assuredly , as matters now are , there is little occasion for reopening a subject filled with sad memories , and which must ever remain a dark spot in the annals of the British Empire .
But if the Afghan campaigns produced no tangible results in proportion to the magnitude of our armaments , they have at least been beneficial in allaying the popular anxiety with respect to the safety of our north-west frontier . It is only logical Jo conclude that if a British army , exceedingly well appointed , and having a tolerably convenient basis of operations at Ferozepore , was unable to hold possession of a thinly-peopled country , inhabited by different races , brave indeed , but rudely armed and divided among themselves , it would be quite impracticable for a
Russian force , drawing its smallest supplies from the further side of the kingdom of Persia , to advance in efficient order across the rugged mountains and through the intricate defiles of Afghanistan . The Russians themselves made the experiment on a smaller scale in 1840 , when the veteran troops of General Petrowski were annihilated in the inhospitable deserts of the Khanat of Khiva . But even if they had succeeded in this mad enterprise , which could have originated in no better motive than the lust of conquest , they would virtually have been no nearer to the frontiers of British India .
A very cursory glance at the map will convince any one that Khiva could never form the basis of operations extensive enough even for the conquest of Khorassan . The only point that could possibly serve for such a purpose is Astrabad , on the Caspian Sea , and we may now reasonably indulge in the hope that many a long year and age must elapse before Russia shall be able to make good her footing so far into the centre of Asia . As tho ally of Persia , and while mistress of Georgia and the Caspian , it might no doubt be possible for her
to exercise something more than a mere moral pressure upon Afghanistan ; but as long as our troops guard the line of the Indus and hold the Bolan and Khyber passes , the safety of British India will never be jeopardised in that quarter . And it would be always practicable to transport a considerable force from Bombay and Kurachue to the Persian Gulf , whence it could operate on the flunk and rear of a hostile ariny marching upon Afghanistan .
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Torture In Ini>Ia.—Papers Relative To Th...
Torture in Ini > ia . —Papers relative to the employment of torture in India have been laid before 1 ' arliaincut , on the motion of Mr . Vernon Smith , M . I ' . In conaequence of a debate in tho House of Commons in tho session of 1854 , the East India directors ordered a searching inquiry to bo made in India . Tho Heport of the Committsionera of Inquiry on tho evidence adduced leaves no room for doubt , in the opinion of Mr . President HalliB and other members of tho Indian Government , that practices properly designated uh " torture " do exJHt , and that tho evil is " of a most serious nature , pervading the whole of the native population , and
helping most inuuentially to perpetuate the moral and social degradation in which the inhabitants of tho country arc mink . " Torture ia no now thing ; but there ia every reason to suppose that it has been discouraged , and as far ns possible prevented , by tho English rulers of India . Tho result was tho issue of a Government circular from Fort Bt . George , on the 7 th of Juno last , calling on the local authorities to make known ua widely as pouuiblo tho illegality of torture , and tho detestation with which it is viewed , by the Government , and to cooperate to tho utmost of their power -with . Government towards its extinction .
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(" IN THIS DEPARTMENT , AS AM . OPINIONS , HOWEVER EXTRBHR , Altlt ALLOW KD AN KXPKBS 9 ION , TUB EDITOR NECES 8 ARILT HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE JTOU N 0 NK . 1
There Is No Learned Man But Will Confess...
There is no learned man but will confess he bath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then . ^ tt be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least be tolcraolefor his adversary to ¦ write . —^ Mieton ,
Sabbatarianism In Scotland. (To The Edit...
SABBATARIANISM IN SCOTLAND . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ") Sir , —Scotland has the reputation of being the headquarters of Sabbatarianism , and English writers anxious for tho preservation of the freedom of the old English Sunday are accustomed to point to the north for an example of what England may become if allowed to fall into the Sabbatarian yoke . Warring against Sabbatarianism myself , I cannot but regret that in picturing its Scottish development so little caro should be taken to paint it as it really is . I know that the Leader would not willingly misrepresent an opponent , yet truth compels me to gay that the description in last week ' s paper of the manner in which Sunday is kept by the austere
children of the Kirk has small claim to be considered correct a picture . I am aware that there has always been in English literature a conventional Scotchman wearing a kilt , droning psalms nasally , takiujc immense quantities of snuff and huge bumpers ot whisky , and , when he now and then makes hi * appearance in Punch , I enjoy the fun , only wondering how long it will last ; but when in a modified form he appears in the Leader , I think it high time to denounce him as an impostor . Your vision of Sabbatarian orgies in darkened rooms , and fuddled elders in back parlours , is no more representative of a Scotch Sunday than our venerable acquaintance of the kilt is of Scotchmen .
Sabbatarianism is in Scotland , as you have truly stated , a large part of the national religion , and whisky-drinking behind window-blinds and elsewhere is unfortunately too common ; but the whiskydrinkers and the Sabbatarians are two distinct classes , and no returns yet made will enable you to establish an identity between them . Indeed a large proportion of the Sabbatarians are also teetotallers , and war as vigorously against drunkenness as against innocent recreation on Sunday . How far they may encourage drunkenness by shutting up all sources of healthy cxcitenient is another question , but assuredly it is alike impolitic and unjust to bring against them an accusation -which to those who know them does not require an answer .
Our quarrel with them is that they insolently set themselves up as lords of our consciences . Fighting for freedom of conscience our victory is sure , but when deserting this high ground we introduce into the quarrel the paltry element of personal conduct , our holy struggle degenerates into asquabble , and we run a great chance of being , and deserve to be , beaten . I am , yours respectfully , A Scots man .
(Jto The Editor Of The Leader." ) Sir,—Y...
( JTo the Editor of the Leader . " ) Sir , —You allege that in my former letter I disdained to argue ; the briefness of the space which I could claim in your paper was a much more natural explanation of the mutter . " The Sabbath was made for man , " says Jesus , not for the Jews merely ; and so long as man exists , he always thus will need the gracious provision for his spiritual welfare , as well as temporal rest , which tho Sabbath involves . The occupation of the Sabbath in religious services which exercise the intellect , the conscience , and the affections , is a far more noble method of spending tho time than even tho luxuriating tho fancy and the tnste amiil galleries of art . Conscience ranka higher far than fancy , correctness higher far than taste . Your dilettante ia a poor creature compared with tho humblest liantcr minister !
I h / ivo talked with tho working-classes time after time , and in place after place , and have always found them in favour , not of Sabbath desecration , but of the half holiday movement , which is destined to bear more and more fruit . They sec that wage * as well as business would soon right themselves ; for five days and a half toil ( long enough for any man ) they would got , ere long , as good jmy as they now get for » ix days . Then let tho half holiday bo agitated for till wo got tho JLeginlaturo to make- it imperative , and also imperative tho paying of wagea not Inter than Friday , or perhaps ovon Thursday night . !><> thin , and you do away with those Ilydo Park gatherings , which have commenced with etuiup orators and ended with pickpockets . Your obedient servant , A JFiikk Chough Minjstkk .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 11, 1855, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11081855/page/14/
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