The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-08 00:00:00

MEDICAL CAUTION.

THE Special Treatment adopted and nsed
with such great success by Dr. Hunter for the
last thirty years, can only be obtained at 44, Great
Charles Street, Birmingham. Book of 'Testimonials,
with advice how to regain Health and Manly Vigour,
and:Directions for Self Treatment, free to any address

gratulation that the ensuing twelve months
have brought as a calmer season. The two
Houses will meet on Thursday with neither
war nor rumours of war. Last year there
were both. The struggle between Turkey
and Russia had not been brought to a close,
and there was an imminent peril that we
should be involved in it. It is true that we
have one or two difficulties on hand with the
Ameer of Afghanistan and the Zulu King;
but these are looked upon in the light of
troubles incidental to the possession of an
extended frontier. There is no fear now, as
there was only one short year ago, our being
brought into direct collision with a great
European Power.
But while there can be no question that
the principal portion of the Session will be
devoted to domestic legislation, there can be
cqually little doubt that the subject of the
goverment of India cannot fail to be of
paramount interest and importance. India
really lay at the bottom of all that year, and
it was the cause of Parliament being sum-
moned in December. Yet there will not be
many in our midst ready to declare that
Indian topics receive from the British Par-
liament that amount of attention which we
might expect to see bestowed upon a de-
pendency, the possession of which is regarded
by statesmen of all parties as being vital to
the interests of the empire. The Indian
budget is brought forward, no matter who
is in office, at the fag:end of the session,
when members, after the consideration of a
great variety of subjects, are indisposed to
grapple with a question so uninviting. Yet
India is a land which few would like to see
fall into the possession of any other country,
and which we should strain every nerve to
retain. At times we do not hesitate to make
its
security. sacrifices with a -View of ensuring
security. BMW three years ago, we heard
that the Suez Canal was one of the keys to
this splendid Eastern possession, and we
spent several millions sterling to obtain it.
Last year we were constantly being told that
Constantinople was the key, and several
millions more were then expended in order
to prevent it from falling,/ into the hands of
Russia. Next the world was assnred that
Trebizond was the key, and all the efforts of
our diplomacy was exerted for its preserva-
tion.'*-Batoum, Candahar, Herat, Teherand,
and Cabal are respectively regarded each by
many persons as so many keys to our Indian
Empire. There are, however, those amongst
us who believe that the real key to India is
finance. The people have now to meet quite
as much taxation as they can well bear, there
are frequent deficits; a great part of the
revenue is upon an unsound basis, for it is
I derived from opium, which China can at any
time shut out; and the depreciation of silver
has still further increased the difficulties
with which Indian finances have to contend.
As inelastic revenue, an expenditure in-
creased by high prices, and the greater cost
of administration, debt increasing, respon-
sibilities augmenting, and at the sdme time
no new source of revenue presenting itself.
Such is the condition of affairs. Obviously
it is one which:demands the serious attention
of our statesmen and legislators; and the
problem of how best to deal with Indian
finance is one of the gravest which can be
submitted for the consideration of our Par-
liament.