The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

THE CASE OF OUDE.

IF BURKE had lived in our day he would have
found new reason to exclaim that the age of
chivalry had gone. The arrival of the Queen
of OUDE in this country has, we are sorry to
say, provoked a burst of insult from the
Ministerial press.

SEPT. 6, 1856.

The misfortunes of this Indian princess
might fairly excite our compassion, though we
denied that she had good cause to appeal
against the decision which has deprived her
son of his throne. Her arrival to ask for
justice at the hands of our Parliament would
be of some interest if only for the historical
recollections it awakens. It throws the mind
bark for two thousand years, to days when
princes of Eastern nations came to implore
protection from the Roman Senate, and to
appeal against the acts of Pro-Consuls who
had deprived them of their dominions.
Whatever the character of the supplicants, we
are accustomed to regard them with pity as
the victims of a force and a civilisation
superior to their own.
The Queen of OUDE and her suite have
many claims upon our generosity, though few
perhaps upon our sympathy, except those
which arise from common feelings of humanity.
They represent an Indian Throne with which
we have long been in close alliance. Our
Government in India has received from it
direct pecuniary aid, and has been glad to
recruit its army from the Oude population.
The Royal family complain that they have been
unfairiy deprived of their kingdom ; and as
they come among us, relying on the character
of the British people for justice,—demanding
that their case may be fairly investigated,—
hey are at least entitled to a respectful recep-
tion. We think our Government would have
done itself honour had it given some coun-
tntance to this unfortunate family, and re-
ceived them in a manner in some degree
suitable to the rank they lately held.

We view the case of -Oude-as in some mea-
sure representative. A number of other In-
dian princes aro seeking redress for wrongs
which they assert they have sustained at the
hands of our Indian Government. Like the
Royal family of Oude, they feel that the Ad-
ministration and Legislature of Great Britain
alone can afford them redress. If Parliament
should in this case refuse to entertain the
appeal, we imagine that all other cases of a
similar kind will fall to the ground, and that a
fiat will virtually issue that the acts of our
Indian Government are the acts of the Crown,
altogether superior to supervision; and that
however greatly the princes of India may con-
ceive themselves wronged, no means of redress
are open to them.
If this decision is to be come to, then it will
be an act of mercy to the complaining parties
to plainly acquaint them with it, that they may
no longer entertain hopes of relief which will
never be realised. When the case of Oude
comes before Parliament, the principle must be
determined whether, under any circumstances,
the acts of the Indian Government can be ap-
pealed against. If the appeal be refused, it
will only remain for the native princes and
Governments of India to make the best terms
they can with the British authorities in their
country.
But while the appeal is pending, let us, at
1 east, refrain from insulting the suppliants. and
from considering the peculiar customs of their
country and their religion as a reproach. All
that we know at present is, that the Royal
family hive been dispossessed of their dignity,
and that the whole kingdom of Oude has
been annexed toi our Indian empire. Let us
prepare to hear with impartiality what the suf-
ferers by this seizure have to say against it,
and what to urge in their own defence.
Supposing the rule of the King to have been
to thoroughly bad as to call for his deposi-
tion, it does not appear why the next heir
should not have been appointed. This is an
important point to be considered.
It is probable that the broad ground will be
taken, that the course adopted was justified
by regard for the interests of the people of
Oude ; that the native dynasty and system
were alike worn out ; and that with the power
to seize the kingdom came the right to do so,
that a more beneficient system of government
might be introduced. If the annexation is to
be justified on this ground, or if this be the
sentiment which will weigh with our Legisla-
ture in sanctioning it, whatever special and
technical arguments may be urged in its justi-
cation, then a solemn responsibility will be
cast on the nation to see that its real plea for