The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

I MAY 3, 1856.

of duty alone. There is a sense of pusillani-
plea which one dislikes to per-
may in this
ceive, even in a political opponent. It was
finely laid down by Mr. DISRAELI as an incon
trovertible principle in politics, that it was the
duty of a. Government to propose such
measures as it believed most essential to the
public interests, without reference to what the
conduct of Opposition might be. What an
excuse for the neglect of a Government to
avail itself of the national resources, that it
dreaded the criticism of Opposition !—yet this
was the excuse continually put forward by the
Ministerial speakers.
Throughout the debate the argument was
all on one side. It was established beyond
dispute, that had Lord PALMERSTON'S Govern-
ment supported General WILLIAMS by money
and supplies, Kars would have been saved ; it
was proved that if his demand for 20,000 men
early in the spring had been complied with,
his communications could never have been cut
off, while the Russians, if they had advanced,
would probably have been signally defeated ;
it was shown that Lord PANMURE, even so late
as last August, had most glaringly violated
facts well known to him, by stating that
Turkey was perfectly well able to do all that
was necessary for her Asian army. The
criticism upon the uncertainty and blundering
of our Government when the Russians had
taken up their position before Kars and had
cut off its communications, was, in our humble
opinion, unnecessary, though not uninstructive.
Kars was really lost when the determination
was taken to afford it no assistance in the
spring; and the deliberations in July and
August, with the subsequent failure of the re •
lieving expedition under OMER PACHA, only
showed how fatal and irremediable were the
consequences of that decision transmitted by
Lord CLARENDON to Constantinople in the
previous April. His sanction of projects of
relief, when those projects were too late, was
an admission in itself of that charge of want
of foresight and energy which Mr. WHITESIDE
BO conclusively made out.

bited, or a greater proof afforded of the more
considerate and less exhaustive nature of the
system followed by the Sovereigns of native
States?

In point of fact, however, we shall find as
examination that the surplus arising from the
newly-annexed provinces is of much the same
kind as the profits divided in February last by
the Tipperary Bank. All the more important
charges arising out of the occupation of the
Punjaub and Pegu are debited, not to those
provinces, but to Bengal and Madras ; while
the home expenditure account is also swelled
by considerable sums in excess of those which
would have been necessary if those provinces
had not been annexed. For instance, neither
military nor marine charges appear in the
balance-sheet of the Punjaub and Pegu ; but
we find no less a sum than twelve hundred
and seven thousand pounds to have been paid
for military and marine charges, coals, stores,
&c., in 1854-5, in excess of the amount
disbursed for the same items in 1851-2,
and the greater part of this charge was
incurred on account of those provinces.
Then, again, we find six hundred and
twenty - eight thousand pounds paid for
military buildings and roads in the Pun-
jaub and north-west provinces in excess of
the amount disbursed for similar purposes in
1851-2; and the greater portion of this excess of
expenditure also has been caused entirely by the
occupation of the Punjaub. To show how the
Indian accounts are at the present day doc-
tored, in order to vindicate a particular line of
policy, we may mention a fact which it is in
the power of any member of the Legislature
to verify, and which is this :—The great object
has been to show that Pegu is a paying pro-
vince, but if the cost of the additional troops
absolutely required for its protection had been
charged against it, the expenditure so exhi-
bited would have established an exactly con-
trary result. The Madras army was, there-
fore, augmented by the number of men
necessary to supply the deficiency ; and while
no charge whatever on this score appears in
the accounts of Pegu, we find an excess over
former years of a hundred and eleven thou-
sand pounds in the military charges of
Madras. We also find an excess of thirty
thousand pounds in the expenditure for mili-
tary buildings in that Presidency, the greater
part of which is very likely to have arisen
from the same cause.

To disguise expenditure in this manner is
simply an act of trickery and dishonesty, and
the fraud is sure in the end to recoil upon the
authors of it, however it may be found by them
at present to serve their turn. The broad fact
is not to be got over by legerdemain of this
kind, that the accounts show an excess
of expenditure in 1854-5 over that exhibited in
1851 2 of no less than two millions nine hun-
dred and fifty-three thousand pouads.
Another broad fact is an equally stubborn one,
that there is an annually increasing Indian
deficit of almost three millions sterling. At
the same time the Government confesses that
the Indian revenues are incapable of expan-
sion; and nothing can be more true as long as
the present system shall be pursued. On the
contrary, remissions of revenue are talked of
as the only means of drawing anything from
ryots whom taxation has already reduced to
the lowest state. In the meanwhile, however,
the government of India must be carried on,
and loans will prove, under the present cir-
sumstances of India, very hard to raise. The
last Five per Cent. Stock is at a discount ;
an increased rate of interest must be given,
therefore, or no money whatever will be ob-
tained. Even then the matter will still be one of
difficulty, for in the present impoverished
state of the services the members of them
have little to invest, while the great resource
that formerly lay in the native princes may
now be looked upon as entirely cut off.
Marked out as they are openly pro-
claimed to be for destruction, as soon
as opportunity serves, they would he
worse than madmen to invest any more of
their accumulations in Government loans. To
do so would be to place their wealth at the
mercy of a body which proclaims its right to
seize and appropriate it at any moment to the
providing salaries for its friends ; or, in other
words, to the general purposes of the State.

411

Nor, indeed, are the native bankers and mer-
chants of the Mofussil likely to show much
greater confidence in us now that the mask is
so completely thrown off. Those who keep
not faith with dependent princes will not be
supposed likely to be over-scrupulous towards
dependent subjects when further pressing ne-
cessities push them on; for an equally touch-
ing picture of a peasantry plundered annually
by the taxgatherer to keep the public creditor
in idleness might, of course, afford them an
equal justification for performing another
heroic act of virtue and summarily wiping out
their debt. Whichever side we turn, there-
fore, we see the deepest occasion for anxiety,
and never were India and her finances in
greater peril than they at present stand.

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il
1-MAY 3, 1856. THE PRESS.
• 411
of duty alone.
There is a sense of pusillani- bited, or a greater proof afforded of the more Nor, indeed, are the native bankers
and mer-
in ity in this plea which one dislikes to per- considerate and less exhaustive nature of the chants of the Mofussil likely to show much
seise, even in a political opponent. It was system followed by the Sovereigns of native greater confidence in us now that the mask is
finely laid down by Mr. DISRAELI as an incon States? i efomtrilewtietlhy
dtheroewnndeonfft.
riTnheeossewsi who onoktebee
dover-scrupulous towards
keep
trovertible principle in politics, that it was the
In point of fact, however, we shall find oss i°
not al
duty of a. Government to propose such examination that the surplus arising from the
dependentsuppose likely to Pbe P
measures as it believed most essential to the newly-annexed provinces is of much the same
ne-
public interests, without reference to what the kind as the profits divided in February last by subjects when further pressing c
essities push them on; for an equally touch-
conduct of Opposition might be. What an the Tipperary Bank. All the more important inn; picture of a peasantry plundered annually
excuse for the neglect of a Government to charges arising out of the occupation of the
ibniitdhleentaxgatherer to keep the public creditor
Mil itself of the national resources, that it Punjaub and Pegu are debited, not to those
elagthi
()en of
for
oarffinoirnda thaenmo
another
equal justification dreaded the criticism of Opposition !—yet this provinces, but to Bengal and Madras ; while. t
was the excuse continually put forward by the the home expenditure account is also swelled
by considerable sums in excess of those which heroic act of virtue and summarily wiping out
their debt. Whichever side we turn, Ministerial speakers.
there-
Throughout the debate the argument was would have been necessary if those provinces fore, we see the deepest occasion for anxiety,
all on one side. It was established beyond had not been annexed. For instance, neither and never were India and her finances in
present stand. they
peril than at
dispute, that had Lord PALMERSTON'S Govern- military nor marine charges appear in the greateri /
meat supported General WILLIAMS by money balance-sheet of the Punjaub and Pegu ; but '
and supplies, Kars would have been saved; it we find no less a sum than twelve hundred THE MILITIA. I
was proved that if his demand for 20,000 men and seven thousand pounds to have been paid
early in the spring had been complied with, for military and marine charges, coals, stores, WHEN it is said that the British are not a war-
his communications could never have been cut ezc., in 1854-5, in excess of the amount like people, all that can be meant is that they
off, while the Russians, if they had advanced, disbursed for the same items in 1851-2, love not war for its own sake; as we verily
would probably have been signally defeated; and the greater part of this charge was believe certain other nations do. When war
it was shown that Lord PANMURE, even so late incurred on account of those provinces.
as last August, had most glaringly violated Then, again, we find six hundred and comes we fight with a tenacity and daring which
fins well known to him, by stating that twenty - eight thousand pounds paid for have always rendered us victorious in the end
Turkey was perfectly well able to do all that military buildings and roads in the Pun• wherever we have had a fair field. But these i
was necessary for her Asian army. The jaub and north-west provinces in excess of I
very virtues are not without a serious draw-
criticism upon the uncertainty and blundering the amount disbursed for similar purposes in I'
of our Government when the Russians had 1851-2; and the greater portion of this excess of back. This reliance on our personal qualities
taken up their position before Kars and had expenditure also has been caused entirely by the has rendered us rather too contemptuous of
cut off its communications, was, in our humble occupation of the Punjaub. To show how the the drudgery of warfare. We will leave
opinion, unnecessary, though not uninstructive. Indian accounts are at the present day doe-
to other nations their science, organi sation,
Kars was really lost when the determination toyed, in order to vindicate a particular line of and vast military materiel ; we have that
was taken to afford it no assistance in the policy, we may mention a fact which it is in
spring; and the deliberations in July and the power of any member of the Legislature within us wo think can afford to dispense
August, with the subsequent failure of the re • to verify, and which is this :—The great object with all this toilsome preparation. Has it not
lieving expedition under OMER PACHA, only has been to show that Pegu is a paying pro- always been so? Why should we be wiser or
showed how fatal and irremediable were the vince, but if the cost of the additional troops vi o.se than our ancestors? That these are the
consequences of that decision transmitted by absolutely required for its protection had been sentiments of two-thirds of our country-
Lord CLARENDON to Constantinople in the charged against it, the expenditure so exile men, modified, perhaps, but not materially
previous April. His sanction of projects of bited would have established an exactly con- weakened by recent events, we make no
relief, when those projects were too late, was Crary result. The Madras army was, there- manner of doubt ; and when these are fortified
an admission in itself of that charge of want fore, augmented by the number of men by the opinions of the economic school, who
of foresight and energy which Mr. WHITESIDE necessary to supply the deficiency ; and while object to armaments on grounds both con-
so conclusively made out. no charge whatever on this score appears in scientious and pecuniary, it behoves us to con-
the accounts of Pegu, we find an excess over eider in what way our late sad experience may
former years of a hundred and eleven thou- be made most practically available. We sup-
THE INDIAN ACCOUNTS. sand pounds in the military charges of pose, indeed, if it were clearly understood that
THE Indian accounts for the year 1854.5, Madras. We also find an excess of thirty our choice lay between these two alternatives
presented to Parliament in the present ses- thousand pounds in the expenditure for mili- —either to maintain a costly and extensive
sion, show an estimated deficit of two million tary buildings in that Presidency, the greater military system in full working order, or to be
five hundred and forty-three thousand pounds. partfr of which is very likely to have arisen disasters liable at any time to
recently the same melancholy
the same cause. which have
Our readers will have been prepared for this, To disguise expenditure in this manner is even the Manchester gentlemen would scarcely
as it is what we long since predicted would be simply an act of trickery and dishonesty, and hesitate between them. But the English
the case. The reality, however, will prove the fraud is sure in the end to recoil upon the people have a kind of instinctive belief that
authors of it, however it may be found by them such is not the case. They are influenced by
worse than is thus calculated on, for there can
be no doubt that in many instances the esti- at present to serve their turn. The broad fact a variety of feelings, all, however, tending to
is net to be got over by legerdemain of this the same conclusion. Some think if another
mate of revenue is much too high. We kind, that the accounts show an excess war broke out we should have better generals;
have gone through the several items care- of expenditure in 1854-5 over that exhibited in some that we should have fairer play ; others,
fully, and have no hesitation in saying that 1851 2of no less than two millions nine hun- again, that wars will grow less and less fre-
t' dred and fifty-three thousand pellicle. queue and that we really need give ourselves
the actual receipts will fall short of the
Another broad fact is an equally stubborn one, no concern about the matter. Now, as we
estimated receipts by at least four hundred that there is an annually increasing Indian think it is not safe to rely upon either of these
I
and thirty-seven thousand pounds. The real deficit of almost three millions sterling. At suppositions, while at the same time we see
deficit will thus be close upon three millions the same time the Government confesses that clearly enough that the country will not
sterling, even if the probable expenditure the Indian revenues are incapable of expan- tolerate any permanent augmentation of our
should not prove to have been as much under- sion; and nothing can be more true as long as military force, it may be worth while to inquire
estimated as the probable receipts have been the Present system shall be Pursued. On the whether there he any method of improving our
I'ver'estimated—a thin not unfrequentl the contrary, remissions of revenue are talked of efficiency without violating the traditional
ease If, as is said by the friends of Lord as the only means of drawing anything from prejudices of the nation.
lesuousie, the whole of his annexations have ryots whom taxation has already reduced to If we regard the late campaign purely from
--gee
moved
moat profitable to us, how fearfully the lowest state. In the meanwhile, however, a soldier's point of view, we shall doubtless
mismanaged our older provinces must have the government. of India must be carried on, consider our repulse at the Redan as the most
been by him
to exhibit such a result ! If the and loans will prove, under the present cir- serious misfortune of the war. How is it that
gain on the former has been a million sumstances of India, very hard to raise. The the conquerors of Alma and Inkermann, where
annually, then the loss on the latter must last Five per Cent. Stock is at a discount ; the Russians confesserev put forward their
amount to about four millions yearly, and an increased rate of interest must be given, best troops, were twice .'beaten. back by the
they must have been daily more and more de- therefore, or no money whatever will be ob. dispirited and war worn garrison of Sebes-
annexation,
terionaing in his hands. Are the advocates tamed. Even then the matter will still be one of topol? The answer is, that between the regi-
ofadhere to theirper fas
argument
nefas, prepared to difficulty, for in the present impoverished ments who fought in the first named actions,
to its e when thus pushed state of the services the members of them and the brave but unsucceesfulassailants of the
that the legitimate conclusion ? Will they admit have little to invest, while the great resource Redan, there was a wide difference, a. difference
countries held longest by us are the that forme rl lin the native princes may which, in the case of a nation maintaining so
most deteriorated and the deepest sunk in now be looked upon as entirely cut off. small a standing army as ours, must inevitably
fin •
ancuil exhaustion and embarrassment, and Marked out as they are openly pro
that it is•. happen at the commencement of every war.
only in the new and not yet beg. claimed to be for destruction, as soon Our few trained soldiers are killed off before we
game districts seized from native princes that as opportunity serves, they would he have any more ready to take their place.
we
,
of can find revenue enough to cover the costs worse than madmen to invest any more of Many of the troops engaged on the 18th of
occupation
and Each aid towards the their accumulations in Government loans. To June and 7th of September were ignorant of
general expenses of the Indian Government do so would be to Place their wealth at the the management of their rifles ; and what a
as to enable
banenipes usto stave off for a time the mercy of a body which proclaims its right to vast amount of rawness this single fact im-
simply
as„ fate? lf this be so, we would seize and appropriate it at any moment to the plies, our readers can easily understand.
Indian K whether a severer satire on our providing salaries for its friends ; or, in other This, then, is the one point to which we must
Government could possibly be exhi- words, to the general purposes of the State. address ourselves. Our system should be so ,