The Press.
London, England, 1857-09-26 00:00:00

rHE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 26, 1857.

is, such phrases as those used by our contem- I
porary are mere words built up into an im-
posing sentence, but one doomed to fall to
pieces at the first breath of practical know-
ledge.
Our most earnest desiro is that this question
should be fairly ventilated. We are, upon this
subject at all events, totally unprejudiced.
All we hope is that the confusion of a crisis
like the present will not be turnel to bad ac-
count by either the friends or the enemies of
reform ; that the aristocracy will not use it as
a pretext for preventing improvement, nor
others as a pretext for gratifying their dislike
of the aristocracy. Let facts be appealed to;
let the reality of certain loud professions be
tested ; let private or sectional feeling be for
the time discarded, and much good may arise
from the present agitation ; but while it is
made a vehicle for assaults on classes, nothing
but mischief can flow from it.

THE PREMIER, LORD CANNING, AND
LORD ELGIN.
A PERSONAL discussion of much interest has
grown up in the last few days. Is Lord PAL-
MERSTON a great War Minister, and is he the
best man for the Indian crisis? Supposing
that the Indian mutiny is speedily crushed, is
the Premier best suited for the future legis
lation applicable to the case? That is the
first question. There are two others connected
with it—namely, as to whether Lord CANNING
was a proper appointment for a Governor-
General of India, and why Lord ELGIN had not
been named fir that post?
As a War Minister Lord PALMERSTON has been
ridiculously overrated. His sole point is to
be regardless of expenditure, and to trust to
the spirit of a House of Commons for over
looking profuse outlay. Hectoring one set of
opponents to-day, and hushing up a batch of
jobs to-morrow, the Premier has jobbed on
with a superficial amount of reckless clever-
ness which imposes on the vulgar. He has
created nothing which will band his name
down; his system of Foreign Policy has been
overruled decisively, and is now discredited
In leading the House of Commons, although
he is most attentive to his duties, and though
occasionally he is extremely dexterous, still
his political guidance wants depth, force, and
breadth of political effect. That he has been
through life a personal success, nobody dis-
putes ; " clever Henry John" has had a
pleasant draught of existence from first to
last ; the lees of the cup has never been
handed to him, and he has never enjoyed such
a bitter portion as Lord jOIIN RUSSELL has
swallowed for the last two years. His Pre-
miership has been a fortunate accident for
himself ; it may yet turn out an unlucky
event for the country.
We agree with those who think that a states-
man of more weight and experience than
Lord CANNING should have been chosen fur
the Governor-Generalship of India. We are
unwilling to criticise him harshly, though
some facts might be severely pressed against
him, but we recollect that some of his prede-
cessors were extremely to blame. We could
sincerely wish that the Noble Lord enhanced
his father's name, but we cannot forget that
in home politics the Noble Viscount had been
undecided in his tone and views.
The Daily News of Tuesday has a singularly
severe article against Lord CANNING, in which
it says, "Lord CANNING, by Lord Aberdeen's
" desire, refused the offer which Lord DERBY
" made him to enter the Cabinet, &c , &e."
We shall not quote the paragraph in extenso,
but we may say that the influence which Lord
CANNING permitted Lord ABERDEEN to use over
him was unworthy of his father's son." The
responsibility of the appointment was vested
with the Premier. Lord PALMERSTON did not
forget that Mr. CANNING first gave himself a
seat in the Cabinet at a time when the Duke
of WELLINGTON (to use his own phrase) thought
our present Premier " a small bird." The
feelings which led to the appointment might
have been graceful and grateful, but ought
tney have been exercised in an appointment
of such magnitude ?
Lord ELGIN has been called " the handy
man;' and his arrival at Calcutta justifies