The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-02 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUBSDAY, FEBRUARY 2.

TO OUR READERS.

A DOUBLE NUMBER of the EXPRESS will
be published on SATURDAY NEXT, and con-
tinued on such Saturdays aa the length of the
Parliamentary Debates shall render desirable.

Is it certain that we see all the meaning that lies
in the proposition to " bring India under Parliamen-
" tory control ?" This is not the first time by many
a one that we have attempted to bring a remote de-
pendency into direct union with our own system of
government. The history of our Colonial Adminis-
tration is full of such instances. It is a history of
failures, and notwithstanding, or rather for that
reason, it is a history of benefits. The free spirit of
the Colonists, inherited from ourselves, has re-
peatedly frustrated an intention which would have
educated England in the arts of domination and
developed her appetite for material power. Blindly
we blundered on from mistake to mistake, now pro-
voking rebellions and now passive resistance, till at last
we learned that it is safer as well as more glorious
to rale by idea' than by strength. The lesion was
worth twice the prim of disappointment and
wounded selflovo we bad to pay. Here in this island
men's thoughts about government are broader, truer,
and higher, beesose of the independent spirit dis-
played by their fellow-citizens abroad. We can
bear to look back on past errors because we cannot
disconnect them from &salutary reaction. The United
States of North America, Canada, Australia—have
re-taught us the principles of English Govern-
ment. Free and Christian themselves, they have re-
called us from false aspirations to the political life
worthy of our faith and liberties. Colonies now
flourishing undor the British sceptre may be fast ripen.
ing into kingdoms and republics ; the present genera-
tion may see tht m rise into independent States—but
whenever they may go forth, joy and pride will
sparkle beneath the tear with which, like a Queenly
matron at her daughter's bridal, England surrenders
her title in her children. Such is the commerce
of the free.

But India—what is she, or what can she do for us,
that nothing will satisfy us but the strictest em-
brace ? There are people who talk and write es if,
in some extraordinary way, we could draw India
closer to us without being drawn ourselves at the
same time closer to her. Parliament, certainly, has
attempted strange feats. Last session the House of
Lords seriously debated a proposition for divorcing
the husband from the wife, and yet leaving the wife
married to the husband ; and it took some time and
pains to make the absurdity oldie thing plain to the
Episcopal author of the plan. But assuredly, if
India is married to England, England will be mar-
ried to India; and therefore, while it is yet time,
we may as well inquire into the prospects of the
union.

The first result of the incorporation of India will
be to exhibit what M. DE PERSIGNY last week
called the " noble and lofty principles, which are
" the foundation of your legislation," es inapplicable
to the imusen.e majority of our fellow-subjects. We
are not bound to make laws for India in the House
of Commons ; but if we do, we must legislate for the
country as we find it—degraded, barbarous, pagan.
Some there are who have the courage to pronounce
the words " self-government " and " representation
"In Parliament " for India. They have doubtless
a work to do ; let them hold fast to their hope, and
never cease to demand that India shall be adminis-
tered so as to prepare for its realisation acme days
but that day is far distant, and what they wish
Lord PALMERSTON will certainly not propose.
India moonquered, without 'pity or national con-
sciousness, without a true social organisation, or even
the seeds of one, must, or at any rate will, be
governed masterfully. Of course, we shall desire
that our rule maj be for the good of the people, and
we believe that no other consideration could recon-
cile the great body of the nation to our tenure of
that land. But of the spirit and form of our rule
there can be no doubt. Every precioui life lost in
quelling this mutiny, every soldier sent out, every
million of English money to be invested in improve.
meets, is and will be a pledge that the Government
of India shall be towards the native prompt, vigorous,
and efficient—in a word, shall be despotic.
And it is proposed that the principles of such a Go-
vernment shall be elaborated from year to year in the
British Parliament. We had hoped not to see the day
when it should be necessary to deny in the House of
Commons the fundamental doctrines of the British
State ; but we are teat approaching it. "Illustrious
" strangers," who have been wont to frequent OW
debates to learn the highest lessons of freedom, will
hear from PRIVY SEAL. or LORD PRESIDENT apolo-
gies for exclusive laws. We must learn from
Russia the odious doctrine of subject noes, and from
Austria the justification of military government, and
prepare to bear them stated in the chamber of that
House which produced the Declaration of Right.

1.