The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

etT,

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1855.

Committee or commission ? That is the ques-
tion—one, too, of no ordinary importance, for on
the decision will depend the estimate which the
nation may form of the energy, independence,
and manliness of its representatives—of the
amount of confidence that may be reposed in the
Commons House of Parliament I That inquiry
is essential is now admitted on every side. Even
the Ministers who in other offices considered it
not merely unnecessary, but unconstitutional,
have entirely changed their mind; and ask for
the more rapid action that may possibly attend a
Government commission. If, however, the pro-
ceedings of an independent and fairly-appointed
committee are slow they are unquestionably sure ;
and the nation has some reason to hope that the

evidence elicited will not be garbled or mutilated
—that even if the inferences be inaccurate or
unconnected, the facts from which they are de-
duced will at least be correctly given, so that
every unprejudiced man may be enabled to draw
Ms own conclusions on correct data.

If, then, the nature of the contemplated
investigation were still doubtful —if there
had been no. deliberate decision on the point
that the reputation and character of the
representative branch of the Legislature would
not be seriously compromised by any with-
drawal from the position it solemnly and delibe-
rately assumed, with full notice that in so doing
it was passing a vote of censure, or, at least, of a
total want of - confidence not only in individual
members of the Cabinet, but in the entire Govern-
ment—we should still insist on a Pailiamentary
inquiry as the only one likely to prove effectual
or to bring forth adequate fruits in due season.
When, however, we look to all the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the case—when we consider the
disgrace that would fall on those whom we desire
to respect, by abandoning their well-considered
and just decision, our astonishment is increased
at the hardihood of the Minister who could de-
mand, and the servility and degradation of those
who could concede, a humiliation in every respect
so deplorable. Then, indeed, would the body
which we have been accustomed to regard as the
" first society ef gentlemen in the world " change
its designation, and become, instead, the laughing-
stock of Europe.
The Whig panacea for all grievances has un-
fortunately become too notorious to excite any
degree of enthusiasm in the country—to enkindle
even a gleam of hope in the heart of the veriest
tyro. Whenever it was necessary to make things
pleasant for a time—to get rid of a well-founded
torrent of popular indignation, or shelve an incon-
venient question to a more convenient period—a
Commission was appointed. Some three or more
gentlemen, thoroughly versed in " red-tapism,"
and clamouring for a participation in " the
loaves and fishes" were selected. A couple of
secret chaps were added as Secretary and Assis-
tant-Secretary, and then the subject was quietly in-
terred until a monument was constructed in the shape
ofa volumin9us bluebook, which recorded the names
and virtues of the deceased, but could not restore
the Slightest degree of the long-suspended vitality.
The wishes of those who appointed the Commis-
sion were paramount, and no inconvenient matter
was suffered to ooze out by the discreet officials.
The TADPOLES ofija. TiLmas,
et hoc
genus
wrote,
were accustomed to regard the appointment not
merely as getting -rid for a time of an inconvenient
was of
but, what in their eyes topic,greater im-
portance, a means of lessening the amount of
competition among the would-be Government
ouvriers, filling the gaping mouths of some hungry
expectants, and thus reducing the number of the
" waiters on PROVIDENCE."
Under existing •circumstances, it is the duty of
Government to act, not to talk—to determine,
rather than investigate. It not "sayings," but
" doings," that are required. The present rather
than the future must be looked to. Immediate
energetic action is required. But still
that will
not dispense with the necessity
of the Parlia-
mentary investigation. The two must proceed
paripassu. The Prime Minister, representing the
Executive, must 'act, but that should be done
without any attempted evasion of his responsibi-
lity. Parliament. must investigate, but not by

delegation of its powers to others.
If Lord RAGLAN be incompetent, it is for the

Minister to recall him, and substitute a more
efficient General in his place—not to send a
kind of hybrid animal to watch, report, and
" recommend." If General SIMPSON be
better calculated to bring the War to a
satisfactory conclusion than Lord RAGLAN,
by all means endow him with ample powers
and unfettered authority. But why should we
keep a general merely to control and direct a gang
of scavengers, when the real authority has passed
from him. History tells 113 that the Sicilian
tyrant, when deposed from his high condition, be-
came a pedagogue, because still there was the
semblance of authority to console him in his fall.
But surely Lord RAGLAN does not require such a
break to his fall. It would be far better for the
respectable old gentleman to return to the Ord-
nance Department and resume the
pen, with
which he was so familiar, and in wielding which
no errors could be inflicted, no oversights de-
plored.

The guardians of the public purse last night
unhesitatingly accepted the bill drawn by her
MAJESTY'S Government. The full number of
men demanded was at once granted, and the
trifling amount of 7,353,804/. voted for the ne-
cessary expenditure, without a single dissentient
voice. No niggardliness of disposition, no undue
economy, can therefore be charged against the
British nation. There has been no undue
cutting down of estimates—not the slightest
symptom of parsimony. There is therefore
the less excuse for any failure on the part of the
Executive when everything that can be wished
for is dealt forth with such profuse and unsparing
liberality. Surely we have a right to look for
efficiency and utility on the part of the various
officials whose labours are so generously remu-
nerated. It may be expected that they will at
length think it consistent with their positions to
meet their paymasters—the public—with civility,
and to expedite every reasonable application, in
place of snubbing the applicants. It is no
longer desirable that the various depart-
ments should become mere machines, that
cannot be influenced by any exigencies—that they
should look only to form to the total neglect of
substance—that they should eschew the possession
of anything approximating to mind or reasoning
power.

We have, however, seen some deplorable in-
stances of the untoward consequences of the total
absence of a directing will; and the iron despotism
of routine. It was at one timefelicitously remarked
that "established rules were admirable servants, but
most despotic and tyrannical masters ;" and even
that despotism may be rendered more intolerable,
that tyranny more grinding, by the hauteur and
insolence of those charged with their administra-
tion. When profound contempt is palpably
manifested in the curtness of the written replies
and the indifference and apathy of the verbal
communications, no independent man will subject
himself to such contumelious treatment, or come
unnecessarily into contact with those who seem to
pride themselves on the total avoidance of every-
thing approaching to gentlemanly feeling.
The case of the " green coffee," which was so
long and wantonly served out to the troops in
the Crimea, and which furnishes a striking illus-
tration of the system in operation, not merely in
one but in many departments, was last night
alluded to. The explanation given on the sub-
ject by Mr. WILSON only places the grie-
vance in a stronger light, and aggravated
the misconduct of those justly responsible for the
evil. It appeared that unroasted coffee was pre-
ferred by the troops ;in the Kafir war as more
convenient to carry, and in better condition.
Ergo, it should be sent in the same way to the
Crimea, where the partieshad no conveniences either
for roasting or grinding, and where, in fact, it
became worse thiin useless, merely tantalising the
men, who saw a valuable addition to their com-
forts lost by the misconduct of the parties whose
duty it was to look after their comforts. Some
excuse might be made if the evil were corrected
immediately on discovery, but, in place
of that, many valuable months passed
away without alteration or improvement,
and it was not until late in December that any
coffee fit for use was sent off ; although "My
Lords " were not, even at the last moment,
" aware" of there being any deficiency. There
must, then, be a complete and searching reform in
all these departments—a reform recommended by
independent Members of Parliament, and not by
persons thoroughly imbued with the objectionable
spirit, and prejudiced in favour of every red-
tapist form and practice.

The present system of purchasing commissions

in the army totters to its fall. The results
of its operation during the present War have
been so disastrous that everywhere public feeling
is excited against it. Go to what quarter you
will and lie sure you'll find it—alone or in con-
nection with the sufferings of the army before Se-
bastopol—the subject of animadversion. If you
ride in a metropolitan omnibus the chances are
ten to one you have to listen to its condemnation.
If you resort to "mine inn" the subject of
conversation is sure, before long, to be the same.
If you travel you may make up your mind to
listen to Jeremiads against its advocates and those
who have beuefitted by it ; and if you rest, stay
in what town you may, you will find the subject
still uppermost, and the feeling the same.
Not only in this manner, however, but also in
a more indisputable one, is expression being given
to the universal feeling. In many of our pro-
vincial towns public meetings are either being
announced or are in contemplation on the sub-
ject. Foremost among these we may mention
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, one of the most public-
spirited towns in the icingdom. There a requisi-
tion, signed by a large number of the most re-
spectable and influential citizens, begging the
Mayor to call a public meeting of the
inhabitants of the borough to consider the
system in queStion, has been immediately re-
sponded to by his Worship, and on Thursday
next, we doubt not, it will be shown, as it can be
beyond dispute, that the system is what the re-
quisitionists describe it to be—" injurious to
the service, paralysing in its effects, and un-
just to the private soldier." The example thus
set cannot be too extensively imitated. Every-
where public feeling should have a similar ex-
pression, and be followed, as we suppose it will,
at Newcastle by petitions to Parliament. The
system is too bad to admit of a successful de-
fence, but it suits a powerful class too well to be
given up because of its condemnation. It must
be swept away. Commissions must hereafter
ebe-
come the legitimate reward of military knowledge,
zeal, and good conduct, and then we shall have
(Accra more
generally
substantial worthy
stimuluso u
t• soldiers,th an
and offer to both
fame alone to emulation, whether in patient en-
durance and readiness of resource at all times, or
in intelligent bravery in the shock of battle.