The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

of such grave perplexities the Ministers who form
the Government and the members who represent
the Legislature of a great country must prove them-
selves worthy of their position, and true to their
trust. So far it is satisfactory to notice that some
check has been put, and the course chalked out by
the subtle devices of M. BISMARK, but whether any
lasting benefit will thereby accrue to the State, or
whether by this refusal any decisive check be put
on his future line of policy remains to be seen, and
only the future can unfold the mystery. But
whether propitious or not in its ultimate effects,
this rejection of the Government Bill for the Loan
is a very strong proof that the feeling of the people
is against the Ministers, and whatever temporary
support they may gain on the pretext of consolidat-
ing the German Empire, that the genius of the
❑ation is in opposition to the retrograde policy
which is undermining the strongholds of the Con-
stitution, and sapping the foundations of the
popular liberties.

The news brought us by the Calcutta mail is no
longer exclusively of a peaceful nature. The dis-
turbances in the Punjab are by no means allayed,

and it will probably be necessary to settle them

vi et armis. There will be no security from future

agitation until the hill tribes are brought to
acknowledge our undisputed supremacy, although
it may not be desirable to carry on the principle of

annexation. The Russians are interested in stirring

up a bad feeling against us in Central Asia, as
they have already succeeded in doing in China,

where they have broken off the dealings between
Captain OSBORN and the Chinese authorities. The

Sikhs, as we have often proved when fighting
against them or beside them, are a fine race of men,
full of spirit and daring. There are fanatics among
them who are constantly striving to create religious
and political disturbances, but if once the hill tribes
are fairly enlisted on our side and made to feel that
they will gain substantial advantages from a firm,
powerful, and temperate constitutional Govern-
ment, against which it is hopeless for them to
struggle, we may hope for the rapid improvement
of the country no less than the pacification of the
people. The Senat Valley, just beyond the Umhegla

Pass, in which our forces are now engaged, is on

the way to Cabul, and was peopled, it is said, by a
colony of Affghans from thence some four hundred
years ago. These became gradually amalgamated

with the mixed races who followed them, and the

whole population are collectively termed Euaufz lies

or sons of JOSEPH. They have always been a tur-
bulent and fanatical people, and are greatly in-
fluenced by a mysterious recluse named the
Akhoond, who is regarded with much suspicion by
our officials in the Punjab, and who afforded shelter
to many sepoys in the year of the mutiny. This
whole district is now up in arms, and will be likely
to prove troublesome, since the old fanaticism
of the Mussulmans animates their political oppo-
sition, and the valleys and passes of that part of the
country are dangerous and difficult. However, we
possess plenty of good soldiers and able experienced
officers, who will probably make a short reckoning
with the ringleaders of the mischief, leaving the

people to be dealt with wisely and mercifully, but
above all things firmly and with juctice. The chief
cause for regret is the loss of the brave men who
have fallen in the encounters, whose lives have been
sacrificed in an unprovoked and causeless struggle.
The rumours of general disaffection in the Punjab
which have been afloat appear to be altogether ex-

aggerated. A few fanatics have been at work, as
usual, endeavouring to stir up the people, but with-
out success, so that the lessons of 1857 are not for-
gotten. It is indispensable that they should be
kept fresh in the national memory by a speedy
settlement of matters with these Eusufzaies, since a
mere temporary or superficial pacification will leave
the flame smouldering, ready to break out again at
the first opportunity. Much depends on the quali-
fications of the men who are at the head of affairs,
both military and civil. In every country the in-
dividual character and qualities of ite leaders exer-
cise an immense influence on its fortunes, but in
India, in its present transition state, are of incal-
culable importance. If, as Lord STANLEY once
very forcibly reminded the Addiscombe scholars,
the career of every Englishman in India is a matter
of weighty responsibility, the charge is increased
a hundredfold when the duties ho fulfils, and the
functions he exercices act directly upon the well-
being of the people. The selection of a fitting suc-
cessor to the office cf Governor-General was con-
sequently a matter of no small moment, and we can
easily believe the intelligence brought by this mail
of the unanimous and universal regret felt by Anglo-
Indians of all ranks and classes for the death of the
Earl of ELGIN. Upon the new representative of
her MAJESTY it depends whether the new era begun
for India in the shape of trade, commerce, and in.
ternal development should be continued or should
decline ; whether the tide of progress should
be encouraged, arrested, or retarded. Upon him rest
the peace and prosperity of the nation, its advance
in civilisation and Christianity or its backsliding
into poverty, ignorance, and mental and moral
apathy. The sudden and premature death of Lord
ELGIN therefore gave rise to some anxiety, allayed
however here, as-in India, by the tidings that Sir
JOHN LAWRENCE was the statesman selected for a
post which he is eminently adapted to fill. The
general grief and mourning in Calcutta will have
&en lightened by the tidings, doubly welcome from
the disturbed state of the Punjab frontier, that the
new Governor-General had not only been already
appointed, but was actually on his way a very few
days after the news of Lord ELGIN'S dangerous
illness and consequent resignation. The long and
varied experience of Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, his
known high principle and personal character, ren-
der him especially fitted to deal with the present
crisis in the Punjab, the very province of which he
was formerly the ruler, and to whose admirable
management it was due that our northern posses-
sions were saved from the mutineers. Sir JOHN
LAWRENCE is already at the scene of his labours,
thus anticipating the hope expressed by our Indian
politicians that the new Governor-General might
be out in March, and probably his first act would be
to visit the Punjab, where the charge of not know-
ing the people with whom he has to deal, made
against some of those engaged in the work of paci-
fication, can certainly be hardly brought against
him. The railway which will be open to Delhi in
the course of the summer will be a most valuable
auxiliary in preserving tranquillity in the north of
the Punjab when it is once secured, and will help
to bring the extremities of our possessions within
easy access. The great advantages accruing from
an easy and regular internal communication is now
perceptible to all public men, and we cannot doubt
that Sir JOHN LAWRENCE will emulate the exer-
tions of his immediate predecessors who gave every
encouragement to railway enterprise. We may
think ourselves fortunate in having at hand so able
and efficient a public servant, under whose just and
prudent government we may hope to see peace
speedily restored and established.

POSTHUMOUS BUST OF TFIACKERAY.-IVlnWeekes
was intrusted with the obtaining a posthumous cast of the
features of Mr. Thackeray. There will, therefore, be no
difficulty in securing an admirable likeness for posterity,
Most of the photographs are far too grim, and miss the
only semi-serious expression.