The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-21 00:00:00

would, indeed, have been terrible. The war
would have been prolonged, and the ranks of the
mutinous Sepoys reinforced by those who were
comparatively innocent, and who might be re-
garded as patriots fighting for their homes and
families—for all that renders life worth having—
rather than as truculent rebels.

We have already, on many occasions, com-
plained of secret diplomacy, and the true
Liberals have echoed our objections. But,
surely, it would have been far worse if
there had been any suppressio veri on such a point.
The real governors of the United Kingdom, the
chosen representatives of the independent consti-
tuencies, had a right to demand full information,
and, if it had been denied, to censure the
Ministers who sought to substitute autocracy
for Parliamentary Government. There would
have been fair grounds of complaint if it
had been kept back, and none but the
most factious opponents—men actuated by the
most insatiate cupidity could object to the course
adopted by Lord ELLENBOROUGH, we say " Lord
ELLENBOROUGEE," for he was alone responsible,
and with chivalrous devotion, he bore the burden
and sacrificed himself in the cause of truth and
justice.

Lord Jolax RUSSELL should be the last to com-
plain of such an act, or to seek to render the en-
tire Cabinet liable for the mistake—even if it
were a mistake—of one of its members. '
He himself has committed indiscretions, and there
was, on one occasion, much stronger grounds for
making the then Government liable for his inde-
pendent acts than the present for those of Lord
ELLENBOROUGH. The real question, however,
and that on which judgment must be pronounced,
is the spoliation policy of Lord CANNDIG. It is
impossible to evade that leading point, or to ride
off on a collateral issue. Terrible may be the
consequences if the interests and welfare of India
are disregarded. We do not, however, believe
that any consistent Liberal can vote for the resolu-
tion, or assist in producing the mischief that
must follow a proceeding so injudicious and un-
warrantable. . _

It now appears that Mr. V. SMITH has received
no less than four letters from Lord CANNING,
all of which have been carefully suppressed ! His
former colleague, Lord GRANTILLE, acted more
fairly, for he immediately communicated to
Lord ELLENBOROUGH the substance of the only
letter which he had received respecting
the proclamation. He also stated that
General OUTRAM had objected to its se-
verity. It would, indeed, have been strange
if the views of that distinguished officer, writte❑
on the spot, and with all the evidence
whereon to found a decisive judgment, had not
been acted on. We believe, too, that the opinions
of Sir CoLIN CAMPBELL, Sir JOHN LAWRENCE, and
Colonel FRANKS were identical with those of Sir
JAMES OUTRAM.

How Mr. SMITH can reconcile his conduct with
that becoming a man of honour and a gentleman
we are at a loss to understand. The whole
House—the whole country—men of every shade
and variety of political opinion have united in
condemning the course which he deliberately, and
after consultation, with his former leader, had
adopted. But he was thoroughly reckless, pro-
vided he could turn out his opponents he cared
not for his own reputation. He may have heard
of " the engineer hoist with his own petard,"
and he may soon witness another illustration of
The adage, in which he himself may serve to
" point a moral and adorn a tale."
One of these letters was. forwarded to the Duke
of CAMBRIDGIE, as relating to military matters 1
Why was not that forwarded to the Go-
vernment ? Mr. SMITH and his noble
counsellor seemed to have ignored altogether
the Government, and to have thought that their
existence might have been altogether ignored.
We hope and believe that many men occupying a
high position in society could have acted such
a part. Whatever may be the result of the pre-
sent motion, nothing can replace Mr. SMITH, or
obtain for him the public confidence. He has
irretrievably damaged himself, and must hence-
forward be contented to sink into the insignificance
from which be should never have emerged.