The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, Lk)

in our dealings with our Indian fellow-subjects, we
have hitherto erred on the side of caution rather
than of unnecessary interference. The difference
of the national religion has been undoubtedly a
great difficulty ; but the want of moral courage
which our countrymen displayed in the earlier years
of our government has increased instead of dimi-
nishing it. Their attempts to shuffle over their own
faith and their discouragement of native Chris-
tianity were in reality like all such measures, en-
tirely unsuccessful. The Hindoos did not believe
iin their professions of impartiality, and were
in consequence suspicious of every movement.
Feelings 'of distrust and secret animosity
were engendered• which were easily stirred up by
interested parties, and helped to fan the flame of
1857. Since that terrible year, which, like many
similar epochs of alarm and suffering has borne
good fruit, the whole face of Indian legislation has
changed. England has assumed, as becomes her,
the direct responsibility which attaches to her
GDvernment as answerable for the destinies of her
vast Eastern Empire. The toleration which is now
preached and practised is real, and protects the
native Christian as well as the Buddhist and
the Parsee. The last act of the Legislative Council
of Calcutta before closingtheir session has been the
passing of a measure which has been long greatly
needed. Its object is to legalise the dissolution
of the marriage of Hindoo converts to Chris-
tianity, in such cases as where the unconverted
partner refuses to acknowledge the convert. These
cases are very common, especially' when the
husband has been converted and ,the wife is
influenced by her friends. The bill provides all
reasonable time for persuading the refractory party
to modify his or her feelings, but if the, opposition
is unalterable it provides for a legal dissolution of
the marriage. The Mahomedan law provides
for itself a dissolution of marriage on conversion,
and the Hindoo law also makes such a provision in
particular cases. The Catholics have a law of
their own, so that the anomalies and confusion
complained of have in reality only reference
to Protestant converts. The whole question,
which is a very difficult one to deal with, is fully
and fairly dealt with by the bill, which has...given
very general satisfaction. Mr. BAINES'S speech on
the subject has excited a good deal of attention as a
vindication of the principles of civil and religious
liberty.. Referring to the timorous manneriu which
these questions had been hitherto dealt with, he de-
clared that the very molehills of Hindoo prejudice
were exaggerated with mountains, and that diffi-
culties which, in every day of Indian life, crumble
away at a touch were assumed to be of stupendous
dimensions. " I know," he exclaimed, " that
we do this, because the converts are
of our own faith, and because we are
tender of our own character for impartiality. But
Ido not know that we are entitled to be unjust,
even for the sake of seeming to be impartial." He
ended by declaring that no man should be forced
to be a Christian, or tempted to become a Chris-
tian ; but, if he chose to become one, it would be
shameful if he did not obtain equal protection with
those of other faiths, and if we did not apply to him
and his those principles of equal dealing between
man and man of which we are in India the sole
depositories. This noble and spirited language
made a deep impression on the hearers, and
has been accepted throughout the country
as a triumphant vindication of the prin-
ciples of right and justice. It is in this spirit
that all our dealings with these difficult social
and religious questions should be conducted. The
people will soon learn to trust us if we trust them,
and will put the same faith in our professions of
religious toleration as they do in our legislative
arT, and bold enough to deal with
such points as from time to time come up for
settlement. The appearance of reserve and mystery
has hitherto done nothing ; but, however, let us
hereafter try what simplicity and straightforward-
ness will do.

The spring and summer months, as usual, bring
a vast increase to the number of emigrants, and to
judge from the recent returns, the United King-
dom will not have much longer to complain of a
surplus population. The grand total for the month
of April, from Liverpool alone, was 19,385, which
shows an increase over the return for the same
month of 7,535. The great majority were pas-
sengers to the United States, and the principal
nationality, as a matter of course, was Irish. Nova
Scotia, Victoria, South America, 'Africa, West
Indies, all came in for a share, though this is by
no means the favourite season for Australian
emigration. We confess we should be glad to
see a great number avail themselves of the advan-
tages offered by our own colonies. The British
North American provinces especially possess untold
natural wealth, only waiting for strong and willing
hands to gather. The capacities of the rich lands
of the North-West are as yet but dimly estimated,
and the immigration of some of these adventurous
thousands would be the greatest boon to the colonies
and a vast advantage to themselves.

We hope that the approach of this season will in-
duce the Board of Trade to exercise a closer super-
vision over our emigrant ships. Surely when
so many thousands of lives are to be trusted in these
ships it is only right that some competent autho-
rity should ascertain that they are well found in
every particular before leaving port. The terrible
fate of the London impresses another warning on
shipowners and inspectors. We allude to
the danger of over loading. If the recom-
mendation of a water-line were- adopted, a
very cursory inspection would show every one
when the limit of safety was passed. It is usually
thought, with emigrant ships especially, that a
little overloading at first does not signify, as the
weight will so rapidly decrease with the consumption
of stores and fuel. But it should be remembered
that the chief danger is in those first few days.
How many wrecks have we annually round our
coasts ? How many are there in the Bay of Biscay,
where the London and the Amalia alike went down
within a veryfew days of their departure ? Once on
the broad ocean, be it Atlantic or Pacific, the
danger is not half so great as in the narrow
seas. Let the water streak be universally adopted
and rigidly adhered to. It is easy enough to
add weight to the ship, if necessary, by barrels of
water, but it is not so easy tog avoid the dangers
into which reckless overloading too often brings
ship and passengers. The bitter lessons of the past
winter may be the means of saving hundreds of
lives if they are rightly applied in the proper

quarter.

THE Fox CLUB.—The third meeting of this club
took place at Brooks's on Saturday last. Present
Duke of St. Albans, Earl Fitzwilliam, Earl of Zetland,
Earl of Fife, Lord Carew, Marquis of Normanby, Viscount
Falkland, Viscount Castlerosso, M.P., Lord Mostyn, Lord
Llanover, Sir W. Scott, Bart., M.P., Hon. P. W. Cadogan,
Hon. Fitzpatrick H. Vernon, Right Hon. Stephen
Lushington, John Cotes, Esq.; Sir James Matheson, Bart.,
M.P., Henry Hussey Vivian, Esq., M.P., E. K. Tenison,
Esq., Frederick Dundas, Esq., M.P., F. J. S. Foljambe
Esq., M.P., Hon. E. S. Russell, Colonel Challoner, Sir
e p
Tho Birch, Bart., General Sir H. F. Davie, Bart.,
ra.y,
Cholmeley,igh Right Hon.
11
.C.hla Vries. Fitzpatrick,l:raen M.P.,Clements, K h Capt. H. e A.n
ja
40237 Esq.