The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-05 00:00:00

LONDON, MON DA.Y, OCT. 5, 1857.

In the present st tte of intense public excitement
respecting Eistern affsirs, more especially those
relating to India and Cnioa, there is a very general
desire for the speedy reassemtling of Parliament.
It is true, that the members of the Government
are beginning to have their eyes opened to the
magnitude and paramount importance of the
emergency—that Cabinet Councils are held at
unusual and inconvenient seasons, when Ministers
have been accustomed to take their ease, or dis-
port themselves according to their individual
fancies—and that many valuable resolutions
have been adopted, such as despatching additional
forces to India—some by the Overland route—by
calling out several additional Militia Regiments,
and also by giving facilities to the recruiting ser-
geant, by lowering the standard of height and
increasing that of age, for those willing t..
accept the QUEEN'S shilling. These are all well
in their way, and we readily concede to Ministers
the credit to which they are well entitled there-
for.

But there are other problems which cannot be
properly solved without the intervention of tho
Legislature. However anxious Ministers may be
to do their duty, they cannot of their own autho-
rity meet every emergency that may arise. Be-
fore the prorogation we painted out the urgent
necessity of demanding extraordinary powers,
-which would have been readily granted. That
advice was disregarded. The vote taken on ac-
count of the militia was totally inadequate.
There are many of that gallant body who would
eagerly volunteer for India, or China, if convinced
that they would not be separated from officers whom
they regarded with affectionate respect, and per-
manently divestel of their characteristics as mili-
tiamen. It is needless to say how valuable such
stalwart auxiliaries might be. But they could
not be used, however earnest their own wishes or
pressing the emergency, until an Act of Parlia-
ment had been first duly had and obtained.

Besides, the Government of the United King-
dom is essentially Parliamentary. It is of
Queen, Lords, and Commons ; and alhough th:!
Eseentive may act on an emergency, it is highly
dnairable that it should have the advice and assist-
ance of the eolliteral branches of the Legislature
on every trying occasion ; and who can say that
the present is not one peculiarly so ? Then
are complaints as to the administration
of Anglo - Indian affiirA, which should
be ful'y and promptly iavesti4ated. It is mote
than hinted that Lord CANNING is not duly quail-

fled for the discharge of the arduous and impor-
tant duties confided to his hands, that a Governor-
General of greater energy and decision, might, by
accepting the aid, freely and cordially tendered
by " JUNG BAHADOOR," better known in this
country as the Nepaulese Ambassador, have
everted the horrible massacre at Cawnpore (that
iickened the hearts of the people) and removed the
thrilling anxiety felt respecting the fate of Luck
now, of its heroic garrison, and the helpless fugi-
tives who have sought shelter and protection
within its walls.

It may also be essential to render Sir COLIN
Camrsznn, the Commander in whom the nation
kas unlimited confidence, perfectly indepen-
dent of any civilian authority, either that of
Lord CANNING, or of Mr. J. P. GaANT, or the
native deputy, who has been pitchforked
into a position in which no native
ought to be placed under existing cir-
cumstances. It is strongly rumoured that the
;allant General has already been compelled to
assert his own dignity, and to prevent himself
from being fettered and paralysed by the red
tapist trammels in which his predecessor, Sir
PATRICK GB.A.NT, was enveloped. These are
wafters which imperatively demand the attention
of Parliament, and in which any procrastination
is a serious offence against the community, not
only of India, but of the United Kingiom.

But there is another and even a stronger
ground, why Parliament should be convened for
an early day. We believe that the East India
Company will require further funds before next
spring. The enormous military expenditure,
far beyond what was anticipated two minths
since, and which must be still further increased,
the treasuries plundered, and revenues uncol
lected, prove beyond a possibility of doubt, that
the compaay took a too sanguine estimate of their
resources, when they stated that they had ample
funds to carry on the war until February next.
' They had a considerable balance on hand—some
three millions sterling—but that would go
but a short way in providing for the transport
from England, pay, and conveyance up the
country, to the scene of action, of 40,000
English troops with Indian allowances, to siy
nothing of the losses by plunder of the treasuries
And of the means by which they may be reple-
nished. The pay of the mutineers will certainly
tease ; but then there are irregular forces raised
nr about to be raised—Sikhs and Goorkhas, and
,thers—and compensation to be given to pecu-
niary sufferers, that will fully counterbalance the
savings occasioned by the defalcation of the Ben-
;al army. A loan, and one of no inconsiderable
(mount, must therefore be resorted to, and the
important question arises, whether that loan
,hould be taken in India or England.
This requires Parliamentary consideration,
And a distinct reference to the constitutional
guardians of the public purse. It is a
nockery and delusion to say that there is no
relationship between the pecuniary affairs of India
ind of England—that the taxpayers of the United
Kingdom are not concerned in the amount of in-
erest, which is to be wholly defrayed out of the
Indian revenues. We directly assert the contrary
—that these charges must sooner or later fill on
he United Kingdom, when the anomalous
limbic Government is abolished, and Hindostan
becomes an integral portion of her MA-
JESTY'S dominions, under the direct rule of
Queen VICTORIA. Our exchequer will, in fact,
profit by any surplus, or, as is by no means im•
possible, bave to provide for any deficiency. It
herefore becomes a matter of serious moment at
what rate of interest the anticipated loan may be
,:onol uded.

If at present made exclusively on Indian
revenues, it will scarcely be obtained under 6 per
cent ; if with a British guarantee, it will pro-
i)ably be had at 3i, or at the outside, at
3i per cent. This is certainly worth look- •
ng to, and Parliament is alone qualified t.)
pronounce an opinion. The affairs of China, tDo,
which created such excitement some seven months
since, demand notice. It was that question that
'ed to the appeal of the country. It was to it and
to the universal Anti-Yehite feeling, that many
honourable gentlemen owe their seats. Surely,
then, it is not too much to anticipate that they
should willingly submit to any personal inconve-
nience for the purpose of discharging efficiently
the trust reposed in them. Let Parliament then
forthwith be summoned for an autumnal or a
winter session, and if that course be neglected,
let meetings be called in the metropolis and
throughout the provinces to express the public
feeling in reference to the omission.

That we are to have the promised Reform Bill
appears to be taken for granted—Lord J. RUSSELL
seemed to assume it at Sheffield, as an understood
thing ; at the Bury demonstration it was spoken
of in a similar manner. One of our ablest
weekly contemporaries has argued strongly in fa-
Your of its introduction this session ; it thinks
that even should Indian affairs occupy much par-
liamentary time, which it seems inclined to doubt,
yet for variety's sake, as a relief to the monotony
of constant debating on one subject, another of
great interest will also be needed. Well, we, of
course, shall be only too happy to give the whole
subject onr earnest attention, and happy enough
to have two topics of almost equal though of such
diverse interest to report upon, and to comment
on in our pages. We by no means object to the
first reading of a Reform Bill being the first notice

given by Ministers, and the first business of the
comibg session. If we are to have one let it ho in
time for us to canvass it, for the Commons to de-
bate it, and for the Lords not to snub it in the
end of July or beginning of August.

We do repeat, for we are not among the pro
phets of evil, that the first advice; after Parlia-
ment meetq, may be that the mutiny has been
crushed, or has quailed, before the 35,000 addi-
tional troops which by that time will have spread
themselves over the whole ground now occupied
by the mutineers. If so, the public anxiety being
so much relieved, Parliament and the Premier
will feel bound to redeem their pledge so delibe-
rately given last session. Lord JOHN RIISSELL, too,
will certainly not let the opportunity slip if Lord
PALXERSTON does ; there will therefore probably
be a move. Of course it is just possible that the
news from India will be very different to what we
decidedly expect, and should that be the case, it
may be difficult to secure the attention requisita
both in and out of Parliament. In that case, even,
some contend that as the Home Government
can do no more than send out the requi-
site military reinforcements and supplie:.,
the attention of those members of the
Government not immediately connected with
the War Department will not be much occupied
by India. VERNON SMITH and L :,rd PANMURE,
with Sir CHARLES 'WOOD, and p2rhaps the Eirl
of CLARENDON, can attend to the details of Lillian
demands; and we can very well spare the whole Of
the above-mentioned gentlemen:A services in the
construction of a Reform Bill.

Thero is reason in all this, we freely admit, and

if only the two great subjects be not cunningly
played off against each other, we shall rejoioe to
see Indian Reform and Representative Reform
taken in hand together. Let the country, how•

ever, as well as the Houses of Parliament prepare
for earnest discussion and hard work, if we are
to have two great Reforms in one year. A single
Home Government for India—the basis of all
Indian reform—will be resisted by the whole
strength of the aristocracy ; if for no other
reasons, because, first, their mediocre men will
not then do for the offices of Indian Minister and
Governor-General, and because the Indian and
Queen's army must then be amalgamated. The
Leaden Hall Directors will of course put forth all
their strength to keep a dozen good berths for
themselves, and the large patronage they still
continue so disinterestedly to retain. They well
know that in a small board, under a Minister of
State responsible to Parliament, they could find
a place only by pre-eminent ability or knowledge
of India. Then, for the most part, the defenders
of Indian abuses are the same party as will ob-
struct honest reform at home ; that party, there-
fore, will be doubly energetic under the impulse
of a double set of vested abuses to defend ; abuses
which, like most in England, and we suppose
elsewhere, are chiefly in favour of the titled or
the wealthy. If, then, we are to have almost a
reconstruction of our Indian Government and a
Reform Bill worth having too, there will be plenty
of work for us.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said his best to the working
people of Sheffield, when they presented him an
address on his presiding at the Ragged School
Meeting at that town, but it was impossible for
language to be more vague. Is he invited to take
office, and fears, therefore, to commit himself ?
We believe Mr. DISRAELI would have made a
better bid under such auspicious circumstances.
Had the Hon. Member for Bucks received an
address, as a politician, from working men, moil
certainly he would have offered them some mini-
mum of electoral qualification, coupled no doubt
with two or three clever Conservative adjustments,
by which he would bring the weight of the new
voters into the Tory scale ; and all fair too, i❑
party warfare. If the Conservatives can, as we
believe they can, extend the franchise very largely
to the working classes, and can yet by an appor-
tionment of members according to population
secure the majority of their votes for themselves
—then let the Whigs look to their places and
their seats I "I go heartily with the working
men of this country to see their franchises ex-
tended, and that all classes of people may have
increased satisfaction in the working of their in-
stitutions," said Lord JOHN. We believe, as we
have already observed that the leader of the
Opposition would have said more, certainly he
would have said as much, and as certainly Mr.
WALPOLE, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, and Lard STAN-
LEY wouli have all followed him. Lord JOHN
must make better bids than this.

Government, of course, makes no sign. Even
Mr. OSBORNE, once so fluent of Radical
utterances, could not be brought to let out a
single hint, at Dover, of what we are to expect in
the way of Reform. The utmost ho could do was
to express regret that, "if we are to have
another Reform Bill, one eminent public man,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who, whatever may have
been his political backslidings, is yet a fine speci-
men of the English gentleman, and of the English
Liberal, and wkose name is indissolubly associated
with the brightest triumphs of the Liberal cause,
is not a member of the Government." What
does this mean ? Is a Reform Bill to be brought
in, and is Lord Joins RUSSELL somehow to be got
into the Government 7 Is it desirable to e-m-
-ciliate his entire good-will, if possible ? And,
since Lord PALMERSTON cannot give way yet, is
Lord JOHN to be placed in the Cabinet, with the
charge of the New Reform Bill, as the indemni-
fication for his not taking the highest post ? If
Lord JOHN RUSSELL be wanted as a colleagu
perhaps nothing could more appropriately com-
pensate fur a subordinate position than to make
him virtually Secretary of State to a Reform of the
Representation. That office he could take with-
out humiliation—but then he must carry the Bdi,
and one worth having too. He must carry it,
even if he dissolve Parliament to do it.