The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDDY, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 23, 1868.

inaj arity , must take the consequences of the last ses-
sion. Hew ' Mr. DISRAELI yielded to the representations
o f some rnest patriots, and prolonged the discussion
an the e lea lents of the measure—for as to "merits" it
seems to spasse.as none—why there would have been
no repr egelitative scheme at all for Ireland this
year, a 3d then the disappointment would have
been gr eat indeed. The Government, we feel well
assure(' ~ would have come in for no small share
of blat ne, and there would have been no gainsaying
the fa, :t that of the three countries Ireland had been
the In DS t neglected.

Mr. -,BEARDEN, notwithstanding the evident dis-
inclination of the Mouse, moved a chuse, to
the effect that the county franchise should be
six p ounds, and the borough franchise three.
This, he said, would hold out the olive-branch to
Irelan 3, and render the whole scheme very popular;
but tht 3 House did not feel disposed to close with
the pi -oposition, and it was negatived without a
divisic ❑. It seems strange that any one can ex-
pect that a motion like this can be carried, and
when. the House has come to a deliberate conclu-
sion upon a special point to seek to raise the dis-
cussion. is most ill-advised and much to be depre-
ca.ted. The disputes of the evening were not over,
however, for Mr. VANCE took up the cu lgels
in support of the proposition to extend the con-
ditions of residence of electors for Dublin from
seven to twelve miles, and a long discussion took
place on the subject; but Mr. DISRAELI suggested
that it had better be withdrawn, not that the right
hon. gentleman disapproved of it in the abstract
sense, but he did not at that stage think it desir-
able to press it to a division. The bill is to be read
a third time on Thursday. The Boundary Bill was
read a third time and passed, and the House alto-
gether made great progress.
The case of Governor EYRE was again brought
before the House in reference to the petition
which was presented a lisle time ago by Mr.
LAMONT. It appears that a mistake was
made in the number of signatures affixe 1 to
it, and this was certainly unfortunate, though it did
not at all affect the character of the petition. Mr.
GRENFELL, however, thought it necessary to speak
on the matter, but he did so in so vehement a style
that he was twice called to order by the Speaker.
Ele created some amusement in the House by setting
forth the wrongs of the " Jamaica Committee.''
He was, he said, a member of that Committee,
" which had been subject to the unceasing persecu-
tions of an irresponsible body of persons signing
themselves the EYRE Defence Committee. It really
is going too far to make victims or martyrs out of the
members of the Jamaica Committee, and so the
House seemed to think. Mr. LAMONT explained
how the mistake arose. The clerk who made up
the statement supposed he was entitled to include
as petitioners those who had subscribed money to
the Defence and Aid Fund. It was, after all, then,
very unnecessary to make so much ado about the
matter, and the numbers represented were certainly
in favour of Mr. EYRE ; and if they did not join in
the prayer that the Government should pay the ex-
penses of the trial, they were willing to contribute
for that purpose themselves, which is a much more
trying test of friendship or approval than to put the
burden on the State. Mr. LAMONT concluded very
properly by declaring that, in Westminster alone,
there was no doubt that he could procure a petition
more numerously signed in favour of Mr. EYRE
than the one he had presented at the figures stated.

The discussion on the Indian Government Amend-
ment Bill last evening in the Commons was not
without importance. The bill, it will be remem-
bered, has already proceeded some stages, and it
has now gone into committee. Lord W. HAY took
some exceptions to the proposed amendments, or
rather to the limits placed to them, for he considered
that they dil not go far enough. Ile believed that
other changes were essential, and more especially a
change which should take away from the Council
the power of vetoing by the Secretary of State in
all matters connected with Indian revenue. That
is to say, while the Secretary of State is supreme on
many points of importance, as far as the expenditure
goes he is in the hands of the Council, who, through
him, rule India. As Lord W. My put it, " The
Secretary of State has power to give away Mysore,
a district as large as Scotland, without any one to
overrule him ; but in the matter of an expenditure
of a few thousand pounds be is entirely in the hands
of his Council." A natural consequence of this,
according to the noble lord, is that the Secretary
of State is chosen more with regard to his
power of managing the Council than to his
capability of governing India. He affirmed, too,
that another mischievous effect of the system is to
weaken the hands of the Governor-General by un-
necessary interference, which was rendered more
frequent by the increased facilities of communica-
tion between England and India. Lord MACAULAY
and other authorities, who had spent much time in
the country, were of opinion that India should be
governed in India. Lord W. HAY, after entering
into more detailed arguments on behalf of his pro-
posal, concluded by expressing his desire to see the
Council of India become a purely consultative
body, and the power of the Governor-General in
India considerably strengthened.
The noble lord's views were not, how-
ever, participated in by the majority of
the House. Mr. MILL and Colonel SYKES, both of
whom are well versed in Indian affairs, were strongly
opposed to the change so ardently desired by Lord
W. HAY. Mr. MILL, while admitting that there
was a tendency to unnecessary interference with
the Indian Executive, said very justly that after all
we must exercise a controlling power, and he did
not see that it could be more advantageously vested
in the Secretary of State alone than in the Secretary
of State and his Council jointly. It is more in
accordance with the spirit of English' legislation
that wisdom should be sought in the multitude of
councillors than in the decision, however excellent,
of one man. No doubt the India❑ Government
must be on many questions the most com-
petent to judge, and unnecessary interference
from a distance is always to be deprecated ; but at
the same time it is better to run the risk of ill-
timed meddling occasionally than to abandon that
supervision which this country is called upon to
exercise over her Eastern dominions. India and
England, it may be said, are so far apart that it
is difficult for the statesmen and politicians of the
one to enter into the views and requirements of
the other ; but while this absence of sympathy and
comprehension is often a drawback, there is another
side to the question. Anglo -Indians, we know,
are apt to fall into a routine existence, to yield
to the lethargic influences of the climate,
and the enervating customs of an ancient
despotism. The poopla whom they are sent
to govern as free, dependent, an 1 respon-
sible agents, have never been accustomed
to civil and political liberty, to religious equality,
or to the free current of English thought and
speech. They are used to be trampled on, to be'
oppressed and restrained, and are so much in the
hibit of meeting force with fraud, and oppression
with cunning, that it is difficult to deal with them
on the plain ground of straightforward honesty.
Again, they have never been accustomed to vigorous
reforms, to rapid progress, to great and continuous

efforts for the cultivation of their soil, the improve-
ment of their crops, the extension of their commerce,
or any of the thousand means of developing the re-
sources of the country. What they once learn they
preserve, as there are still certain districts in which
the weaving of certain kinds of fine muslin is
handed down from father to son, and the gossamer
webs made from that Indian-cotton which was the
terror of our Lancashire spinners, still outrival the
finest productions of Manchester machinery. Into
this dreamy world, but half awake to the necessi-
ties, the changes, the duties of the time, it is well
that the fresh, vigorous current of English life should
sometimes penetrate. It is no harm if the contrast
evoked should sometimes be a startling one, and
we must remember that in former days, when In-
dian affairs were almost exclusively managed in
India, the result was not very satisfactory to India
or creditable. to England. We can only hope to
elevate the tone of Indian life by bringing it more
into sympathy with our own, and had there been
a more direct influence exercised over Calcutta and
Bombay from London fifty years ago, India would
now be many paces in advance on the road of pro-
gress. The energies of the most enterprising men
must evidently become chilled by constant associa-
tion
with the lazy and inert. The most vigor-
ous reformer mist find it difficult to keep
up to the mark when all around him are in
favour of the old and faulty system. Anglo-
Indians may claim to know best on matters that
concern themselves, but they are perhaps insensible
how much they owe to the insensible influence of
their direct connection with England. It is only
since the Crown has assumed the direct control of
its Indian possessions that progress has been made
in irrigation, in railways, in tea cultivation,
in many ways, which are gradually enriching
and civilising the country. Under these circum-
stances we must be careful how we surrender any
portion of our controlling power, and govern India
in obedience to theory rather than with a view to
successful practice. The Indians, it is true,
must be educated for taking their share in
the Government, as they are not at presc.nt
able to judge or to act for themselves, but the
whole tendency of Anglo-Indian life has been their
repression. So far from the English actually on
the spot being more disposed to consider and con-
ciliate the feelings and wishes of the natives they
are usually much less so than those in England.
There is a breach between the races on the spot
which is not represented in this country. Indian
affairs with us continue to increase in interest and
importance. We have not in England so much to
undo as they have in India, but we have to atone
for long years of neglect and indifference. We are
glad to see the Government of India Act Amend-
ment Bill is likely to receive careful consideration
at the hands of the House.

LATEST INTELL EGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
WASHINGTON, June 22.

The Senate has passed over the President's veto
the bill admitting Arkansas for presentation in
Congress. The bill is now, therefore, law.

NEW YORK, June 22.
The Hamburg and American Company's new
steamer liolsatia arrived here at 9 a.m. to-day.
LIVERPOOL, June 23.

The Inman steamer City of Antwerp, which left
New York on the 20th inst. for this port, brings
$425,000 specie.

PLYMOUTII, June 23.

The Russian screw corvette llitiaz, Captain
Zt;lenoy, from Cape of Good Hope and Cadiz,
arrived in the Sound last night.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, MONDAY, June 22.
The most important news for us, at all events, is that
we have had rain, and that the furnace-like heat has been

cooled to a comparatively agreeable temperature. The
showers were very heavy, and there was some thunder and
lightning. But, judging from the telegraphic reports, it
does not seem as if the weather had broken up, so we
shall probably have another spell of really tropical heat.
Meanwhile there are complaints that the wheat crop is
suffering from the fierce sun. Perhaps this is only a
market report, in order to check the downward tendency
of prices.

The first unauthorised public meeting under the new
law has just taken place in Paris. Its object was to form
a co-operative school. Aristide Martin, one of the seven
persons who gave the necessary guarantee as to the lawful-
ness of the meeting, presided, and made a good speech.
About 1,300 persons were present, and at the close of the
meeting a large number of them gave 15 centimes in order
to defray the expenses.

The election at Allier, caused by the resignation of M.
Edouard Feuld a few days ago, takes place immediately,
for the Government have found a candidate in the person
of a local magnate and large employer of labour. On the
other hand, there is no sign of the election for the Jura
district, where a vacancy occurred many weeks ago. The
Opposition journals suggest that M. Pinard is like
Diogenes, searching for a man, and cannot find one. It is
really too bad that the Government shculd be thus able to
hurry on or to postpone elections at pleasure.
A pamphlet has just been published by M. Gromier,
called "Programme of a Liberal Union in view of the
Approaching Elections." It sets out with the principle
that all official candidates ought to be excluded. It goes
on to say that the only chance of prevailing against them
is to start a number of Liberal candidates for the first scru-
tiny, and then for some one of them teS he accepted by all
the Liberal electors at the second. M. Gromier would
have Liberal candidates pledge themselves to philosophical
liberty, the establishment of gratuitous and compulsory
primary instruction, and really liberal laws upon. the
army, the press, and public meetingF. The author pub-
lishes letters from Thiers, Guizot, Quinet, Berryer, 011ivier.
Simon, and Pelletan, which chew that the Opposition are
not entirely agreed upon this programme. Berryer, for in-
stance, is scarely prepared for compulsory education, while
Simon is passionately in favour of it. The Government
journals are already chuckling ove: dissilences among
their opponents.

Nothing as yet has come of the very long Cabinet
Council meeting on Saturday. The Patric wishes it to be
understood that the question of dissolving the Chambers
was not discussed at that meeting. But the semi-official
journals have been singularly unlucky lately. For instance,
the France has just announced that the report of M. Emile
Pereire having resigned the directorate of the Transatlantic
Packet Company is unfounded. But this afternoon M.
Pereire has announced his resignation in the Corps L6gis-
lati f.

Au important decision has just been given at the Tarn
Court of Assizes. The judge has decided that M. Ferdi-
nand de Carrires cannot act as a juryman because he bad
forfeited his citizenship by taking service under a foreign
sovereign without the previous consent of his own Govern-
ment. M. de Carrikres was one of the Pontifical
Zouaves.

Letters from Vienna say that Prince Napoleon is
thoroughly convinced that the Austrian Government does
not mean to depart from its attitude of neutrality. Thus
the idea of the Franco-Austrian alliance, which the Empe-
ror Napoleon strove so hard to realise last year, is finally
dispersed, and thus Austria is serving well the interests of
peace.

Baron Hanssmann contemplates removing a very notable
building, Sainte-Pelagie, the prison in which political
offenders, including unlucky journalists who have broken
the Press Law, are confined. Of course the prison will
not be abolished, for, judging from recent trials, it is likely
to be more wanted than ever. But it will probably be
removed into the country, where it is believed the prisoners
will enjoy better health. At present the deaths are 30 per
cent., as compared with 10 per cent. at the Mazas prison.
The sale of the celebrated Chateau-Lath tte Vineyard,
did not take place, no buyer offering at the upset price,
£183,000. The property will be offered again in August.
A thoroughly French tragedy has just taken place here.
A man an 1 a woman were found in the water tied
together, and both drowned. Inquiry shewed that the
man was a carpenter and the woman a laundress,
who, having proved un!"dthful to her husband, left him on
his c )gnisa^ ce of herguilt, and wandered about the country
with her paramour. Tey visited the theatres and
cabarets, and having spent all their money, aid not know-
ing how to get more, they determined to die together
a la Francaise ; and so, having fastened themselves
together with a rope, jumped into the Seine and perished.
A movement was set on foot some time ago to provide
means for affording better education to women. Madame
Elisa Lemonnier is one of the chief promoters of this
much-needed reform, and she has been assisted by some
influential men who sympathise with her. Since the
matter was first mooted, three months ago, two schools
have been established in Paris, and it is intended to open
eighteen more. The wife of Jules Simon is the president
of this society.

The Emperor was at the Fontainebleau races yesterday,
and looked much better. During his drives in the forest
he has got quite bronzed. As I dare say the telegraph
has informed you, the Marquis of Hastings was again
successful, and his horse Cristal carried off the Grand
Prix.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.