Star.
London, England, 1830-06-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

Cuaowictz....A warm scene took piste in the House of Com.
mons last night. The subject was a late run on the Banks in
Ireland, attributed to a letter from Mt. O'Connell to the Editor of
The JVakrford Chronkk. We are far from approving of the re-
commendation of Mr. O'Connell, which, if acted on to any extent,
must have been productive of much injury to those who ate least
able to bear it. It is deeply to be lamented that Ireland should re.
main in a state which enables any individual, be he who hetnay, to
produce the effects described by Mr. Doherty. The truth seems to
he, that the people of Ireland are pipes on which all may play by
turns. We shouldlike to see the people possessed of a mind and a
will of their own. If the Duke of Wellington, no longer Minister,
or Sir Francis Burdett, or Mr. Brougham, or Sir James Gra.
ham, or Mr. Hume, or any public character in this coun.
try, were so address a letter to the Editor of any news-
paper in this country, In a neighbourhood where paper Is
circulated, recommending a run, the letter would be dime.
gardcd, except a doubt were entertained of the solvency of the bank.
But pas tulit Graschoe de :editions wrests* y The Irish Mem.
bers, In their rebellion, as it has been called, on the subject of tax.
ation, have not set an example which entitles them to complain of
any one. We admit that it was 111. advised in Ministers to meddle
with the Irish Press. But, generally speaking, there can be no rea.
son why any one part of the empire should be less taxed than any
other part. The Highlands of Scotland and Wales, are naturally
poorer than Ireland ; but are we, on that account, to have one rata
of taxation in the Highlands, another in Wales, and another in Ire.
land ? On the principle on which a different rate of taxation is
contended for, with respect to Ireland, there ought to be a separate
rate for each district. If Ireland is poorer than England, it will
pay less, for the produce of a tax depends on the ability of the tax
payers, and not on the rate. The great bulk of the population in
Ireland are unfortunately below the reach of taxation, and it is im.
material, as far as they arc concerned, what the rate is. But the
gentry are selfish enough to wish advantages over their fellow.citi.
Zen, in this country to which they are not entitled. If the Irish
Squirearchy can only squeeze the people, and obtain an exemption
from every bnrthen, whether on account of the State or the poor,
that is all they are for.
TIMM—For some time past the French Government has been
turning its attention with apparent zeal and activity, to subjects of
manufacturing and commercial interest, without being able to rise
above the prejudices, or to dispel the Ignorance, by which they are
surrounded. Hence, while they have schools of arts and trades,—
while they have established lectures on chemistry, mechanics, and
political economy, for the benefit of the industrious clasee,—while
premiums are offered for improvements in almost every branch of
manufactures,—while exhibitions take place in one of the royal
palaces of the products of industry, as a national spectacle,—wefindl
industry shackled with multiplied useless regulations, and foreign
trade almost extinguished by impolitic restrictions. Hence, while
they endeavour to encourage one kind of industry by bounties, they
destroy another by prohibitions, and, desirous to enjoy Incompatible
advantage!, repel from their ports those foreign products, without
the admission of which they cannot find a market far their
own. Hence ft hagipens, that two of the greatest trading nations
in the world, with a few leagues of other, whose inter.
course might be so advantageous, from their proximity and
from the variety of exchanges to which their reciprocal wants
and peculiar productions might give rim, appear to have esta-
blished a kind of commercial quarantine against each other.
...Hence, though it was proved, almost to demonstration, deer.
log the suffering of the French wine trade since 1827, that France
would derive incalculable benefit from relaxing her prohibitive sys-
tem, and admitting iron and colonial goods to exchange for the pro.
duce of her vineyards, the Government still penises in maintaining
expensive foundries at the public expense, in forcing the manufac-
ture of sugar from beet.root, and allowing several vintages to sour
In the cakes of the wine-grower.—That this conduct proceeds from
antiquated prejudiceand imperfect information, rather than from
any lack of activity on the part of theatres:lament, is evident, among
other things, from the bustling attempts of almost every successive
Administration to do something striking in favour of sade.-..
M. de Peyronnet, whose life has hitherto been almost exelu.
eively devoted to the studies and duties of the psis.
slim, no sooner enters the hotel of the Hoare ilepaetowt
than he is inspired with the wish of improving the dilikl/17
of thou Boards with which his functions require lie to
consult on affairs of trade and manufactures. Aessedingly
we have in the Mention. of Tueeday, a long seneet by
this minister rseing these councils, fwd by a
_loyal dares
for remodelling Since the institution of Comma General
of Commerce and Manufactures, the delegates of ism Miens*
interests have composed two bodies. The Council of Ossimus at
present consists of 85 members, and that of Mamilbelisso alai The
/Minister of the Interior has the power of neeisling at isle good
meetings. They are usually consulted on any greet moms slitt-
ing the classes which they represent, and by whit.* they use peed*
elected. In addition the duty thus imposed upon them et giving
their opinion when asked, they sometimes mime to sake reps.
sentations and remonstrances when the Gorenment would wish
them to be silent. This was the twee, as some of war min will
',collage at the commencement of the Spanish invasion, when both
councils concurred in petitioning for a eontla_snce dr sew Whe-
ther the Minister finds its inconvenient to reside over two separate
bodies whose interests are so intimately oinseeted, ea thinks that
their duties would be more successfully perineed by a union of
their counsels and a reduction of their members, it is difficult to
say • but in his report he has given sense plausible reasons
for forming the two commissions into see, and seducing their mem.
bers from 116 to 72. According to the existing system, the mem.
bers of the Councils of Trade and Manufactures were chosen partly
by the classes which they represented, and partly by the Minister
of thc Interior. This mode of election is still to continue for the
formation of the united board. In France there are 34 Chambers of
Commerce established in the different great cities of the kingdom.
These Chambers are to elect 30 merchants to represent trade • the
the Chambers of Manufactures are to elect 18 chiefs of manufaetur.
lug establishments to represent their interest, and the Government
retains the power of nominating 18. Besides, several of the larger
towns are empowered to nominate two members, Paris itself return.
log eight. The list thus formed must be submitted to the King for
his approbation before the Council can begin to act. Though the
two councils which formerly existed separately are thus to be con.
solidated into one, the Board is still, for the purposes of conve.
nient consultation, to be divided Into two sections, with approriate
duties, and acting under Vice-Presidents of their own choice.
This latter regulation (which in effect reconverts the council into
separate boards,) taken in connexion with the diminution of the
numbers, and the necessity of submitting the lists to the Royal ap-
probation, is sufficient to beget a suspicion that M. de Peyronnet
has invented this plausible meaeure of consolklation to get rid of two
inconvenient deliberative bodies, and to secure the nomination of
councillors less powerful and more tractable. The ground of this
suspicion will appear strengthened, when it is considered that the
great mass of the industrious classes in France belong to the Liberal
side- -that the opposition to the existing Cabinet is composed chiefly
of the manufacturing and mercantile interests—that at the electoral
colleges nearly all the voters whose qualification depends on the tax
derived from patentee, or licenses to trade, are hostile to the Minis.
tern—and that the monied interests, which the reformed councils re-
present, will form the strong array against them in the next Chamber.
lizaain—The suppression of the inhuman practice of Sarkis
was a measure which we had frequently pressed upon the notice of
our Anglo-Indian Government, as an imperative duty, long before
st took place. It was said by those who defended the policy of the
East India Company, that any attempt to abolish the practice would
be an act of dangerous interference with the religious rites of the
natives of Hindostan, and might be productive of the most serious
consequences. Even disaffection and revolt were predicted as the
probable result of a measure having for its object the raving of hat.
man life from superstitious torture and extermination. We have
lived to see the Government, on whose behalf this groundless plea
was advanced, refute it by their own act. That Government, by
one decisive order—as we had the satisfaction, a short time ago,
to announce—extinguished the burning piles of a cruel supersti-
tion, and, without endangering In the least the tranquillity of their
dominions, saved the lives of thousands of human beings from
idolatrous sacrifice ! Thus one great step has been taken to.
wards the chilisation of British India, and a late reparation
made to the violated rights of humanity. Though we cannot
but deplore the amount of torture and of death that has been In.
flitted in consequence of this step not having been earlier taken, yet
we would not detract from the credit to which the present Adsainia.
tration of India is entitled for having at length extirpated a barbs.
rism not only revolting to reason and morality, but shocking to
nature. We never could see that the burning of widows alive on
the funeral piles of their husbands was necessary for the stability of
our Indian emp re. The event has justified our anticipation; for
the order declaring this horrible custom illegal met nowhere with
the least resistance, although it is probable that for some short time
the Brahmins or Piiests, who profitted by those superstitious cruel.
ties, will endeavour to evade the law; but, under the opsratioae of
an efficient police, the practice of tying the living to the bodies of
the dead, and consuming both to ashes, will cease to have any
existence except in the records of the incredible atrocities that are
generated by the fanatical debasement of mankind. But
there is another sanguinary Indian superstition which bad its
periodical offerings of human victims. It is the worship'
of the idol Juggernaut—a WOlOllll truly demoniacal, and against
the toleration of which, as far, at least, as the destruction of life is
oncerned, we have hitherto protested in vain. It is a disgrace to
India, it is a scandal to human nature, that this wooden penonifi-
cation of the Spirit of Evil should be allowed, at stated times, to
make a disgusting and destructive peeress through the lands and
roll his chariot-wheels in triumph over the crushed and mangled
bodies of his frantic votaries. It is a worship like this this should
be made sbbservient to the collection of a tribute by any civilised
Government ? Yet a tribute 13 collected by a Christian Govern.

EmaL.m..

went from the pilgrims who throng to mingle in the lode
cent orgies around the ear of the idol, or to throw themselves
beneath Its weeds! If that tribute be applied to repair the
temples or to support the Priests of such a system, it makes
the Government under whose authority it is collected fearfully re-
sponsible, before a higher tribunal than that of man, for the encou-
ragement of the hands and the cruelties which are practised,
on an irant people by the Priests of this monstrous idolatry.
We do now that the rulers of India have felt it their duty to
put down the practice of Stale*, they will feel themselves equally
bound to prohibit the sanguinary orgies of Juggernaut; and, in-
stead of collecting tribute to repair his temples, which are stained
with blood,level them to the earth;that the people may learn the im-
potency of the idol which their fears invest with the attributes of infer-
nal power. It was by such decided and energetic conduct that theßo-
man conquerors of Great Britain put down the cruel superstition of
the Druids, who propitlated their demon-gods by burning men in
wicker cages on their altars. The Romans had never been intolerant
to other nations nn account of their religious belief, except where it
violated the rights of humanity, sad became, instead of a speculative
folly, an actual nuisance, which must be abated before a people could
be in a situation to lawn the rudiments of civilisation. We speak of the
Romans, of course, before the despotic excesses of the emperors
changed the national character, for then, along with every other
vice, they were taught that of religious persecution. The sup.
prmsion of the human sacrifices of the Druids was, however, en.
forced as a mere matter of police, for they knew that such abomi-
nations could not co.euist with the moral improvement or civilisa-
tion of the people, and therefore their intolerance of so cruel a
system was in itself an act of mercy. We are glad to find, as we
mentioned yesterday, that a notice was given at the India House,
Wednesday last, of a motion relative to this subject for next quarter.
day--and that Mr. Poynder intends to move a resolution in the court
of proprietors, to the following effect :—" That this court, taking
into consideration the direct encouragement afforded to idolatry, and
also to the licentiousness and bloodshed connected with idolatrous
observances, by the collection of tribute from the worshippers and
pilgrims at the temples of Juggernaut, Gya, Allahabad, and else.
where, both fox the repair of those temples and the maintenance of
their Priests and attendants, recommends to the Honourable Court
of Directors to take such measures as will have the effect of imme-
diately directing the attention of the Indian Government to this sub-
ject, and of eventually removing such a reproach from a Christian
empire." It is indeed a reproach to a Christian empire that it en.
courages a species of idolatry which a Pagan nation thought it a
shame to tolerate 1 We hope Mr. Poynder will be successful in his
laudable object, and then.by facilitate the civilisation of our eastern
dependencies, and cleanse the land over which a British Government
presides from the foul stain of idolatrous crimes.