The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

sane fear of the extension of Russian influence at
Constantinople, we were about to become the mere
tool of the French Emperor, and lend ourselves to the
support of a demand which ought never to have
been made, and which was itself an aggression, in
order to gratify the ambition of Louis NAPOLEON
and increase the influence of the Romish Church—
two objects which we ought to be the last to support.
And why has all this been done, and ENGLAND
placed side by side with FRANCE in this unholy
dispute? It can only be traced to the apprehension
of the designs of RUSSIA, and the belief that it is
the interest of ENGLAND to maintain the Empire
of TURKEY as the only efficient bulwark for the
integrity of our Indian Empire. If we admit that
the destinies of nations are guided by human fore-
sight, and the progress of mankind the result of
human wisdom, we cculd readily believe that
ENGLAND was justified in protecting, at all hazards,
so important a key to her Eastern trade as the
Empire of Turkey : but we have a right to look to
a higher fountain of wisdom than the policy of
diplomatists; and therefore we cannot believe,what-
ever appearances may present themselves, that a
Mahommedan nation can be maintained by a
Christian state, however necessary its existence may
appear to be. From the time when JOHN SOBIESKI
was the defender of Christian Europe against the
Infidel Turks, the followers of MAHOMET have
been decreasing in numbers and importance. For
years past the Empire of TURKEY has grown
rapidly weaker from inherent decay ; and much as
we may dread the designs of Russia, our Christian
faith compels us to believe that that of the Moslem
must become utterly extinct, and TURKEY no
longer remain the only exception to at least the
nominal Christianity of Europe. Such a result no
human power can avert, and it is folly to attempt
it; but it does not, therefore, follow that we are
to submit to the extension of Russian domination,
which we have so much interest to prevent. The
Russian Government has not shown itself so
anxious to resort to hostilities as some parties have
been so desirous to make it appear; much may be
done by pacific negotiations ; hut if we needlessly
seek a cause of quarrel, we shall but precipitate the
catastrophe we wish to avoiu.

THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
AND ITS ABUSES.
THE announcement by the Government of their
mention to introduce a Bill this session for con-
tinuing the Government of India, for a lengthened
period, upon a mere modification of the present
system, has excited more than ordinary attention to
this important subject. So long as the peculiar
powers exercised by the East India Company were
based upon a legal charter, granted for a definite
period, there was no disposition to interfere with
the privileges of the potentates of Leadenhall-street ;
but a proposal from the Government to renew
those privileges puts the question upon quite a
different footing. It is almost a matter of surprise
that the administration of affairs in India has not
long since excited more of public attention than it
has hitherto done, and been made the foundation
of a grievance by those restless legislators who are
never better satisfied than when they have something
to grumble at. It is not for want of magnitude
of the interests at stake, for the population of our
Indian empire is at least four times as great as that
of the United Kingdom ; nor could it b; because
there was no room for improvement, for a cloud
of witnesses might be brought to prove the con-
trary. Still, whatever might have been the cause,
the management of this vast appanage of the
British Crown, with the exception of the acquisition
of the territory of Lahore and the desultory war in
Burmah, has aroused very little of public discus-
sion. It is time, however, that the British Legis-
lature should be aware of the vastness of the interests
upon which it will have to decide, and the heavy
responsibility of deciding hastily where the issue
is so important. Were it not for the simple fact
that the controul over this magnificent territory
has been, from its first acquisition, nominally vested
in the East India Company, it would be difficult to
imagine that the British Government would consent
to the delegation of powers of such magnitude to
an association of private individuals. The only
check has been the right of veto on certain of the
major details by the Board of Controul; but the
immense amount of patronage anti all tne minor
parts of the system—which contribute, perhaps, in
the greatest degree to the results—are at the will of
the East India Directors, who, in this respect,
possess a power not inferior to the highest offices
in the Home Government. Had this plan worked
successfully—had the resources of India been de-
veloped to anything like the extent which might
reasonably have been anticipated, and our power in
the East been proved the means of ameliorating the
condition of above a hundred millions of the
heathen population, reduced to subjection by the
force of arms—the wisdom of a change of system
might have been questionable. The results, how-
ever, are far otherwise. India, which should form
by far the largest market for our exports, consumes
only to the extent of Ten Millions a year; and a
country which, in its days of Pagan rule, maintained
many princes in barbaric splendour, can now barely
pay the expenses of its Christian rulers. It may
not be chargeable upon the East India Directors
that each man has only his own interest to serve,
and that the whole system is but a scramble for
individual gain ; but it is clear that with the
patronage vested in irresponsible persons, who have
to take advantage of an elevation gained with diffi-
culty, incompetent persons are placed in offices of
trust, and the interests of the whole are subordinate,
if not absolutely sacrificed, to the private ends of
these nominees. Whenever the affairs of India
have been commented on by those who have had
opportunities of observation, without being in the
interest of the Company, it has been shewn that
the whole object of the system of Government
appears to be to give value to the patronage of the
Directors, without the slightest reference either to
the improvement of the population of India or to
render it a source of permanent advantage to the
trade of this country. So long as India yielded
sufficient to pay the salaries of the officers and the
dividends to the holders of stock, nothing
more was required ; and every step that has been
made in advance, such as the promotion of rail-
ways, has merely been as a precaution against the
increasing inadequacy of the revenue to meet the
expenditure.
Let us suppose, however, that all this was
altered ; that the Governor was the direct nominee
of the Crown, and responsible as any other colonial
governor for the efficient performance of his duties;
that his council and other subordinate officers were
also appointed by the Crown; and that the whole
system of government was under the direction of,
and immediately responsible to, the Executive at
home, and liable to be freely discussed by the
Legislature ; England might furnish a host of
efficient men for the performance of the several
duties required, who have now no opportunity,
because they have no friends among the magnates
of Leadenhall-street. The resources of India
might be made available to render us independent
of America for cotton and of China for tea; and the
perseverance and enterprise of the Saxon race,
unrestrained by the chilling and baleful influences
of favouritism, which now prevents all competition,
might soon render this mighty empire in the East,
with its fine climate and. unlimited command of
labour, a market for our products exceeding; all
our exports, and a means of employment for our
mercantile marine, which would be continually
extending. If India were opened to our country-
men as freely as Australia, under no other ensign
than the British flag, Liverpool would have to
increase her docks in order to accommodate the
East Indiamen which would leave the port
freighted with English goods to return loaded
with the riches of the East : but little improvement
can be hoped for so long as the administration of
our rule in India is at the dictation of the twenty-
four individuals known as East India Directors;
who, from the temporary nature of their tenure,
cannot be expected to have any other object than
the advantage of the present time, without any
reference to the interests of the future.
__
The opportunity is now afforded for effeting a
very desirable alteration, owing to the period for
which the charter of the East India Company was
last renewed soon drawing to a close; and yet,
notwithstanding the reasonable demands upon
the Government to postpone the question
for a year, in order that a committee of inquiry
may bring their investigation to a close, and any
proposed system for the future receive that careful
consideration to which it is entitled, they have
avowed their determination to bring in a Bill
during the present Session, to continue nearly all
the abuses which now form the subject o f suoh