The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-06-09 00:00:00

Ibt 7Liberpoot &tanbarl3.

FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, 1843

We have never concealed our dislike of the aggres-
sive policy of otir Indian government. The incursion
of Lord Auckland into Alfghanistan was A CRIME, for
which, as we deserved, the Biitish nation atoned in
blood. Our quarrel with the Chinese people can
scarcely he defended ; and we much fear that our re-
cent Scindian conquest is one, the origin of which is
not flattering to us as a Christian people. And yet, in
evety successful encroachment of Great Britain upon
the liberties of the semi-barbarous nations which sur-
round her Indian en-wire, there can be little doubt
that vast benefits to the cause of civilisation and
Christianity are involved. We subdue, to civilise.
We subdue, to bring about that period when " all the
nations of the earth shall know God ;" and, if the end
could sanctify the means, then might we say to the
most aggressive of statesmen, " Go on ; you are but
the agents appointed to work out the mysterious will
of the Creator of all things."
We cannot, however, be content to hug- ourselves
upon this loose philosophy. We cannot, therefore—
at all events, with our present amount Of information
upon the causes which led to it, we cannot—pride
ourselves in the morality whin prompts our arms.
Westlake war to secure markets for the produce of our
looms—to secure an arena for British capital to display
its strength. We make war—oh, how humiliating is
the confession !—in the spirit of a pedlar—although,
in so doing, we only carry out the munificent designs
of the Eternal God! The motive is bad—radically
bad—though the end may be one at the contemplation
of, which the angels rejoice !
We have, it may be true, numberless consolations
to reconcile us..to a policy which oar conscience tells
is not defensibleJ In this Scindian conquest we have
the satisfaction orknowing that we have rescued a

people from a galling slavery, instead of coercing
freemen to submission to an intolerable yoke. The
Scindian population were the slaves of a turbulent and
oppressive tribe. It was not against the Scindian po-
pulation, that we fought; but against the oppressors.
We freed that population ; but do not let us conceal
from ourselves the fact that we did so, without the
motives which would make the action virtuous ! Our
object, sought is-the first instance by negotiation, and
followed up by violence, was the possession of the ha-
vigation of the Indus. It was a predatory object.
We sought to extend, by violence, the sphere of our
commercial operations in India. We were met in this
effort by opposition. We have overcome it; and what
is our position ? Why, our Scindian war, as the
Atikhanistan War'of the late minisiry is one conceived

in injustice and to folly. And yet when we contem-
plate our positidn with respect to the people of India,
how noble is it ! A petty nation—numerically a mere
handful compared with the myriads who people India,
we • yet rule over a third portion of the world. We
rule over it by our moral power—by our character as
a people loving nod seeking justice. And to maintain
such a Aition we must. do what we have not of late
done m ot7 Indian policy ; we must endeavour to
frame our course so that it can he vindicated and ex-
plained upon the principles which we profess to regard
as those of our especial love.

It will be found, from our report of the proceedings
in the Common Council, that Mr. Samuel Holme, one
of the representatives for St. Peter's Ward, has retired
from that body. The motives that have induced him
to resign, he has himself so fully and feelingly ex-
pressed, that ive need not dwell upon them here, fur-
ther than simply to state, that though he found he
could, in accordance with the letter of the law, pro-
fessionally undertake work connected with the Corpo-
ration, he could not do so consistently with his own
honottiahle and conscientious interpretation of its
spirit. He found himself bound, on this account, and
also in due consideration of the interests of those who
were near and dear to him, to relinquish the public
post to which he had aspired in the indulgence of a
laudable personal ambition—an ambition, we verily
believe, to serve the town in those public improvements
which his practical knowledge so well enabled him to
point out, and which it is the legitimate province of
the Council to promote,—not to seek that meretricious
popularity by display within its walls which is, un-
happily, a too frequent incentive with candidates
for municipal honours. linowing Mr. Holme to
be a man of the strictest integrity, we apprehended at
the time of Ms election, that if occasion arose for his
considering the clauses of the act, he would find them
of such a nature, that without a sacrifice of that deli-
cacy of principle which renders abhorrent even a sem-
blance of evasion, however sanctioned by those less
scrupulous, he would be under the necessity either of
relinquishing his seat in the Council, or of abandoning
his professional pursuits. That necessity has arisen;
and, under the circumstances, he had but one alterna-
tive—that of a trap honest man, which he has adopted.
We honour his, decision, while we deeply regret his
withdrawal from the Council of our borough. "We
could have better spared a better man ;" and in this
sentiment we feel assured we shall be joined by the great
majority of our fellow-townsmen. We were proud of
his election as of one who was born amongst us, and
who would do honour to any deliberative assembly.
With his practical experience, and .his knowledge of
our localities and our wants, superadded to a cultivated
and elegant mind, we anticipated, through his infln-
ence, great and permanent benefits to the town. His
public, career has been but brief, and beset with no
inconsiderable difficulties; but lie has done good ser-
vice even in that short and somewhat untoward period.
Ills retirement, though to be lamented, comes not
without some consolatory reflections, both to himself
and to his friends. He won his election through the
heartfelt good feelings of his townsmen ; even the op-
position journals hailed his advent to the Council as a
circumstance of good omen ; he retires with the grate-
ful reflection, that he has taken the only upright course
without a sacrifice of principle ;. all parties will tegret
his resignation ; those most adverse to him in politics
must admit that his conduct as a councillor has ever
been courteous, candid, and forbearing ; and, with re-
ference to his motives in retiring, they will be corn-
pelled to respect where they cannot censure. On the
other hand it is gratifying to reflect that the town may
yet enjoy the benefits of his leisure, as may be anti-
cipated from his recent admirable work on public
improvements ; and we have further to rejoice that to
him will be intrusted the completion of a large and im-
portant portion of our noble new Assize Courts—than
which we could not have a better guarantee for the

faithful execution of the work.
When Mr. ['ohne had concluded the announcement
of his reasons for the steps he has taken, and which
were received by the
Council witl} the most respectful
attention, he received, as will be seen, some well
merited compliments from both of the parties com-
prising that body.

We understand that it is the intention to place
Archibald Sinclair, Esq.,
of Hill-side House, Waver-
tree, in nomination as Mr. Hohne's successor ; and we
have great pleasure in recommending that gentleman's
claims to the warm support of the burgesses of St.