The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-18
THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH
INDIA



The finishing touches have been given TO Lord Stan
leys bill for the future government Of British India IN
both houses Of Parliament the royal assent has been
given and that vast empire twelve thousand miles dis
tant from the British Isles, with population ct 200
0o0 900 souls the foundations of which laid on the
3ls of December 1900, has passed from the hands o
the great mercantile corporation who ruled ITS ucsthes
with much splcndor and and will henceioih
be governed directly by the constitutional sovereign OF
Great Britain and Ireland The % sKoompaice Sahib
whose Give, Lake. Warren, Hastings, wellesley, vel
lingon Napier and Dalhouse have built up and consei
dated Of the richest and airest empires in the world
ON the little foundation of the strip OF land Ave miles
in length the Coromandel coast, ceded 70 the Lon
don Company Ia 1859, have been dcposcd, and the
sword and sccpte which they welded with such terrible
power and often INSCRIPTIONS daring have passed INTO
the hands of that lustrious lady who occupies the
British throne and ulls the duties Of her high Office
with SO much wisdom and gentleness-with such credit
| 10 herself and benefit to her subjects
The assumption OF moInentous responsibility, IN
voving it does many and complex interests VIII
ii is confidently expected prove successful experiment
and result to the mutual advantage OF the ruler and the
ruled Htherto the barbac races by which India Is in
habited differing from their British conqueors much
In feelings habits, social institutions and religion as they
do in color have been unable to comprehend being gov
erned by corporation of merchants, traders, and bank
es under royal charter and they have always sus-
peced that the object Of such corporation private
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and gain rather than their welfare and
happiness. Government by Queen, King, or an En-
peror they and do understand and it is thought not
results by inducing Obedience respect, and reverence
for the supreme authority vested in Queen which they
never felt while it lodged in mysterious corporation
which they could never understand.
1t has been wisely determined by her Majesty adys-
ers that the important change which the Legislature has
made in the government Of India should bo proclaimed
and explained to the nations and natives to be mmedi-
atcy affected by that change in an authoritative, clear
and precise Queen Victoria will proclaim to
her Hindoo and Mohammedan subjects that her first OBJ
ect is to govern them justly and bcnevolently, by re-
spectng their customs and usges and not even running
counter to their pejudices by allowing them perfect
freedom Of conscience and religion by securing them per.
feet justice in all that relates to ic property and repu
aton and by acknowledging their equality with Euro
peas in the eye Of the law She will assure them that
under her direct control they shall he treated with hui
manty and consideration, that their landed interests
shall be serupuously respected that the taxes required
for the support of the government shall be collected in
the manner least oppressive TO the taxpayer and that
they shall be evenly and equtably apportoned. She
will tell them that she holds India for the best interest
and solid welfare Of the inhabitants and that while she
will terribly punish rebellion and crime Of every degree
she will ealously protect their lives possessions ber-
| ties, and regulations,
The Indian people fully capable of understanding
and apprcciang such proclamation. When they learn
that the revcnuesceking and large dividend making cor
poraton, to whose complicated tedious, and selfish rule
they have been long subject has been replaced by the
direct government OF the Queen and her responsible min
sters they will rejoice at the change and believe that
they likely TO DO better and justly governed
\
/ Emperor or Maharaiab. .&
Her Majesty has already nearly convinced her Indian
subjects of the physical force of her government and Of
her ability to enforce their submission She has yet to
convince them Of her neral force, and her ability to win
their love and respect Her bravo troops will put down
the rebellion and reconquer India But when their task
complete, when peace haa been restored and the fire.
land and the sword haze done their work. the task of
government cancellation and the perpetuaon of peace
will commence We believe that the publication of the
royal proclamation the heads Of which have sketch
ed will We fruitful Of happy consequences that the
cal amnesty said to have been proclaimed by Lord Can
ming to all those who lay down their except
dcrers will have the effect olagey thinning the ranks
the rebels many of whom only continue to fight because
they are under tho dea that they have alternative be-
tween honorable death the field Of battle and
i ignominious death by the hands Of the hang
man and that when the aims and objects Of Imperial
rule explained and made publicly known, many who
striving to restore the barbarous and tyannca
rule of the Mogu OF any other equally oppressive and
cruel princes, will gladly abandon the vain pursuit. and
cheerfuy render allegiance to Victoria Queen Of Great
Britain, Ireland, and Hindostan" Every wellwsher o.
peace, civilization and Christianity must hopo thai
such viii be the result of the recent change In the gov
ernncnt of British India.