THE VOTE OF CENSURE.

Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1858, Page 1

THE VOTE OF CENSURE.

(From the ' Times.') Of course this is rather a lame conclusion, but in the present state of the House of Commons every conclusion must be lame. If it is not a finale, at all events, it's the most comfortable. A dissolution and a general election would be no joke, whether to newspaper folks, or members, or anybody else. Even a change of ministry, with the prospect of another change before long, would have afforded us but a qualified gratification. As for ministers, we can only say they are very lucky dogs. They have escaped drowning—we trust not for a worse fate. Let them profit by the warning. India is the only point now in question, and were it much in question, we might insist much on the assurances given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the most cordial and sincere assurances of sympathy and support had been sent out to the GovernorGeneral. We might hail this as something in the way of positive gain, rescued from the scramble of the week. We might, top, express our gratification at the improved tone of all sides with regard to Lord Canning's proclamation. Everybody admits that it has not been a mere ebullition, as some would have it, or a weak deference to civilians greedy bf rent and pay. A dozen members, one after another, pleaded that it was ridiculous to proceed, as if upon imperfect information, when they had before them a statement which it would take weeks to master. Whatever the success of Mr. Card well's motion could have done for Lord Canning, he has it more in another way. All this we might take as compensation for bad sport—for this long hunt without killing our fox. But, as we have repeatedly said before, changes of Government, new Parliaments, debates, resolutions, new masters at the Board of Control, fluctuations of public opinion, and we verily believe a revolution, if we had one, make no difference in India. The Government out there pursues the even tenor of its way, checked by an occasional rebellion or war, but always pressing onwards, conquering, annexing, and what not, without caring much for instructions from home, except when they are quite to its taste. It matters not for India, we repeat, which side is in. The Roman consuls changed, every year, but small difference did that make with the great work always in hand, and steadily advancing 50, 500, 1,000. miles from the capital. Yet there are such things as false steps to be retraced; bad compromises to be mended with a little gentle violence; treaties "more honored in the breach than in the observance;" classes treated with an indulgence that only makes them more susceptible of subsequent harness; specious grants of independence that may lead to mistakes. Indeed, most of our Indian crimes have begun in weakness. The end is always the same, and it must be always the same, so long -as we deal with a people who set their cunning and faithlessness against their own ability and truth. Considering, then, that Oude will cer • tainly be ours—that ligr princes will be brought, soon or late, not only to obedience, but to a sense of their obligations to us; considering that we shall one day tax the land there as freejy for the public service as we do the soil of British Isles, we should be sorry to hear that concessions had been made which will have to here-" voked. That is Lord Canning's feeling, and itis one that entitles him to the warm acknowledgments' which he has again received from all sides of the House.