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Leader (1850-1860), 13th June 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 15, June 13,1857.] THE LEADER. 567

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      < I ( Belgian Politics. Ooji Estimate Of...

      formation' must "be understood in its literal sense of' reconstruction . ' The Bengal army is ruined , stock and block , beyond all repairing It has , for years past , been a gigantic sham a showy imposture ; but now that the bubble has fairly burst , let us think of some new system of military organisation more app licable to the present requirements of British India . _ . ¦ ,

      In our opinion a complete reconstruction of the Native Infantry might be effected at a very trifling cost . There may be a considerable amount of prejudice to encounter : but no vested rights need be interfered with , if any such exist . Half the number of regulars that we now maintain would , if suitably organised , constitute a far more valuable ¦ fighting army than India at present possesses . "We would have this ' Field Force , ' as far as possible , concentrated in large

      frontier cantonments . It should consist of small battalions on the scale of 1837 ; but there should be a captain and two subalterns for every company , with tico majors , in order to stimulate regimental ' promotion . ^ . Native commissioned officers would be quite superfluous . Every individual attached to this force ought to be , in all respects , an effective soldier , and any officer accepting of civil employment should at once be struck off the regimental rolls . The ' Field Force' might supply its own staff in the purely military departments ; bat , with a view to im prove

      and benefit the greatest possible number of aspirants to office , the tenure of staff appointments might well be limited to the period , sayfbf five years . The fighting soldier should no longer be called upon to perform the duties of a policeman , or to undertake treasure escorts within our own provinces . Caste should be absolutely ignored , as it always has been on the Bombay side . With the increased proportion of officers , since it has been deemed necessnry to introduce an English S 3 stem of discipline , that system might be consistently-maintained , which is at present an impossibility .

      The interior of British Iudia may be very safely entrusted to a second military force , composed of local , provincial , or district battalions of 800 or 1000 men , under a commandant , second in command , and adjutant . And here an opportunity would offer of giving commissions to native non-commissioned officers selected from the field force , and thus providing them with an honourable

      retirement , upon the first sign of their efficiency for more active duties appearing to be on tho wane . Hither , also , would be transferred from the ' Field Force , ' in order to serve out his time , every man suspected of being less than fully \ ip to the mark . ^ These battalipns would undertake all the civil and other duties , in tho performance of which tho strength of tho lino has hitherto been

      frittered away , and its discipline so lamentably impaired . Such is , in brief , apart from minute details , our idea of what might bo easily done , if once set about with energy . Tho existing excitement may possibly bo mado subservient to so wholesome a purpose . Years may elapse before mutual confidence be fully restored between the Sepoy and those in authority over him ; but it will bo some satisfaction , at least , to know that timely measures are being taken to promote tho return of that bettor fooling which has boom so perilously estranged .

      June 13,1857.] The Leader. 567

      June 13 , 1857 . ] THE LEADER . 567

      The Electoral Movement In France. We Nee...

      THE ELECTORAL MOVEMENT IN FRANCE . We need not insist particularly on tho wording of the few liberal Addresses and Circulars now publishing in Franco with reference

      to the elections . They are necessarily so constrained ,. so full of almost imperceptible inuendoes , that an English reader can scarcely appreciate their significance . We have , for example , before , us a sort of lithographed general epistle to the electors , signed by G-abnieb , Pa . g £ s , Cabnot , IjE Frahcois , Hekoed , and Buchez , in which it is announeed that ' our friends' have decided on action , whilst of when , and where , and how , there is no revelation . ' Action' means

      voting for Opposition candidates—if possible , ' Democrats '—if not , the most ' sympathetic persons elected in 184-8 . ' The electors are warned they may be in a minority ; but what then ? 'Ambition fears defeat : patriotism may submit to it with honour . ' There is , of course , no direct mention of the principles on which the election is to take place , no discussion of topics of public interest All that the leaders of the people dare say is " Every suffrage given in favour of Democracy will be an echo of past days , a consolation to suffering , a balm to those who languish in a foreign land , a hope for all . "

      This enigmatical language is rendered absolutely necessary by the tone adopted by the Government . As we predicted last week , the impartial professions of M . BiiiiiAULT were understood on all hands to be imperial jargon . Their best commentary is the language adopted by the Prefects to whom the circular was addressed , and the tone of

      the addresses of Government candidates . The Prefects , one and all , but more or less clearly , intimate that the struggle is not to be between an Opposition and a Ministry , but between the Government and its antagonists , between the Empire and its enemies , between liberty and despotism . Thus , at the last moment , the country discovers—if it waited until now to discover—that all that has been

      said about the desire of the Emperor to behold a return of political life , of his wish to grant a . little more liberty in order to give some satisfaction to the intellect of France , was simple sham . There is no place for liberty in France . It could lead to nothing but the overthrow of the present institutions . " Wherefore should I come forward ?" writes a well-known statesman , explaining why he refused to be a candidate . " What could I say if elected ? Mes cliers collegues , vous etes cles greilins—that is all . " When such is the temper of some of the best men , it is . easy to understand that tho

      Government is anxious to elect its own nominees , and no others . But it has to thank itself , and itself alone , for bringing matters to such a pass . It never loses an opportunity of making every question a question of confidence . It asks always for the old ' } r es or no ' voto over again . It does not want the cooperation of tho people . All it cares for is a periodical ratification of the colourable compact by which Louis Napoleon represents France , and is entrusted with the duty of attending to—his own interests .

      Yet , with all tin ' s , tho Empire- insists on appearing before tho world , as much as it possibly can , in the character of a representative government . Arrangements have been made for filling the columns of the press , nativo and foreign , with articles and paragraphs and announcements imitating to a certain extent the phraseology of constitutional formularies . There is talk of elections—of

      candidatos and electors—of ballot-urns , and so forth . In order to preserve a mask of appearances , some sort of independent voting must be allowed hero and there , where the Government serow cannot bo openly employed . But , as wo can understand from tho addresses of Prefects arid Government candidates , all such voting will in reality bo looked upon as seditious . The Baron Makiani stands for Corsica ,

      with a formal letter of recommendation from the Emperor , and announces that any opposition will be considered ' opposition to the sovereign will , loudly proclaimed . ' This is indeed the tone everywhere adopted . The Government causes it most clearly to be understood that it is making a stand for its existence , and that whoever is not with it , will be considered against it . Even fervent Bonapartist candidates have been snubbed for presuming to stand without permission . " There is no human probability , " says a correspondent of unexceptionable character and high position , " of defeating the omnipotent influence of a centralized administration

      over universal suffrage . All the peasantsthat is , nine-tenths of the electors—will vote as the Mayor of each village , who is the nominee of the Prefect , will tell them . They all think they are obliged to vote , as they pay their taxes , according to the Emperor ' s mandate . " Under these circumstances it is obviouB that we must not look forward to the return of many Liberal candidates in the provinces , though we are not sorry to see that in spite of the overwhelming influences to be brought to bear against them , the Liberal party are

      resolved to inform the world that they are not defunct . Nor do we much regret the rumoured coalition between the moderate Democrats and the Orleanists . M . be Mojttalembeet , who announces that if elected he will endeavour ' to repress scandalous speculation and watch over the public fortune , ' will probably have the votes of the Republicans in the Doubs . The mixed list for Paris will-no doubt be accepted by the whole Opposition . On it , indeed , the great interest of the election will turn . Paris is the only

      place in which it is almost impossible to drill the electors . Much will be done to tamper with their votes it is true , but the masses are too great and too closely pressed together . If a victory bo obtained by the Opposition in the capital , it will be of the same value as a general protest of all the great towns ; and tho Government may either be driven to efface all semblance of a constitutional government altogether , or may make some of those concessions , which are prudence or suicide , according to the temper of the people whose interests are concerned .

      «R->V 1^. ~ _ ^ ~ I , . - . "^ R , — The...

      « r- > v 1 ^ . ~ _ ^ ~ i , . - . " ^ r , — The Seacole Fund . —Our readers are aware that a committee has been formed to promote the claims of Mrs . Seacole to the support and sympathy of the public . Her exertions in the Crimea are well known ; but we are informod that she rendered valuable services as a nurae and medical attendant in Jamaica in 1850 and 1858 , when tho yellow fever and cholera committed such ravages . Mrs . Seacolo has been reduced to poverty in

      consequence of her devoted attendance to the sick in the Crimea . At tho termination of tho war her premises were full of valuable stores , consigned to her at high prices , which could neither be carried away nor sold , except at a ruinous loss . Mrs . Seacole has received many testimonials to her skill , kindness , and utility , as well from persons of high rank as from private soldiers ; and wo believe wo may safely recommend tho Seacole fund to tho generous consideration of the public . — Times .

      Austhalia . —From Melbourne wo hear that four only of the members of Mr . O'Shanassy ' s Ministry out of seven havo obtained seats in tho Assembly . A vote of want of confidence was spoken of , with tho adhesion of many who contributed to turn out tho lato Ministers , Inspector-General Piorco , of tho penal department at Melbourne , has been killed by the convicts . Trade at Melbourne was very dull , from tho apprehension of large imports . The production and export of gold continued at tho average rato .-r-Tho steamor William Danny has been lost at Capo North , Now Zealand ; but everybody on board was saved . —Tho Groat Northern Railway from Nowcaatlo to Mnitland , in tho Hunter Ilivor district , Now South Wales , has boon opened . It wns commenced at tho end of 1854 ; its length is sixteen miloa and a half ; and tho cost of construction has avoragod 10000 * . por mile .

      , . _ . _ . Malta Tho squadron under Lord Lyons loft Valotttt harbour on tho 8 rd inst . for Tunis , Caff linri , Spozaia , Toulon , and tho ports of Spain . Sir William Reid has resigned tho Governorship of Malta .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 13, 1857, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13061857/page/15/