The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-08 00:00:00

has entered upon a new crusade, and has resumed the
activity which he laid aside in 1846. Believing,
however, that it is an exceedingly injudicious and
mistaken policy which he is advocating, and that he
is at present appealing rather to the passions than to
the reason—that he is, without the slightest necessity,
exciting a panic, the results of which may be very
prejudicial to the cause of Reform, Parliamentary,
fiscal, and financial, we feel it an imperative duty to
protest against the course indicated by the Hon.
Gentleman.

He insists on the immediate settlement of the
question. Why, it is settled ; it has been long
since settled,, and it is he himself who is once more
forcing on an unnecessary discussion, and disturbing
the entire country, arraying class against class, on a
matter that would probably never again be heard of
—but for his denunciations. It is quite certain that
during the present session the question will not be
brought forward by or on the part of Ministers. The
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER has for some time
advised that the subject should be placed in abeyance
until the nation should pronounce on the matter at
the next general election in unequivocal and unmis-
takeable language. The PREMIER, too, spoke clearly
and distinctly on the point when explaining in the
hereditary branch of the Legislature the reasons
which prevented him from forming a Ministry in
1851, when her MAJESTY had confided the important
trust to his charge. He said, " that in his judgment
the opinion of the country had not yet been taken
upon that important subject; that at a general
election the country will have an opportu-
❑ity of declaring its opinion, and that if

that opinion should be hostile to the views which he
entertained, he would then bow to the decison of the
country, and abandon Protection for ever." Such a
pledge from a nobleman not merely of unimpeached
integrity, but who is admitted by even his most
strenuous opponents to be "of the most chivalric
honour," is too important to be lightly relinquished.
It will, we doubt not, be maintained to the very
letter. Let every preparation then be made for the
contest. Let every open constituency (alas ! that the
word "open " must still be used) be canvassed by a
Free• trader, and let the opinion of the country—
the calm and deliberate opinion, firmly but
temperately expressed, be given on the question, and
then the promise of the Earl of DERRY will be valid
and unimpeachable, and we venture to say will be
strictly fulfilled ; and the great party of which be is
the head will see the propriety—nay, more, the ne-
cessity, of abandoning their untenable demands. But
if it be otherwise--if the apple of discord be again
flung abroad, and the passions of the people excited
to the highest pitch, we may have many bitter
partizans returned, who will refuse to abide by the
decision of their leader, and the question will be
kept open, a perpetual source of irritation and
annoyance, occasioning the greatest disquietude
and injury to all parties. Let us, then,
avoid the factious course, and confident in the
strength and justice of our cause patiently abide the
period when the several constituencies must proclaim
at the hustings their undying devotion to the sacred
cause of " untaxed food," and their determination to
maintain theposition that has already been achieved
by indefatigable and energetic exertions.
Placing that all-important subject aside, let us
look to other matters. First comes the income-
tax, that unequal, inquisitorial, and oppressive im-
post, that has disgusted the nation, and which
we verily believe mainly led to the Ministerial
resignation of 1851, and the change of Govern-
ment of 1852. Sir CHARLES WOOD staked the exist-
ence of his party on retaining the most objectionable
provisions without change or modification. He ex-
hibited, indeed, an unreasoning and obstinate per-
versity that disgusted his friends and delighted his
opponents. We can never hope for any beneficial
alteration at his hands, but Mr. Desasisu and Mr.
HERRIES and others have declared that it would be
impossible to maintain the obnoxious impost, in
its present objectionable form, and that if it is to be
retained as a source of permanent revenue, it must be
rendered more equitable. To which of the parties,
then, are we to look for relief on this deeply interest-
ing subject? Not to the Whigs, certainly ! And
we can only hope for it by showing fair play to their

successors.
Again the taxes on knowledge come before us.
'We recollect the stereotyped answer of Sir CIJARLES
WOOD, that the paper, advertisement, and newspaper
stamp duties produced so many thousands
per annum, which he was certainly not
prepared to relinquish. From him relief was hopeless.
The paper manufacturer should be still annoyed by
the most vexatious Excise regulations; cheap literature
should be discouraged, if not prohibited; the wretched
sempstress seeking for employment, the maid of all
work requiring a situation, should still contribute as
highly to the revenue as the nobleman offering for
sale an estate worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Mr. DISRAELI may correct these crying grievances.
We believe that he is disposed to do so, and look for-
ward, at least with some degree of hope, to his pro-
positions. We would not remove that pleasing anti-
cipation by the premature restoration of the family
party to office, especially if they should by that resto-
ration be imbued with the idea that no other Govern-
ment would be tolerated by the country.
If we consider the other Excise duties or assessed
taxes the result will be the same. From whence is
there the greatest prospect of obtaining a remission
of the hop duties ? a most unjust and unwarrantable
tax, indefensible indeed on any true fiscal principle,
being practically, and, as we have long since asserted,
neither more nor less than direct robbery on a certain
class, who, because they held lands more than usu-
ally valuable, were selected as proper parties to be
cruelly and
_most unjustifiably plundered. Again,
the malt-tax, and others of a similar character, will
probably be taken
.into consideration, and we may
reasonably anticipate early legislation with respect
thereto. The poor-rates and other local taxation
may very probably be equalized, or at least in some
degree more equit ably apportioned than at present.
We cannot, perhaps, expect that everything will at
once be effected, but we shall at least
have some chance of seeing the course entered upon.
' Let the country, then, wait for the production of
Mr. DISRAELI'S budget before a final opinion is
formed. If we should be disappointed, if he should
enter on a retrograde course, we will oppose him with
all our strength , but once more we say, it is measures,
not men, that are to be regarded, and we should
not reject really beneficial propositions because they
emanate from a quarter that may be regarded with
some degree of suspicion.