The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-25 00:00:00

THURSDAY

moval, and then Britibh ships and British soanwn may
enter on the competition without heir g overweighted.
There is nothing to fear with fair i-lay ; on the con-
trary, all will yet be well.

We heartily commend Mr. SEYMOUR'S admirable
address to the electors not only of Sunderland, where
we believe it is already fully appreciated, but to every
constituency about to exercise its high privilege, so
that there may be a clear understanding of what
should be expected from candidates before they can
hope for a favourable reception. Mr. Sarsiouu's
election iR, we believe, a matter of perfect certainty.
It is such men who should be sent to the popular
branch of the Legislature, who have patience to
learr, and intellect to understand, and eloquence to
put forward their views with respect to the leading
questions of the day.

The veteran Member for Mmtrose has given fx •
pression to his views on the important question of the
malt-tax, in a letter, which will be found in another
column, and to which we invite the attention of-agri-
culturists. It will show that the Free• traders are
really the farmers' friends in every matter where they
can fairly and justly render their assistance. The
Hon. Gentleman clearly and distinctly points out the
objections to the tax against which he has voted on
every occasion when a division has taken place
during the last thirty years. He considers it a
bad tax, not only "as violating the rules
of political economy and of commercial policy,"
but also " as being injurious to the morality and
social happiness of the industrious classes of the
community."

These are grave objections, and any impost that is
really open to such charges, cannot justly be main-
tained, unless under an overwhelming necessity. We
are aware that it has been insisted that there is such
a necessity—that if the tax were abolished, we should
not be in a position to liquidate the interest on the
public debt, or to maintain efficiently the national
establishments. This, however, we distinctly and
positively deny. If a just and wise economy were
practised in every department—we do not mean
that there should be petty cheese-paring or stingy
parsimony in dealing with the public service, but
a strict avoidance of every unnecessary expense, and,
above all, a strenuous determination to put down
.jibs and jobbiue—much could be effected. But
why should there not be a re-adjustment of taxation
abolb,bing indirect imposts, and substituting direct
charges on property, which could be more easily and
cheaply collected.

IsVeit to the charge on bread there is perhaps none
more objectionable than that on "malt." It attacks
the poor man's beverage, and prevents the working
classes from obtaining a cheap, wholesome, and nu-
tritious article. It unquestionably limits the con-
sumption of agricultural produce, and is therefore ex-
ceedingly prejudicial to the farmer. But although the
corn-growers have reasonable and just' ground of
complaint, so far as their interests are concerned, we
look upon it in a still broader point of view, and con-
sider it chiefly as a consumer's question, which more
,Inin doubles the price and materially de-
teriorates the quality of that which may be
considered essential to his health and comfort.
We are aware that there are many men; who, be-
cause they do not like fermented liquors, or perhaps
because they have become teetotallers, desire
the continuance of the tax. Away with the flimsy
pretext ! Why should they wrong their
brethren who differ in opinion from them-
selves, and compel them to take that
which is dear and bad, in place of what is cheap
and good ? Do they for a moment believe that
there would be an increase of drunkenness by the
change ? Far from it. They must be aware that,
in wine-growing countries, where drink can be
easily obtained, intoxication, or even intemperance, is
of rare occurrence. It is the difficulties imposed in
the way of obtaining wholesome beer that create the
demand for unwholesome spirits, and stimulate the
desire for drinking. If good, pure, home-brewed
beer could be procured in the cottages of the poor
you would not see men haunting " Jerry shops,"
or seduced into crime by the temptations and the
bad company to which they are there exposed.
The labourers would, after their day's work,
remain by their own fire-sides contented and
happy. Their domestic happiness would be in-
creased, and there would be a considerable dimi-
nution in the charges for gaols and prosecutions.
Poaching might not flourish quite so much as at pre-
sent, if a vigorous exertion be made at the
ensuing elections. The impost, as well as the still
more obnoxious hop duty, Rill be entirely got rid of.
Is it not worth an effort, then, to accomplish such ob-
jects ? We are convinced that every consistent Free-
'rader and fi,,cal reformer will glaelly co-
operate, so that if the taxes be retained,
it will be chiefly ascribable to those who
call themselves the farmers' friends, and let it
not be forgotten that the malt-tax was, as stated by
Mr. Hume, imposed and continued in Parliament,
where the territorial aristocracy were in the ascen-
dant, and where the landlords might have got rid of
it if they pleased. L-t electors understand these
matters before recording their votes on the hustings.
Let them clearly understand the opinions of the rival
candidates on these questions, in which their healths
and pockets are so deeply concerned.