The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-08 00:00:00

~~ P

c 4,7

;ITIL

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1865.

It might naturally have been expected from the
activity recently shown by the opponents to the
Malt Tax that many weeks would not be suffered
to pass without their making some demonstration
within the walls of Parliament. Accordingly, last
evening Sir FITZROY KELLY moved a resolution,
" That, in any future remission of indirect taxation,
this House should take into consideration the duty
on malt, with a view to its early reduction and ulti-
mate repeal." The House, however, after a length-
ened debate, arrived at an opposite conclu-
sion, and by a majority of 80 refused to put
the question. Sir F. KELLY cannot complain
that his motion did not obtain a fair hearing,
or that it was disposed of by a thin house, for
more than four hundred members mustered at the
division, and the discussion occupied the whole
evening. The speakers on both sides expressed
themselves with moderation and brought forward
their arguments fairly enough, but the greater part
of the speech-making was left to the opponents of
the tax, who might console themselves for the ill
success of their motion by the public expression of
their sentiments. They had certainly a good case
to bring forward and it was entrusted to able hands.
Sir FITZROY KELLY, who occupied the chair at the
late great out-of-door meeting, moved the resolu-
tions, and, of course, set them in the best possible
light. He was followed by another speaker of no
insignificant position, Sir BULWER LYTTON,
who naturally espoused the cause of the
agriculturists, and brought the artillery of his
powerful logic to bear against the immovable au-
thorities of the Exchequer. Mr. DU CANE, whose
name is favourably known in debate, came in to
support his leaders, and, after several other inter-
vening speakers, Mr. HENLEY wound up the dis-
cussion "by a brief and straightforward address.
On the other side, the Government were contented
to entrust their defence principally to Mr. MILNER
GIBSON, but the reasons which he alleged were suf-
ficiently powerful to influence the house. On the
part of the Opposition it was argued, with some
plausibility, that the repeal or at least the reduction
of the Malt-tax, was justly to be expected from the
other remissions, and Sir B. Lrrrox contended that
it was in fact a logical consequence of the repeal of
the corn laws. The mover of the resolutions wisely
enough refrained from asking for immediate repeal,
but ingeniously framed his motion so as to include
many supporters who might be averse to a
sweeping change. Sir BULWER LYTTON in
his vigorous address especially dwelt upon this
point, and argued that since the farmers paid their
share of that income tax which was avowedly levied
for the sake of establishing free trade, they had a
right to some share of its benefits in the reduction
of this obnoxious duty. But he said it was asked,
" How can you expect us to repeal all at once a
duty that yields £6,000,000 a year ? A mere re-
duction would not satisfy the agitators, and would
not get rid of the exciseman." " Reasoners of this
kind," continued the right hon. baronet, " sum up
by saying, since we cannot give you all we will
give you nothing. But is that the way in which
Reformers deal with reforms? And is that the
way in which we ought to rest and be thankful ?
Why every abuse would last to the end of time

—......-------,.-----7-
if one party did not concede something, and
the other party did not accept a something as an
instalment of the whole demand." This is true
enough and the anti-malt tax agitators have shown
wisdom and moderation in not asking too much. As
we have before said, if no contingency should alter
the position of affairs during the year their claims
may fairly be taken into consideration next session,
when a partial reduction of the tax may with all
justice be granted them. But however much so
large a duty may be opposed to the spirit of our
commercial legislation, and however described, it
may be that no one class should have to complain
of a long standing and unredressed grievance,
we very much fear that when the long
wished for day arrives, and the burden of
the malt tax is lightened, if not totally removed,
that the farmers will find their expectations disap-
pointed. Mr. MILNER GIBSON very pertinently
asked how it would be possible to secure to the far-
mer of barley land the advantages of the repeal.
" Is it not obvious," says the President of the Board
of Trade, "if the profit of any particular kind of
agriculture were greater than the profit upon the
general kind of agriculture that competition would
force down the profit, and the excess would go to
the landlord in the shape of rent ? The advantage
to the farmer must be temporary, because if the
profit of the barley lands increased new tenants
would in a short time come forward prepared to
give higher rents for those lands, because
they would be satisfied with the ordinary
profits derived from the employment of capi-
tal in agriculture." This is a polite way
of saying that the landlords, generally speak-
ing, would avail themselves of the repeal to raise
their rents, so that the real profit of the reduction
or abolition would go into the landlord's pocket
rather into the farmer's. Mr. GIBSON says that
the amount of duty which every man pays for
every shilling spent on tea is at least 4d. ; for the
same value in coffee and brown sugar, 2d. and a
fraction ; while for every shilling spent on beer he
only pays lid. This is a practical way of stating
the case and more convincing than the same gentle-
man's argument, that spirits have as much right to
be free as beer. This is a most unsound ;proposi-
tion, and we do not wonder that it should have
called forth expressions of marked "dissent. No
wise man will wish to see so dangerous a tempter
as gin dispute the position of the comparatively
harmless malt. The one is far less likely -to be
abused while its ordinary use is beneficial, but the
other has already far too many victims among our
toiling classes. The public has a good right to de-
mand a further reduction of the tea duty, and a
reduction of the oppressive income-tax, which falls
so hard on the struggling professional classes, before
the House decides on a repeal or even a considerable
reduction of a tax, which is in reality rather a
diminution of the landlord's profits than a burden
on the farmer, and whose removal would probably
be more beneficial to the brewer than to the con-

sura er,

The demands made by Prussia, in respect to •
the Schleswig-Holstein affair, has exceeded the
worst expectations of the prophets respecting
the long prognosticated settlement. It will
be seen in the long run that Prussia has gone
too far in her encroachments, and that she
has tried the temper of other States, large and small,
beyond endurance. Austria is as yet quiescent, but
it may be the lull before the storm, or she may deem
it politic to keep on friendly terms for the present
until matters have become more fully developed,
and a crisis is imminent. The hesitation that has
marked the course of the Vienna Cabinet is a suffi-
cient proof that all is not so smooth as a casual
looker on might suppose ; there is no doubt that
great caution is required just now to enable the
EMPEROR and his Government to extricate them-
sleves from the false position in which they are
placed. There is certainly no reason to pity them
since they had no equitable claims to any part
Of the Duchies, but so far as they can be
considered apart from their victims they have been
ill-treated. As allies with Prussia, and partners in
the Dano-German war, they have been outwitted
at every turn, and now are threatened with the
failure of all their plans and projects. It is not
likely that, under these circumstances, we shall
hear no more of the affair, allowing that for the pre-
sent M. BISMARCK'S proposition is acceded to. The
minor States of Germany, are also greatly dissatisfied
with the aspect of affairs, and many machinations
are being resorted to, in an underhand manner, to
try their strength and seek for the chance of effect-
ing some alteration in the case as it now stands.
The inhabitants of the Duchies are also testifying
their disapprobation to the Berlin scheme pretty
strongly. Although but little attention is paid to
their wishes, just now, in any quarter, it may safely
be argued that in this manifestation we may recog-
nise signs and tokens of a coming storm, or at all
events of a very unsettled state
.of things. Prussia
is not likely to find the road so pleasant as it was
at first pictured to be, and doubtless before very
long the aspiring statesmen, who have sent forth
her armies to conquer, and presided at her councils
with so much wisdom and justice, would be very
glad to undo the past if possible, or at all events to
modify in some respects their zeal for conquest and
rapacity in annexing these conquests. Perhaps even
now they may secretly entertain the feelings that
hereafter it cannot be concealed they possess. There
is another piece of treachery that cannot be too
strongly denounced, and that is the conduct of the
Berlin Court to the Duke of AUGUSTENBERG. HOW
was it that last year we heard nothing of all the
rights ? Thennothing talked of but unity
doubts as to hereditary. there
anda
complete wa
s
nothing
s
understanding between Austria and Prussia as to
the validity of the claims of that Prince. The fact
is that this is a game in which each party is thrown
over in turns as it suits the temper of the chief
mover, and when the day of retribution arrives,
who can say how many and how bitter will be the
foes who rejoice at the downfall of a Power which
in its palmy days was false to its friends, impiao_
able to its foes, and a scorner of all those senti-
ments of honour which should animate the conduct
of the rulers of a great country, and be the main-
springs of the actions of its people.

It is greatly to be deplored that after all the ex-
pectations so recently indulged in concerning the
cessation of strkes that we should again hear of the
recurrence of that pernicious practice. A more
disastrous system cannot prevail than this, and the
injuiries that such a course inflicts on all are almost
incalculable. It seems strange that nothing can
teach the masters more consideration, and the men
more patience. It is quite certain that whatevr
objects either side has in view by the prolongation
of the dispute are entirely thrown away by the
effects produced through such confusion. Immense
damage is done to both parties, and what is almost
w. orsn
e than all, is the suspicious feeling engendered
the minds of all concerned. It may fairly
be said
emuch The
that one strike seems to pave
theth
masters cannot be too
e way for ano thr.
deprecatedconduct i
ofn
this matter. It is a great pity that they will exhibit
such grasping propensities, and strive to clutch at
the greatest amount of profit, as by th's extortionate