The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1853.

On Monday next the discussion, or rather the
series of discussions on the Budget, will commence,
and with what result remains to be ascertained.
The debate on the renewal of the now extinct
Income Tax will naturally obtain priority, for,
after all, that is the great feature of the scheme—
the point on which the entire structure rests. If
that' be removed, then the whole must fall to the
ground, and there must, either be a change of
Ministry, or what is called " an appeal to the
country," namely, a dissolution of Parliament and
a general "election, while many petitions are stil
pending, and the members have as yet scarcely
settled down to the practical business of the nation.
This suggestion of a dissolution is rather a formid-
able-one to members, who do not feel very certain
of " a renewal of confidence " on the part of their
constituents, or whose pockets have been ma-
terially affected by the legitimate (!) expenses of a
contest. This, however, appears to be a merely
brutum fulmen—a threat to terrify the timid—
which there is not the slightest possible intention
of carrying into execution. On what cry would
they go to the country ? Would they endeavour to
excite the feelings of the " free and independent
electors ?" There is no question now depending
as to the revival of Protection. The doctrines
of " unrestricted competition," or Free Trade,
have been accepted on all sides ; and every pos-
sible security has been taken, not only against any
attempt to revive the extinct monopolies, but
even to make more rapid progress in the course
which has hitherto proved so beneficial to the
country. • There is no great question pending,
save " an unmodified Income Tax," on which the
friends and adherents of the " Joint-stock Admi-
stration" can claim the suffrages of the people.
Even Mr. GLADSTONE himself would scarcely ad-
vise a general contest on that principle. He may be
able to satisfy his own mind by a species of casuistry
totally beyond ordinary comprehensions-p—he may be
able for a due " con-si-de-ra-tion," to get rid of
the most powerful Opposition with which he had
been threatened, to silence the once strenuous ad-
vocate for the earners of precarious and fluctuat-
ing incomes ; but he cannot find many " forty
thousands per annum" to distribute, and the re-
sult of such a contest would be at least doubtful.
We do not then anticipate a dissolution, whatever
may be the final numbers on the first division.
The members of the Government must either suc-
cumb, and compel their unwilling Chancellor to
render justice to the physical or intellectual la-
bourer, or be prepared to relinquish the position
for which they are no longer eligible.

So far as that portion of the financial statement
relating to the Property Tax was concerned,
there never was a greater tissue of fallacies and
contradictions than those put forward by Mr.
GLADSTONE. He showed the extraordinarily
beneficial effects of the impost, wherever it was in
operation—that it was equally efficacious in time
of war or peace, while hostilities were fiercely
waged, or universal tranquillity prevailed ; and
for that purpose. he directs all his efforts to the
extinction of the charge, which he himself has
shown to be the best for the community ! !—which,
to
use his own words, " in a time of vital struggle
enabled us to raise the income of the country
aabnodveci,tws
.hexerat_diture. of war and civil government,"
washi
eateirtf, who had once shielded
us in war,
indust toils in
to come
and assist cur
or ill ritelehat cf>
second Income Tax peace." The
results no less endur-
ing and memorable 'than the first.been eltitazescititieo
in-
strument by which vre have
in-
troduce, and :hope, ere long,t o . perfect the
effective ref6i-ins of our commercial and fi
cal systems. And yet this trustworthy i ts-
ment, this tried and faithful weapon is ntsorbil-e
flung away the moment the great emergency
has passed by. We are not, it appears, to per-
fect these effective reforms by its means. It is to
be reduced in 1855 ! and again in 1857 ! and
extinguished in 1860 ! ! Credat Judceus Apella.
Sur ROBERT PEEL, with much greater cause, pro-
raised its removal in 1845, when the temporary
purposes for which " the giant was called from
repose" had been accomplished. It survived eight
years, the uticipated period of its dissolution. And
a ne
ie'frr seven, not merely for three, is
no cr4ct Mr. GLADSTONE say what
,
ie au:aind his successors in office,
ive any valid or bind-
-4 .es on su4d cunt.
The proposed ter-
-n'atiOil of the ta4r,i''',"" 860 is neither more nor
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