The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-05 00:00:00

Atlt

LONDON:
MONDAY, JULY 5, 1841

Whatever may be the immediate result of the
elections, as to the House of Commons, immea-
surable good must ensue for the public. A most
important question of practical legislation was
the basis of the appeal made to the electoral
bodies. Heretofore they have been called upon
to decide some technical and unimportant point,
such as the invasion of the King's prerogative by
the House of Commons, some claim of a reli-
gious sect, such as that of the political supre-
macy of the Anglican priesthood, or some ques-
tion of constitutional doctrine, such as the right
of representation, which was never carried out
in practice. But now they have been summoned
by the QU EEN'S Government to consider whether
or not they will submit to be taxed for the be-
nefit of individuals and classes. The State is
costly, and weighs heavily on the people. They
can bear the burdens imposed on them no longer.
. It has become with them a question whether the
State, which has to be sustained by enormous
taxation, be worth the immense sum it costs.
Those who administer the State declare that a
large portion of these burdens—now so much
complained of—is not levied for the State, but,
by its authority, and under the cover of its name,
for the benefit of individuals and classes. On
this practical question, then, whether the people
will submit to be taxed for the benefit of some
classes as well as for the service of the State, an
appeal has been made to the public.
This question is, as it were, new to the bulk of
the people. They have not before been told by
authority that the Legislature taxes them both
for the general benefit and to promote particular
interests at the expense of the general good. They
have not before been solemnly informed that the
Legislature has made, and now upholds, laws to
plunder some for the benefit of others. They
have not before had the whole system of legisla-
lation decried by competent authority. They
are now, however, solemnly assured by the Exe-
cutive Government that the Legislature, forget-
ting its high functions, forgetting all its duties to
the people, has passed laws to tax them, in order
to enrich its own members and their friends.
They have been told this, too, at a time when
they feel very sorely the pressure of the taxes
on them; and thus one of the most important
questions of Government is thrown to them for
decision, connected with their immediate in-
terests. They are informed in the same sentence
that the Legislature has not merited their confi-
dence, and that they may have a cheap abund-
ance of all the good things of life by overruling
its unjust dec -ees.
It is true that this question has not been placed
very clearly and precisely before the public. The
denunciation of past legislation is clear enough;
but the mode of relief in future is much obscured
by the proposition to repeat in another form the
injustice which is denounced. But that will be
cleared up by the ensuing debates in the House of
Conwaons. Whether Mr. COBDEN, Mr. ROEBUCK,
Mr. VILLIERS, and other gentlemen who entertain
similar opinions, be on the Ministerial or Oppo-
sition sides of the House; they will be sure to
inform the public that it is absurd to take a great
deal of trouble and pains merely to change the
name and form of our burdens. Profiting by
the admission that the present monopolist taxes
are most unjust and most injurious, they will
make it manifest that to continue them in any
shape or form is equally injurious and unjust ;
and, supported by the public, whose interest is
deeply concerned, they will be able to bring into
complete disrepute all taxes levied, not for the
State, but for the purpose of enriching one class
at the expense of the public.
In the approaching Parliament these gentle-
men will form, we presume, a class apart, as
they have a special mission. It will be their
great business to bring forward on all occasions
the doctrine that the people ought only to be
taxed for the serikicwof the State, and to prove
that they are now heavily taxed for the bene-
fit of individuals. They will expound and
defend the doctrines of free trade, and
make the public familiar with them.
Whatever others may do, they will steadily
and perseveringly promote the abolition of the
Corn-laws. Now, sending into the House of
Commons a body of men pledged to these
principles, and bound to take every opportunity
to enforce them, together with the admission, by
the highest authority, that the present system is
erroneous and unjust, seem to us great gains for
the popular cause. Suppose Sir ROBERT PEEL
be Prime Minister, he cannot wipe out of the,
public mind the knowledge that has"now been
implanted in it. He cannot prevent those gen-

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