The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-06 00:00:00

THE :SUN,

to the rate-payers of the United Kingdom, on the ;
rej;cction of Mr. COBDEN'S motion for a reduction
of the national expenditure to the scale of
1835. They have grappled boldly with the
flippan t assertions of Sir CHARLES WOOD, us
to the. amount of reductions that Inld taken pla^e I
within the last twenty years, and his cavalier
statement " that he was at a loss to understand on
what ground it was now for the first time asserted in
those associations throughout the country,
and in a public manner, that taxation
press-ed in so grievous a manner." If
the Right Hon. Baronet really entertained that
doubt, if he was the only man in the country who
was not aware of the grievous pressure of taxation
upon the people, he has been enlightened
with a vengeance by the Association. They
have put forward a comparison between the
amount levied from direct and indirect sources
in the year 1801, and during the three last
years, from which it appears that the " taxes strictly
so called, and paid by the wealthier classes (including
the property and income-tax), have increased since
1801 by the comparatively trifling amount of 79,0001.
only, that stamps (including probate and legacy
duties, which do not apply to freehold property, and
therefore press more upon the middle classes) have
increased in the same period 4,889,0001., while the
Customs and Excise, which are contributed
by the masses, and which press most especially
and most heartlessly on the poor, have during
the same time been augmented by no less
a sum than 17,070,0001." This is, indeed, a strange
description of reduction. It does not expose the
people to the censure of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer for that" ignorant impatience of taxation which
seems so very unaccountable." It is true that they have
been cast out of employment from the undue con-
traction of the currency, occasioned by the Act of
1844—that brilliant specimen of legislative wisdom
and legislative justice, that has so strongly excited
the admiration of Sir CHARLES WOOD—that the very
life-blood of industry is wanting—but that is all
nothing, it can be justified on the very soundest
principles of political economy. It is true that no
less than 35,575,314/. was obtained from the
Customs and Excise, or, in other words,
that the entire expenditure of the State,
including the civil government, justice, diplo-
macy, army, navy, ordnance, public works,
bounties, and miscellaneous, was defrayed from the
produce of taxes extracted from the industrious
classes, and a balance of 8,760,6061. carried towards
the interest of the National Debt ; property for the
preservation whereof the debt was altogether
incurred, and for whose benefit the ordinary ex-
penses of the country are principally undertaken,
escaping comparatively free. But that also is a
matter of little moment, and it is (teste Sir
CHARLES WOOD) ridiculous to disturb the attention
of Parliament by complaining of so trifling a matter.
The people were born to be taxed—they should be
pretty well used to it by that time, and yet they dis-
turb the official ease with their unreasonable mur-
murs. It will, however, be for themselves to say
how long they will consent to the continuance of a
system so unjust and impolitic. If they set them•
selves earnestly to work, under the guidance of the
various Financial Reform Associations through-
out the country, they will soon remove Sir
CHARLES WOOD from a position for which
he is by no means qualified, and replace him with a
competent successor, who can understand that " taxa-
tion presses " very grievously," and who will adopt
measures to mitigate the intolerable burden.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The probability of a collision between Russia and
the civilized nations of the west of Europe, a collision
which cannot but be hastened by the avowed intention
of the Russians to attempt to force the Dardanelles,
at present engrosses public attention in Paris. In
commenting on the unprincipled conduct of Russia in
invading the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia,
the National quotes the following extract from the
last volume of M. TRIERS' " History of the Empire,"
which has been only just published :
"It was quite enough in delivering Finland to the
Russians to have afforded them the means of a step in
advance towards the Sound, as a point from which they
will no: be less menacing at a future day, when, in point
of fact, the Russian Colossus will have one toot at tLe
Dardanelles and another at the Sound, the whole world
becomes his slave, and liberty will have fl,d to America.
However chimerical all this may seem now to narrow
minds, it will one day be a cruel reality for Europe, un-
wisely divided like the towns of Greece, in presence of
the Kings of Macedonia, and will have probably the
same lot."
The National does not join M. TRIERS in thus
condemning Europe to the ignominious yoke of these
new barbarians because, says the National, we have
some faith in the power of right, of reason, and of ci-
vilization. We agree with the National rather than
with M. TRIERS, yet still we would urge the neces-
sity of endeavours being made to put an end to those
" unwise divisions " among the European Powers to
which M. TRIERS alludes, and of which the common
enemy of civilization is ever ready to take advantage.
It' the time is not yet arrived for an intimate alliance
of all the European Powers to drive back the barba-
rians to their deserts, it more than ever behoves
France and England to maintain a strict and close
intimacy and alliance, and to join in a common action
in support of the Ottoman Porte. Turkey is now
the advanced post of civilization, the dyke that pro-
tects Europe from being again overwhelmed by a
flood of northern barbarians and as such she should
command the support of every nation which
desire to become a Russian province, nay, of every in-
dividual who would object to become a Russian serf,
The Preme, in a "communication" announces that
the POPE had, by the advice of the Sacred College,
applied to France, Austria, Spain, and Naples, for an
armed force to enable him to return to his capital. The
Sacred College admitted the principle that application
ought to be made to all the Catholic Powers, but no
application was made to Portugal on account of the
distance ; and the King of SARDINIA was passed over
because he had only offered to the POPE a pacific
mediation, which had become powerless in conse-
quence of the proceedings at Rome. Whether France
interfere or not, Austria is determined to proceed, in
concert with Naples, to restore the POPE, more
especially as not only the Catholic Powers of Ba•
varia and Belgium, but the Protestant Powers
of England, Prussia, and Wirtemberg, offer to pre •
serve the Papal Government in the interest of the
balance of power in Europe, and the maintenance of
the general peace. It is calculated that the appear-
ance on the Roman territory of an army of 10,000
men would be sufficient to bring about the restoration
of the POPE without firing a shot. The Grand Duke
of TUSCANY has since his arrival at Gaeta applied for
Austrian intervention.
There has been a legitimatist riot at Nantes amongst
some conscripts.
The Socialist journals publish an address to the
" Democratic Socialist Republican electors," announc-
ing a fusion of the different shades of socialists with
the democratic republicans, for the purposes of the
election.

The mayors of the 10th and 11th arrondissements,
accompanied by several officers of the National Guard,
waited on M. DE LAMARTINE on Saturday to present
him with the tricolour flag, which wai borne by citi-
zens of the two arrondissements from the Chamber of
Deputies to the Hotel de Ville on the 24th Feb., and
which was the first that was displayed on the procla-
mation of the Republic. The Mayor of the 10th
arrondissement, in presenting the flag, said to M. DE
LAMARTINE that it could not be better placed than in
the residence of one of the citizens who had most
honourably defended it. M. DB LAMARTINE ex-
pressed his gratitude. " This flag," he said, " will be
doubly dear to me, because it is the first that covered
the cradle of the Republic, and because it was the
first also which gave to the Republic the character of
nationality, moderation, unanimity, and tradition
with our noble historical souvenirs. It ever the Re-
public should be attacked, either by those who exag-
gerate it or by its enemies, you will rally here under
its colours, and they will find in you the same heroism
as they found in me the same voice and the same arm
to defend it."

A grand Socialist banquet for the inauguration of
the Salle de la Fraternity, in the Rue de Martel, was
given on Sunday ; ad-mission, If. 25c. each person.as
700 persons, including women, sat down to table ; the
galleries contained about 500 strangers. Invitations
were addressed to the members of the Mountain, but
M. BAC alone attended. The toasts were " The
right to live by labour," "Abolition of the conscrip-
tion," " The emancipation of the clergy." A Com-
missary of Police presented himself at the doors before
the commencement of the banquet ; he was at
once admitted, and remained during the whole of the
proceedings, which were of a very orderly character.
Yesterday the National Assembly proceeded to
ballot for the Vice. Presidents for the ensuing month.
The following (all belonging to the moderate Repub-
lican party) were elected : General DE LAMORICIRRE,
MM. GOUDCIIAUX7 HAYIN, BILLAULT, CORDON, and
GREVY. The Ministers proposed General I3LDEAU
as a candidate, but he was defeated by General GREYY.
After the election the Assetubly proceeded to deli-