The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-05 00:00:00

43,
4re, tut,
trinff

LONDON, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1848.

It is indeed satisfactory to find that one of the
monster grievances of the country, by which every
British citizen is more or less affected, is at length
about to be grappled with vigorously and efficiently ;
that an association, composed of practical, experienced,
and energetic men, has been formed for the purpose
i)f keeping the public attention steadily directed to
the impolicy and dishonesty of the present system of
taxation, and of obtaining, by peaceful and con-
3titutional means, a comprehensive measure of
reform, an entire revision of the whole
financial system of the country. The objects of
the society were explained last week in Liverpool
at a meeting, most numerously and influentially at-
tended, and an anxious desire was exhibited by the
gentlemen present to co-operate in obtaining the re-
quired alterations in the manner of collecting the
national revenue.
These objects are stated:to be, first—" To use all
lawful and constitutional means of inducing the most
rigid economy in the expenditure of the Government,

consistent with the due efficiency in the
several departments of the public service."
Few persons can object to this demand. It is ac-
quiesced in by Ministers and by every party repre-
sented in the Legislature. The only question is to
what extent this economy can be carried ? What re-
ductions can be effected without endangering the
national honour or the national safety. Much more
may be achieved on this point than the public in
general may consider practicable. The good effects
of the investigation into the Army, Navy, and Ord-
nance Estimates, commenced in the early part of
last session, was apparent from the fact that,
during the same session, and before the termination
of the labours of the Committee, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer was enabled to announce that savings
had been effected to the amount of nearly 900,0001.
sterling in these departments—that the actual expen-
diture would be less than the estimates by that enor-
mous amount—(nearly equal to the entire sum
realised by the tax on soap)—and that without the
reduction of a single man, or the slightest deterioration
in the efficiency of any of these important services.
This great saving, too, was not the full extent to
ivtiftch the economical principle might be
carried, for strong hopes *ere held out
by the Right Hon. Baronet that much more
would be effected before he should again have to ap-
pear before the House with a new budget. A mere
Parliamentary inquiry has had this beneficial opera-
tion ; how much more will be obtained when the
abuses, which have been suffered to spring up and
accumulate during a succession of ages, are fear-
lessly exposed, and held up to :public detestation
by a body of independent gentlemen, in whose
statements the public can place unlimited
cenfidenee ? If there is nothing radically
wrong, there can be no necessity for concealment
That which is correct in itself will stand the test of.
the most rigid inquiry, and come out with additional
strength from any ordeal to which it may be subjected •
but the jobs, the sinecures, the profligate expenditure
of the public money, without any beneficial result,
will be exhibited in all their enormity, and receive
,their death blow, when the public mind is thoroughly
awakened to their manifold iniquities.
The second object of the association is "to
advocate the adoption of a simple and equitable
system of direct taxation, fairly levied upon pro-
perty and income, in lieu of the present un-
equal, complicated, and expensively collected duties
upon commodities." How fully and cordially we
agree with this proposition in its most extensive
signification will be understood by those who have