The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-19 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV

part of the abolitionists, until their final triumph over
the doubts and indecision of the Financial Minister.
We cannot, however, entirely agree with Lord Dux-
CAN in the opinion that it was because "the argu-
ments were totally unanswerable" that " the battle
was ultimately won." They might have been the
most convincing and conclusive ever conceived by
human intellect, and put forward in language of the
most brilliant and impassioned eloquence, without
producing the slightest effect upon Sir CnABLEs
Woon. No matter how urgent they might
have been, the Right Honourable Baronet would
have deemed his stereotyped speech, " that
the tax produced some one million seven hundred
thousand of pounds sterling to the Exchequer," as a
most satisfactory answer to the audacious request.
The gross and palpable injustice of the tax, and its
equally manifest impolicy, were matters of the most
trivial importance in comparison to its productive-
ness. But, fortunately, the voice of public opinion was
heard proclaiming in temperate, but firm language,
the absolute necessity for its immediate abolition. The
pressure from without increased to an extent which
the Ministry could no longer venture to resist. The
Parliamentary majorities in favour of the tax on light
and air gradually diminished, until, reduced to the
most homeopathic dimensions, it became perfectly
certain that, on the next contest, it would be con-
verted into a paltry minority. It was under such
circumstances that Sir CHARLES WOOD exhibited
symptoms of yielding, but he did not do so cheer-
fully, or with a good grace. The ridiculous
abortion which he first brought forward was
received with mingled indignation and deri-
sion. The existence of the Cabinet of which
he was a member was seriously imperilled
through his inefficiency and obstinacy, and he could
not finally give up the charge without substituting
another in its place, less burdensome, indeed, in point
of fact, and less objectionable in principle, than that
which he had so reluctantly relinquished, but still
one that could not possibly be justified or even de-
fended as a new burden. It was not, therefore, to
the cogency of the arguments, but to the unflinching
determination and rigorous and energetic efforts of
the opponents of the tax, that the happy result of
the agitation may be ascribed.
A valuable lesson may be derived from the
proceedings in the anti-window-light tax as well as
in the anti-corn-law agitation. In each instance the
reformers commenced under by no means promising
auspices. The great body of the people were corn•
paratively apathetic and apparently heedless of the
intolerable grievances under which they were suffer-
ing. A solitary voice might now and then be heard
declaiming against one or other of the atrocities, but
there was no general response, no combined
action. At length a few zealous and indefatigable
men determined to organize an agitation, and
to persuade the masses to co-operate together. The
moment the attack was fairly commenced there was
no longer any doubt as to the result, and exactly the
same period was required to achieve complete success.
The defence of the untenable position was protracted
for seven long years in each case before complete suc-
cess crowned the efforts of the assailants.

Fiscal reformers should not, then, be discouraged
at the want of appreciation on the introduction of
their projects. If their opinions will bear the test of
reason I and argument, if founded lon justice and
equity, they will infallably receive public support
sufficient to ensure their eventual success. Interested
opponents may laugh to scorn the attempts of the
earlier champions; heedless majorities may, without
listening or attending to the reasons for the altera-
tion, reject the measure of relief session after ses-
sion, but it will gradually make way, until, at last,
the Ministerial leaders will have to exert all their
powers of eloquence, and even their mysterious in-
fluences, that prove so efiectual with the " waiters on
PROVIDENCE" in opposition, in place of leaving the
matter in the hands of some Ministerial subordinate,
or thick-skulled member of the Cabinet, who has been
foisted on his unwilling colleagues through short-
sighted nepotism or family intrigues. Then, at
length, will come the final triumph, when the PRE-
MIER will acknowledge that he bad long been con-
scious of the validity of the reasoning against the tax,
and even the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, may
wax eloquent in depicting the iniquities of the impost
of which he had been so long the champion.

Such reunions as those of Thursday evening,
where the parties " fight their battles o'er again,"
must always prove beneficial. We only trust
the occasions for such celebrations may be-
come more numerous, that we may ere
many years have elapsed be enabled to rejoice at
the abolition of all the assessed taxes, of the Excise,
and many of the Customs' duties, in fact, at the gra-
dual substitution of direct taxation on judicious and
equitable principles for the indirect taxation that
now prevails, until the triumph of free trade be ac-
complished, and British commerce shall indeed be
without impediment or restriction.

ITIE VitENCh ilib,Pili iiid

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The debate on the Questors' Bill was most stormy;
in the course of it General BEDEAU asked the Minister
of War whether he had given orders that the copy of
the decree of the Constituent Assembly, declaring
the right of the Assembly to command an armed force
for its own guard, and which decree had remained
posted in the barracks until the last few days, should
be removed. general ST, ARNAUD replied that he
had ordered such removal. This admission on the
part of the Minister of War created a great sensation.
M. THIERS spoke in favour of the Bill, and was replied
to most effectively by M. JULES FAVRE. Among
those who voted in favour of the Bill were MM.
MOLE, DE BROGLIE, BERRYER, DE TOCQUEVILLE,
DUFAURE, CHAMBOLLE, MONTEBELLO, and Generals
LAMORICIERE, and CAVAIGNAC. The Red Republi-
can M. MARC DUPE AIME also voted in favour of the
Bill, as did Colonel CHARRAS. Amongst those
who voted against the Bill we find the
names of MM. DARU, MONTALEMBERT, BAROCHE,
LEON FAUCHER, FOULD, ROUHER, CHASSELOUP-
LAUBAT, and General D'HAUTPOUL, with those of
MM. MICIIEL DE BOURGES, GIRARDIN, JULES FAVRE,
PASCAL DuFRAT, and CREMIEUX. The result of the
division has been to render a Bourbonist restoration
impossible, whilst at the same time the debate, more
particularly the admission on the part of General ST.
ARNAUD that he bad ordered the removal from the bar-
racks of the decree of the Constituent has inCeted " a
heavy blow and a great discouragement" on the
Bonapartists. It is said that M. BERRYER intends to
move that the PRESIDENT of the Republic he im-
peached for having directed such removal. It was
remarked that M. ODILON BARROT abstained from
voting.

At— the meeting of the Assembly yesterday the
debate on the Electoral Communal Law commenced.
M. JOLT, on the part of the Republican Opposition,
declared, that as the majority had determined to
erect the Communal Electoral Law into a political
one, the Left would abstain from taking any part
either in the discussion or the vote, because, although
they did not object to the measure as ,a mere
municipal law, they did object to it as a
political law. After some little discussion
the Assembly passed to the order of the day.
Upon this decision, the benches of the Left were
immediately deserted. The debate opened upon the
Bth article of the communal law, which forms the
first clause of the chapter under discussion. This
article provides that the mayor shall keep in every
commune a matricular register of all the inhabitants.
After a debate, in which M.M. LEON FAUCHER,
ODILON BARROT, HEURTIER, and VATIMESNEIL took
part, the article was adopted by 322 votes against 168.
The whole Left abstained. The sitting then broke up.
The Bourse was much agitated, and considerable un-
easiness was manifested towards the close of business.
The Five per Cents. opened at 92f. 15c., rose to 921.
20c., and fell subsequently to 91f. 60c., at whieh price
they closed for the end of the month ; the Three
per Cents. closed at 56f. 40c. ; Orleans Railroad
Shares, 872 f. 50c.; Rouen, 570 f.; Havre, 210 f.; Great
Northern, 4631. 75c.; Avignon, 210 f.; Vierzon, 433 f.
75e.; Bash,, 150 f. ;Bordeaux, 377 50c.; Paris and Stras.
burgh, 3631. 75c.; Tours and Nantes, 257 f. 50c.; Amiens
to Boulogne, 262 f. 50c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, Nov. 18.

Boulogne and Amiens, 10%—Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 17%—Northern of France. 143/—Paris and
Strasbourg, 124—Rouen and Havre, BN,—Sambre and
Meuse, 3 —Tours and Nante9, •