The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-31 00:00:00

that Prussia achieved those late successes by the
high-sounding report of which the slumbers of some
Frenchmen are still disturbed. In an aggressive
war it seems to have struck the Emperor Napoleon
that the heroic army even of France could scarcely
be more than a match . for the armed nation of
Prussia. Let, therefore, France be, like Prussia,
organised into an armed nation, and when that task
is accomplished the occasions for and the incentives
to aggressive wars will be found to diminish, together
with the numbers of the standing armies.
POST.—Although the telegram from Vienna which
we published yesterday left blanks to be filled up,
the reading between its lines was plainly portentous.
In this country the first thenght which it inspired
could only be one of thankfulness. The dream:
stance that an Englishman had probably saved the
life of the Austrian Kaiser. intensified the sympathy
and the indignation which the incident excited.
But it would be idle to attempt to conceal the fact
that Austria is rocking under the shock of a politi-
cal earthquake. As far as the situation can be ap-
preciated, there are difficulties in the way of recon-
structing the system that was shattered at Sadowa
which seem to be insurmountable. Apparently a
'lint ship is settling fast. The events which have
'dated Europe have unhinged the Austrian empire.
frame is quivering, as it were, in the struggle
life- life on almost any conditions. The prin-
le of nationality has penetrated to its heart and
:alysed its strong arm. Austria depended on her
army,and that army, formidable as it was accounted,
'las been broken like a reed.. But it `is worae than
in to look back on the irrevocable past in such a
juncture. The question now is, whether or not
obe et time for the Government of Vienna to
t over a new leaf and shape its course to circum-
tees -and from that point of view the appoint-
it of'l-13arsaa von Beust becomes a matter of some
,ment, It is an act which may admit of ex"plana-
1, and its aignificatice may be easily magnified ;
, if it be a mistake, the infatuation which it re-
als is very much to be deplored. Francis Joseph
Inot but be aware that in this emergency he has
lesto
,perforni which it is impossible to delegate
any minister, and, indeed, he has so far addressed
airnself to the task with a proper and dignified ap- ...
American Revenue.
prehension of its import. But while the good feel; ,
ing and consideration which have been abundantly -------..-
*splayed are worthy- of all commendation
‘,lThe amount of revenue derived from duties on ,
_:•,.
'...: -i;
It ever,; the Austrian Kaiser must govern as now,
well imports and internal revenue taxation is swell- -
*,:r7
as reiHungaryni. In Hunary and in Bohemia there are ing to such large proportions as exceeds altogether
delfts to be discharged and obligations to be ful-
ea eu a i
the 1 l Cons of oar financiers, and exhibits an
~..,.
a
-filled ;' there is hard work to be done, and it is example at once of willingness and capacity to bear
__, .-.- li- .
manifest that whatever- can be done should be done .
- • ,.t z-,
quickly. The claims are urgent, exacting, and - - -..aa -- "J
taxation on the part of the American nation in a - 4.7
..
possibly extortionate ;-..but, be that as it may, they time of profound peace, which, we believe, is en-
_.-i, ,
~.1„,
must be met. Unreasonable as the terms may ap- tirely without parallel. The revenub-,ofthialjat,itied - ,-- A. ~_ ;
Pear cto be, it only remains to accept them. States for the three months from Jitly:Lto Septerii---
_.
~.,.
Nothing can be gained, and much may be lost, by her 30,
• <:*•!•. -; .' _ j:;,
delay.- It is, id truth',-'.,:a. cause in which the parties
a01d,551,092,140; taxes in currenckislo2,ooo,ooo;:- 1..= -' ~ -17
atliatplead-personally;; lace to face, as Maria The- - . .
1866, will stand thus :-18f,5-1- Customs in ~ , aK,,..- . . ~
resa pleaded her cause. What might have come to totat, $153,092,140. This is *I.:: ,ali.enq..,..d-.0. ~v..V.,!..4.-.:,41,4,,1 _
,;,416ii6,,.,
~,,
pass if Francis Joseph had ridden to the front at from customs and excise taxes alone; without/fails, a ;-7_7 -
•t- _
Sadowa. is irrelevant at present ; but if Austria can reference to miscellaneous receipts from the salcof • -- --
Oa preserved, if Hungary and Bohemia can be re- Government property or other Bodices, which dur-
ennciled; the means to be employed to that end are .
.obviiiliSi:' The foundation of the Austrian edifice is ing the quarter amounted to over seven millions,
lost. When Austria, ceased to be a German Power- but cannot be calculated on,as a source of perma- .
, ,
~- . -.,-
her wei2,it .in the European scale was sensibly nent income. These returns, as compared with the • -
..s.
dinitiliihed, and consepently her independence and corresponding period ari-865, show a gain for the --_
integrity are not considered as they formerly were. three months Of—Customs (gold), $4,082,646 ; •
It was understood that she was competent to via- taxes in currency, $3,381,121 ; and abundantly , •
dicate her German rights, and inasmuch as she warrant the conclusion that we may expect, the
failed to eto so her interests are appraised accord-
revenue, under existing circumstances fully to main-
ingly. A'astria may think that this is not a fair 3- _
construction of-public engagements, but the answer
lain this amount, which at this rate- will be over six , .
--ia, that she has herself omitted to observe those en- six hundred millions of dollak a year. The'expen- .
..... _
gagements, and.;
_therefore, that she is precluded ditures for the sameoriod will foot up as follOws : - '
rom appealing to:_. them. That, however, is in
—War, Navy, InteriOrDepartments, and miscellane- - .. •
reality entirely beside the problem which has to be
ous ex cost ; Interest on Public Debt, • :
resolved, and in regard to which Austria can only - .
$34 , 000 ,006---tatal,s7B,ooo, 4p ; which would make ' ' ' •'
trust to .lier own resources. In so far as foreigu '
the annual expenditures of tl*untry threahundred.-
*
Powerstritay be `concerned, the principle of nation-
lity, 'a; interpreted by the Magyar and the Czech, •i and twelve Millions, or as new as possible to, one li"&ii
Can be Contemplated- with composure. If Poland
,the incoine. Such an exhibit ofipanci:d sti.ength *stuld ' -'---- -
-wiisfairi a position to deal with Russia, as Hungary is be incredible to foreign countries;if it werenOt Sus, -! '
ealilig with - .Austria, it would be precisely the . - , , ~- - ---i. --.., --it.. --- ---- . - ' ..
• , taineo ,ny rac,s stnw->eannot be denied, and very
same. It is only exceptionally that nationalities' --- - - '
greatly exceed the estimate of the Secretary of the
are supported as the Italians and the Germans ia,l
l_the qbe, 1)1,1C111QS mere, and it 'must not be, foig-OT2_lM&a:Ori. ,ay.lifLagallailiatialla-rovu.ux-for t 1
ten that in the latter instance Austria co-operated
[
with Prussia. There is no reason to suppose that
the Hungarians wish to sever theireeamection with
the House of Hapsburg, but the misfortune is that
other nationalities have to be conciliated. In fact,
the Treaty of Prague may be said to have pro-
vided for the disintegration of the Austrian Em-
pire, and it follows, as the moral of the history of
the war it concluded, that the Kaiser should have
ceded and cut away everything which could in any
. wise divide the strength he possessed, and also that
Prussia is more indebted to Italy than she may care
to own.

Gerard Ralstorvz Mision from Liberia to

Europe.

Mankind owes much to the energy of the Anglo-
Saxon race, but their virtues have been marred by
some great crimes. Races have been blotted out to
make way for the grasping intruder. Rues have
been subjugated to gratify his lust of greed ; but
of all his crimes that of negro slavery is written
blackest in the black list. For every sin re-
corded we have paid a heavy penalty, and
for the deepest crime has been exacted the
most fearful retribution. If an account could
be drawn up showing the profits resulting from the
employment of the African as the Anglo-Saxon's
slave, and the cost at which his labour was ob-
tained, we believe that even in the sordid point of
material gains the balance would show that both
England and America were heavy losers by the
iniquitous system. If we and our forefathers have
perpetrated great crimes, we have a satisfaction not
accorded to every nation, that philanthropists
and regenerators have arisen from among us to
redeem our transgressions. In us the negro has
found his heaviest taskmaster, but in us also he has
found his warmest and most enlightened friend.
Probably no people have ever excited such wide-
spread sympathy and compassion among the friends
of liberty as the negro race. With certain per-
sons, both in Great Britain and in the United States,
the wrongs of the black man have become so ab-
sorbing as almost to have grown 'into a mono-
mania. Every effort of their lives has been
directed to obliterate the blot with which our
forefathers have stained this page of our his-
tory. 'To that number belongs Mr. GERARD
RALSTON, Consul-General for Liberia, whose
diplomatic mission to Europe is in reality a
a mission of philanthropy. Before this distin-
guished Philadelphian had a hair on his face he had
enlisted in the negro's cause. Now his hairs are
grey, but his cause is the same and his energy un-
abated. Ile may be said to be the father of the
Liberian Republic—the " land of the free ;" and his
name is associated in the minds of the whole people,
who have confided to him their interests in Europe,
with all that is noble, generous, and good. Mr.
RALSTON'S task in England is aided by the warm
II
ha
sympathy of the English Government and peoPle•
To suppress the slave trade on the Africa co ast
fn
her Brit-
s
for many years been the settled podliej
tanic MAJESTY. Many lives and
have been sacrificed for this obte
deadly climate
ments have been established. onfieet
of cruisers have
of the Western coast ; for policy
ittrseeatstulore.
materially
this
Mnegr°the policy of the English
this
•
balis h lengthenedoentof e period lbeena
Republic eI
aids°ed r
in effecting -:ffecting support Mr. RALSTON'S
that surPP
is
mission,Government
twofold. Not only does
This mission,
Mr. R s eßepublic
the nations of the ear or
_ALSTON lalweavtea,ttainintf
fa recognised position
among
of freed negroes, but he aims in a still greater
degree at constituting that, Republic an emigration
:d is
clearlyee
ground for negroes wherever they feel their energies
trammelled and the blight of colour withering the
aspirations of their minds. Liberia is in every re-
spect suited to the African race. Though deadly to
the white, the climate .to him is healthy and plea-
sant. The soil is fertile and adapted for those pro-
ducts the negroes have been accustomed to raise.
The rivers give him ample water carriage, and the
sea-board, well situated for a trade with Europe,
offers a cheap means of transport to the
chief marts of the world. There aro spirits
in the United States, though enshrined under
black skins, that rebel against the social de-
gradation to which they are there subjected,
and pine for the equal rights, not alone recognised
by law, bat recognised in truth by their fellow-man.

year, the iirst quarter of which we are now examin-
ing, would be for cuatornar-gold, $100,000,000 ;
taxes, corvine'', $27 5,0004` $375,009,000 ;
while the expenditure in every department would
I be $284,317,181 ; leaving an estimated surplus of
$111,082,818 instead of $300,000,000, which we
have seen the past experience of the country shows
now may be expected. It is thus made apparent
that the United States, after paying all the expenses
of the army, naval and civil government, and mak-
ing full provision for the payment of interest on its
public debt, has a surplus left greater, we believe, in
extent than the entire revenue of any country in the
world, Great Britain alone excepted ! The question
financierma
lthenlotr:
consideration
r irwesse
hwusi,lhet ahsonaecdnaf
ardinteti
consequences,
rieisenso
,ovt
anaorlteaveedetmahe ea nar an watdshthioteneec
rather than
can
aotlt
hnhnael
ne political,mhat
so hpuaerge ques-
tion efenruddel
e,
of debtor and creditor, of money resources and
demands, what disposition may be most widely
made of this enormous and unlooked-for excess of
income over expenditure. We have, ever since the
close of the war for the Union contended that a
moderate payment in liquidation of the public debt
—say from fifty to one hundred millions of dollars
a year, would be the wisest financial policy, giving,
as it would, satisfactory evidence to the world of
the national solvency, and so maintaining the public
credit, and we see no reason to change our convic-
tions upon this subject. We should therefore be
glad to see a very material abatement proposed
in the taxation of the country. In looking for the
direction in which this reduction should be made,
we find in the preliminary report in the United
States revenue commissioner valuable suggestions.
This document advocates (to use its own words)
" such a revision of the present internal revenue
system as will look to an entire exemption of the
manufacturing industry of the United States. from
all cep U.
all direct taxation; distilled and fermented
abolition or
and maintains the wisdom of the a
like the income
tobacco, and possibly a few other articles 11'1:174
speedy reduction of all those which,
The amount
tax, fall chiefly upon realised wealth."inanufactures is, we
derived from the direct taxf
in the condition of the public revenue millions nwshai
cyheawre;
have and
t that this tax may
Other suggestions we
I be at once safely
pwrees heree believe,n presented
to modifications in the
abountosdeovlueisnbhtychdl.:cv ercleenx:inse
t revenue tashe country. We think
enough on this occasion to de-
have said
.we here is no financial difficulty, at
that t
monstrate
f the immediate and complete
the way °
least in
may offer in future
syasbtoemn articleso f
abrogation of the tax on domestic manufactures.
d if this be so there
can surely be no objection to
An
the coarse we advocate. Here at least " free
traders" and " Protectionists" can combine in a
demand for the liberation of our domestic industry
from a burden which not the most heavily taxed
countries of Europe impose upon their productions.
that
there e
What vast social and political advantages would
flow from the extension and consolidation of our
industrial system, to which this measure
an important aid, we cannot here expound, but
may do so
tahte adneomt ho enrs
ttri
amt ei
0. n
vt
h e a t
content
would
ourselves b
now with
no longer exists any financial n • ecessity for the con-
tinuance of this unjust and • •
injurious impost.—
The Iron Age.

-

THE EYRE DEFENCE FUND.—During
the last few
TG egu inhnetryalsi ioonsn,
r Sir
G
days the Eyre Defence Fund Committee have re-
ceived donations from his Grace
the
Sir William Mac e, Lar
Duke of Buccleuch,
Viscountess Palmerston, LadY
kenzi William Russell,d ML. Alfred
ello:.igmei I tBOO%SI
ce ys,mLo
eru, At
-dGnei inr
eaylr
aSI i rßWrregteßo
no°:wulteihnsi
R
Countess of Llarrinzton, Sir William Fitzherbert, Lord
Boston,
Sir lioderia Murchison (second contribution), the
Earl of Dartmouth, and Earl Cawdor.
EXTENSIVE FRAUDS. —Yesterday morning a re-
ward. of £2OO was offered for the apprehension of Lionel
Iloldsworth, late of 146, Ponchurch-treet, and of Notting-
hill, ship and insurance broker, and Joseph Stansfeld
Deane, alias William Allsopp, late of 101, Leadenhall-
street, and New-street, Kennington, formerly trading at
Tower-buildings, Liverpool, as commission merchant.
These persons are charged with committing serious frauds
upon the underwriters of London and elofsew eachere. The
sum of £lOO is offered for the apprehension hof them
tby the Salvage Association at Lloyd's, and Inspector
;Hamilton, of the City detective force, holds a warrant for
:thei; apprehension.