The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-11 00:00:00

THE NEW CANADIAN TARIFF.

To the consumers of Canada, in the east or wes
the new, tariff will. be flagrantly unjust. It sub
verts the only principle of political economy about
which theorists and statesmen are agreed.- It in-
creases-taxation—already high—upon necessaries,
and reduces duties on luxuries. What the poorest
are accustomed to consume—what to all have be-
come necessaries of daily life—are singled out for
heavier duties ; while the articles which minister to
the enjoyment of the few are relieved from a portion
of the load which, for society's sake, might well bs
made much heavier than it is. Beyond this Mr. Galt's
scheme is palpably sectional. He seeks violently
and hastily to force the current of western trade
into a new channel for the benefit of an insignificant
class. • He proposes so to apply the Customs' machi-
nery that the trade of this section will be crushed,
its energy paralysed, in order that a few impor-
ters in Lower Canada may acquire an advantage.
Let this proposition be carried out and the stability
of our trade is at an end. If in a single season
the whole current of traffic can be altered by legis-
lation, there is no • safety for the trade. Two or
three bodies of merchants shall be made to suffer
—in some cases shall be ruined—merely that an-
other body of merchants, living in another section
of the province, may reap profit. This is robbing
three -Peters to enrich one Paul. Does Mr. Galt ex-
pect that Upper Canada will patiently submit to so
gross a wrong ? Upon the merchants of Toronto
and other places in the West the scheme
will fall heavily. They have suffered more than
enough from other causes already. The crisis,
cruelly prolonged, has tried them- sorely. And
now, just when they are beginning to hope
for a return of proSperity, Mr. Galt comes
with his tariff to mock their endeavours and
blast their expectations. To some the new tariff
will be certain ruin. To all it will occasion a loss
which they are ill able to bear. The retail traders
will feel the injury yet more severely. Every
storekeeper in town or village, in city or in the
bush, will suffer. He will be compelled to depend
for his supplies upon those who have themselves
purchased at a disadvantage. Nor will the mischief
end here. The great body, of consumers will share
it fully. It was bad enough for them to pay the
enormous increase of taxation which Mr. Galt
imposes ; but to be doubly taxed as they will
be under this tariff—taxed at the Customs'-
house, taxed at the store—is more than the most
patient community should be asked to endure. If
the object of the Ministry be to revive sectional
jealousies, to kindle afresh a sectional fire, the In-
spector-General is likely to succeed to perfection.
His tariff is the best possible provocative. Its in-
judicious classification of duties offends everybody,
and will excite 'strong feeling whenever its opera-
tion shall be visible in the enhanced prices of the poor
man's necessaries. Its rampant sectionalism will
complete the work. Whatever may be the present
predilections of Montrealers,
they will suffer even-
tually from a scheme which exhibits them in the
light
e_
of monopolists. And Western Canada will be im-
mediately incensed. Her farmers and mechanics
and storekeepers will be brought Sam to face
with the old enemy—Lower Canadian supremacy.
Sophistry cannot conceal the fact ; nor will rhap-
sodies about the St. Lawrence route reconcile the
people of Western Canada to this assault upon their
pockets. Mr. Galt may take our word br it, that,
should he succeed in forcing the new tariff through
Parliament, a storm will be evoked throughout the
West which will not improve the working or the
prospects of the lhaione—Toronto Globe.