The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-05 00:00:00

prepared t ) turn its back on Free Trade, or to
abandon the hope of making further progress in.
the direction of "unrestricted cempetition." As
we have repeatedly s.ated, nut on►y do we believe
that a judiciously framed and equitably assessed
Property Tax is the very best for the community
that any financier can devise, but we believe it to
be an imperative necessity, which must be main-
tained ht all times, and under all circumstances.
The Leviathan a►tempts to alleviate the popu-
lar excitement by st ding " that the Income Tax
at its present rats shall cease and determine on
a given day," and as already provided, such day
being not far off. What is more, the whole tax is
doomed to extinction, as a peace tax. Not only
"the war 9d. but the peace 7d., lies under sentence
of death, to be carried into execution this time
three years !" But the same arguments, the same
promises have been repeatei usque ad nauseam,
and on even higher authority than that of the
Jupiter tonons of Printing House-square. From
the period of its imposition, an " imposition," in
every sense of the word, in 1842, until what we
are now gravely tAd was the final settlement of
1853, it was always a temporary impost, doomed
to speedy extinction. Never was a longer term
granted than three years—and yet grievous com-
plaints were, ab initio, preferred against its gross
inequality and palpable injustice. No time
can sanctify a fraud—and tllat was a
fraud of the most barefaced descrip-
tion on the struggling proprietors of pre••
carious incomes. It was a fraud, too, to
term it a Property Tax, for, as the " Spirit
of COCKER" has so clearly and distinctly explained,
it is not a tax on property. It certainly charges
incomes derived from property, as it does the
earnings of industry ; but capitalists can, nay,
more, they do, continue to evade the liability.
It is not too much to say that, of the seven or
eight thousand millions of accumulated and
realised property, not one-half contributes in any
shape, or under any schedule, to the impost. As-
suming that 12,000,0001. out of the 16,000,0001.
is obtained from property—it proves that the
property contributing only pays on, in round
terms, 180,000,0001. per annum, a grossly inade•
quate amount, as we shall be prepared to prove should
the allegation be disputed or questioned. All the
fraud, therefore, is not with the possessors of in-
dustrial incomes paying under schedule D. It
should properly be denominated a tax on incomes
and wages exceeding 1001.

Why, then, should the people submit to be
plundered for three years longer ? Is it because
they have already groaned under the burden for
fourteen years? That should furnish an irresist-
ible argument for obtaining compensation in the
only shape it can be afforded—viz., a total exemp-
tion, for the future, for the earnings of the indus-
trious classes, not for their continued submission
to the inequitable charge of an additional period.
What would the Crystal Palace Directors and
Shareitolders have anwered to the suggestion that
as RoßsoN had been robbing them for three or
four years, and they had given him notice that
his services would be dispensed with in a few
months—he should not only be allowed to enjoy
his ill-gotten gains with impunity, but to continue
his system for the remaining period of his service ?
If this doctrine can be maiut,ained, the lover of
" a spicy turn-ow." has been an ill-used man, and
LEOPOLD REDPATR would have a claim for heavy
damages against his prosecutors S If, however,
the penalties of the law can be enforced against
individuals—the political ROBSONS and REDPATEIS
—if they cannot be compelled t) disgorge the
amount of which the sufferers have been sAindlerl,
should at least submit to an immediate cessation
of their unhallowed receipts.
But it is universally admitted that the tax may
be required again. It is one t 9 be resorted to in
any emergency—whether on account of war or a
financial crisis. If, as the Times truly asserts,
" Money means the sinews of war, the Income
Tax is the very essence and vitality of the whole
muscular system." "An instrument" (acc)rd-
ing to Lord DERBY) " of vast energy, and effect,
:exhibiting in the strongest degree to foreign
countries the itnatensity and power of our re-
sources in war." The sword is, therefore, in every
sense impending over our heads, and by a very
fragile support. It may fall on us at any mo-
ment. Surely, therefore, it is better to antici-
pate the difficulty than wait to the period when
appeals will be made to the patriotism of the
nation, not to interfere with the potent itisq.u-
merit which must exhibit to our opponents " the
nmewity and power of our resource; in war."
As to the impossibility of finding any way to
'quality of taxation, or what is better designated
s fair apporionruent of that tax, is is all
" bosh," a gross and transparent humbug froin
IP-ginning to end—from tie alpha to the omega.
As the Times once declared, any c enpetent ac-
tuary
could, in a few hours, devise a plan that
would at least be an approximation to perfect
fairness. If the independent Members only in-
sist on the tii3l, it will to made, aye, and suc-
cessfully. Let fiscal reformers, then, exert. them-
;;elves unanimously and energttically—let them
give " a long pull, a strong pull"—(but above
,t1l)—" a pull altogether," and' speedy and com-
plete success must attend their exertions. Sir
GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS, Mr. DISRAELI, aye,
and even Mr. GLADSTONE, will strive to give
iearnediute effect to that which may indeed be re-
;arded as a final arrangemen t.

L 0 rto-N., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 01,7

Great is Manchester, but not quits so great as
she was. In the days of the League her annual
gathering was the morning st sr of the session ; we
looked to it almost as much as to the QUEEN'S
Speech ; it communicated to us, not like the
Royal document, the vague anything-meaning
statements of a Cabinet afraid t ) speak out, but
the resolves and plans of the most vigorous public
body of the day. What the League would do
concerned many politicians and constituencies
more than what Ministers would not do,
or would not promise t) do. Words that
burned with the fervour of a noble
cause gave to long- columns of small point an in-
terest which word, used to conceal intentions,
could not impart to paragraphs in large type of
what had been read from the Throne.
Why is it so different now ? Manchester does

The Times announces as a great fact that the not think less of itself, nor has she any reason to
Income Tax, " for eveiy penny in the rate of do so. Her numbers and her wealth are immensely
assessment, brings a million of plunds storlin:). increased ; she is represented by two members, of
into the Exchequer." We cannot certainly col. whose ability and whose weight in the House any
simple reasons-Ist, constituency
trovert this position, for two may well he proud. Her htwe, but
because the Revenue 11,turrig establish it beyond brick p1.:,3 of li:tenth'," is now ex :hanged for a
the possibility of ciJuht or
d:sPut° ; and, 2 ily, building worthy to be e.-11,tt d the Free-trade H,ll,
because it is a point which
we hare repeatedly and yet we no longer 1 tek to the great ante-ses-
urged, but from which we draw very different sional gathering at Manchester with
the breath-
conclusions indeed from those which the Times lees interest of former days. The plain reason
endeavours to establish. Our argument il, hs it seems to be that M tuchester, like her
great
always has been, that no Financial Miniater can Frec-traders, eeKris to have fulfilled her
possibly dispense with se large a source of revenue appointed mission ; and though she will
without, entering on a retrograde policy, and re- not cease to be an important city tale can-
establishing duties and taxes that have been either not again become the centre of a great national
Abolished or greatly reduced, to the' intense gra- in,vement. Bravely and well her merchants and
tificatioa of the tax-paying community, and the manufacturers did battle with lords of the soil.
usequivbcal advantage of the trade and corn- I Afinchoster took up the cause of the people's food.
Tame of the country. We cannot again under Sue made common cause with every man except the
*l7 possible consideration of circumstances enser ! 30,000 growers of corn and their brother mono-
** the paths of protection. The nation is not i polists in other departments. She openly pro-