The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-14 00:00:00

I livid= -ait

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1850.

Henceforth the advocates of diminished taxation
may rely on the services of Colonel SIBTRORP ! So
decided is the aversion, so inveterate is the hostility of
the Honourable and Gallant Colonel to anything
like "further taxation," that the second reading of
the Public Libraries Bill encountered yesterday his
most strenuous opposition, the object of this Bill
being to invest town. councils with the permissive
power of levying a small rate (one halfpenny in the
pound) for the purpose of building public libraries
and museums. The Gallant Colonel at first questioned
the legality of such a proposition. When, however,
Sir GEORGE GREY had silenced his scruples on that
head, he contented himself with moving that the Bill
be read again at the expiration of six months.
This amendment, strange to say, was sup-
ported by no less than 101 votes, a majority
of 17 only having carried the second reading.
Such a decision on such a question is somewhat sur-
prising, but the arguments of the Honourable Mem-
bers who voted in the minority are even yet more
marvellous. They conscientiously shrunk from im-
posing an additional tax upon an already burthened
people 1 In vain were they reminded that this im-
post, small as it is, is not compulsory, the object of
the Bill not being to impose a tax even of a halfpenny,
but merely to empower local authorities to levy that
additional rate where it may seem expedient for the
benefit of the community. Such arguments were
quite insufficient to appease the virtuous indignation
of the opponents of " further taxation." Mr. BUCK
complained that the local rates in some
towns were already sufficiently heavy, and
" no sentimental desire to afford recreation and amuse-
ment to the masses ought to be taken as a justifica-
tion for any addition to those rates." Mr. BERNAL,
while approving of the object of the Bill, opposed it
on account of the taxation. Mr. HOWARD objected
to " imposing additional taxation upon the poor and
unlettered people."
,The same very plausible plea of
" farther taxation" was reiterated with variations by
the numerous opponents of the second reading of this
" unconstitutibnel" Bill. A stranger, wholly unac-
quainted with the manners and customs of the Eng-
lish in 1850, on listening to the debate of yesterday,
and hearing the eloquent anti-taxation argu-
ments of so msny Honourable Members, would
fi❑d it indeed hard to bk lieve that in the
same House which, nct without
,hesitation and
d:fficulty, could accord its permission for the occa-
sional levying of one halfpenny in the pound fur the
furtherance of the moral and intellectual improvement
of the people (on the plea that such a tax might prove
burdensome)—in that same llouse a heavy tax is
levied on every orifice by which light and air is
suffered to enter the meanest dwelling—in that same
House sums are repeatedly granted for the erection of
royal pa'acea and continually lavished on undeserved
pensions—sums collected in many Instances by
onerous imposts on the very necessaries of life—and
yet the opponents of "further taxation" as regards
public libraries make no sign, but tacitly,
or perhaps actively, give assent and consent thereto.
It is unnecessary for us to disclaim any advocacy of-

increased taxation. On the contrary, we shall not
be content until a very considerable diminution of
exiting taxes has taken place. At the same time
our ideas on the subject are somewhat dissimilar
from those of Colonel SIBTHORP and the supporters
of his amendment. We not only deprecate all in-
crease, but we desire a material reduction in all such

taxes as interfere with the physical, mental,
or moral welfare of the people. But, on
the other hand, we cannot, like the Gallant
Colonel, offer any opposition to such a rate as

that referred to in the Bill in question, seeing that its
object (unlike many taxes we could mention) is not
to retard but to facilitate the well-being of the people.
Looking upon it merely in a pecuniary point of view
we can hardly over-rate the advantages of whatever
tends to promote the moral education of the multi-

tude. Almost incredible sums are annually expended
in the prosecution of criminals, of which a mere fraction
might have sufficed for the material prevention of crime.
If thewretched children who throng our courts and alleys
could but receive the germs of an honest education,
if the dwelling-houses of the poor could be made to
approximate in any degree to the theoretical idea of
an English home, if the leisure hours of youths and
adults, now so continually squandered away in idle-
ness, intemperance, and evil company, were (occa-
sionally even) passed in the public reading•rooms, in
the enjoyment of pleasurable recreation and the ac-
quisition of beneficial information, would our annual
expenditure be thereby augmented or diminished'?
This momentous question we refer to the considera-
tion of the 101 supporters of Colonel SIBTHORP'S
anti-taxation opposition to public libraries. For our-
selves, we incline to the opinion of Mr. BROTHRRTON,
that the cheapest and best police we can have are
those public institutions which tend to promote the
education of the people.

Never perhaps was a more powerful illustration
afforded of the difference between " sayings and
doings" than in the House of Commons on Tues-
day evening, during the discussion and division on

the motion of the lion. Member for West Surrey.
The proposition then brought forward was verbally
supported on all sides by Members of every section
and party, of every shade and variety of political
feeling. Protectionist and Free-trader, Whig and
Tory, Conservative and Radical, alike affirmed the
truth and accuracy of the resolution, and spoke in the
strongest terms of the imperative necessity of economy
and retrenchment. But w hen the time for action arrived,
when lion. Gentlemen were called upon to give prat'
tical proofs of the sincerity of their convictions, then

indeed a lamentable falling off was apparent. Many
deserted the colours under which they had formerly
arrayed themselves, and voted for what the Hon.
Member for Manchester correctly termed the " vaguest
of all amendments"—the previous question. This
result was only less extraordinary than the reasons
adduced by many well-known—and on other occa-
sions, consistent—Reformers. Some Hon. Gentle-
men thought that something more must be meant than
met the eye; that there was "a snake lurking in
the grass," from which they should endeavour to es-
cape. Others did not approve of the quarter whence
it proceeded, or some of the untenable arguments
by which it was supported, while a still larger num-
ber did not perceive to what practical result it could
lead. Some thought it a specious trap laid to catch
stray votes, while others believed it to be altogether
"a mockery, a delusion, and a snare." On such
grounds did those who chose to assign reasons for
their subsequent conduct justify the conclusions at
which they bad arrived, while the " waiters on
Providence" were contented with recording
silent votes in favour of the Government, which
might furnish additional claims to favourable
consideration on those interesting occasions when
their "claims and services" were brought prominently
under the notice of " the Patronage Secretary of the
Treasury." Under all the circumstances of the case,
the motion was negatived, and the amendment
adopted by a majority of 34 in a House where 346 of
the representatives of the people were in attendance.
To all who were in any degree acquainted with
the honour and integrity of the eccentric but high-
minded gentleman who brought forward the motion
it would be perfectly manifest that Mr. DRUMMOND
meant simply what he stated ; and that as the Right

Hon. Baronet the Member for Tamworth declared,
" If he had intended to ask the Houce of Commons
to express en opinion on the principle of the
commercial policy they had recently adopted, he
would in plain terms have so framed his
resolution that he would hrir,g the great question
to some clear issue, and not by the use
of equivocal phrases have attempted to gain an ad-