The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-10 00:00:00

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LONDON
MOND X.Y MORNING. OCTOBER 10, 1842,

It seems, by the article we copy from the
Leeds Mercury on the tariff of the German
League, that there has suddenly emanated frOm
the Congress at Stuttgard, without any previous
yuhlic discussion, and without any warning to
other States, a new schedule of duties. Reports
Lad certainly got into circulation that some alte-
ration in the duties inimical to our interest were
ia contemplation, but the secret was so well
kept, that in July last Sir R. PEEL had no in-
fmnation on the subject, and stated to the House
of Commons that he had had some conversation
with the Prussian Minister, who knew of no
such designs. -Now, however, we are assured by
the Mereuiw, that the Congress has agreed to
raise the duties on mixed worsted and cotton
goods fron thirty to fifty dollars per cwt., an
alteration which, it is said, will have an injurious
effect on a number of articles manufactured. in
Yorkshire and Lancashire. Our industry, then,
is assailed on all sides, and the patriotic efforts
of our anti-manufacturers, who wish to have half
our towns cngulphed, and a stop put to the in-
crease of a manufitcturing population, are well
seconded by the commercial legislation of France,
of the United States, and of Germany. If the
Government, and the middle classes who con-
trol it, continue to support our present policy,
the desire of those who would like to drive a
ploughshare over the site of Manchester, may
perhaps, ere long, be gratified.

Of course we shall be stunnedon this occasion,
as on the occasion of the alteration io the tariff
of the United States, with declamation from the
Tory journals against the ingratitude of other
States, which repay our reductions of duty on
their commodities with an augmentation of duties
oti ours; and we shall again be told of the folly
a expecting that other States will follow our
example. Let us prepare to encounter this de-
clamation, by reminding our readers that the
principal reductions of our duties, that on timber,
was of no importance to any other member of
the League than Prussia ; and that admitting
cattle, thowdi useful perhaps to Holland, Bel-
gium, and Holstein, is of very little consequence
to the States of the Zoll Verein. At the same
time we levied a new duty on the coals Ger-
manyT;' imports from ngland. The Zell Verein
has, therefore very little to be grateful for, and
will not, on that account, merit Many reproaches.
But what is our example which the Germans
wall proliably be blamed fur not 11)1lowing ? Does
not oar. whole tariff proceed 00 the principle of
protectmgoative and colonial industry; and does
not the .
Vurein act on that principle ? The
more or less, the thirty or fifty dollars, is. a
questiao of Nvlich the (ierrnaus must
It onl.f follows our example in protect-
ing, as it is called, the manufactures of Germany,
as England protects the growth of corn. In
E4.4.land, he it remembered, this
principle
of protection has been hotly assailed. It
has been denounced as a trespass on
honesty. It has been accused of inflict-
ing; death on the people. Political econo-
mists lrlve shown that it is destructive of
national wealth, sensible men have proved that
it overturns all morality, and the ministers of re-
ligion 116-Ve-d.C.,m6iiStrated that it is shockingly
impious. Here it has been tried and tested by