Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-03-29

II Tue uIle appears 10 nave gone Dy when l'RoTEC-
TIoN the order Of the day in England. We do not
here use that word in its limited sense, applied to
protective tariff in behalf of domestic manufactures
only, but in its most comprehensive meaning when
II extended to almost every interest in the nation,
and to almost every class of the people. English
silks were saved from the competition OF foreigners
Il by import duties which amounted TO prohibition.
English cotton and wooen goods, English cutlery,
porcelain, hats, shoes-every thing, in short, of
home manufacture, was protected, not by the skill
of the fabricators but by the interference of laws
which closed the home market against strangers
The shipping interests, the West India interests the
Canadian interests, the East India Company's in
erests, all bostered up carefully as the votes
of Parliament could effect it, Protection to life and
property was secured by very severe criminal
code. Hares, partridges and pheasants were pro-
tected by most stringent game-laws and the dread Of
transportation. The Church, as by law establish
ed, was protected by steady and uniform depres-
sion OF dlssenters and non-conformsts. Commerce
and navigation were guarded by thousand restric-
tive duties. The aristocracy was protected by a
careful denial of Parliamentary representation to
Manchester Leeds, Sheffield Birmingham. and
other populous places and the most tender protec-
ton to the nominal constituencies of Old Sarum,
Cation, and Castle Rising. The wealthy land
owners and the agricultural interest were protected
by the closing of the ports against the admission of
foreign grain, until the price of that grown at home
exceeded ten shillings or two dollars and twenty
two cents the bushel In fact, legislative protection
was extended to all classes and all interests except
ing to the two most important, because the most
numerous-the laboring and working classes of the
people,
But change has gradually come over this poll
cy. The first innovation was made by Mr.. CAN
MING and Mr.. HUsKIssoN, and their friends they
forced their colleagues, in Lord LIvERpoo1s admin
istraon, into the repeal of the navigation laws and
to the general admission that, wherever system of
reciprocity could be established free trade offered
greater advantages to all parties than restricted
one. This was but the beginning of the end. Sir
ROBERT PEEL, the Duke of WELLINGTON and Lord
ELDoN refused to take office under Mr. CANNING
because he favorable to Catholic emancipation
The Tory party praised them for their opposition
and bore them back into power and place on the
death of Mr.. CANNING. But the march of change
and reform was onward and, in one year after
wards, the Corporation and Test laws and Catholic
Disabilities were repealed. This Administration
would not advance another step, and the Duke of
WELLINGToNs memorable declaration against Par
amentary reform led to the defeat of the Tories
and the admission of the Wings into office. The
Wings boosted of their liberal principles but they
dared not to speak of endowments for the Roman |
Catholic Church in Ireland, nor dreamed of revou-
onizing either the commercial or the fiscal arrange
ments OF the empire, and with the exception Of the
great question of Parliamentary reform, they left |
things pretty much they found them.
II remains to be seen what has been done by a |
Conservative Cabinet. The present Government
took office at period of extraordinary danger and
difficulty. Disastrous wars abroad, sedtous move
ments at home, diminished commerce, and re-
venue falling off from quarter to quarter, gave a |
fearful character to the times These appalling cir
cumstances were not to be met by any ordinary means
OF amendment. The new Government felt this, and
acting upon the conviction, looked for remedy in
a complete change of system. The repeal move
ment IN Ireland was put down, the tariff and the |
income tax OF 1912 were passed, and these import
ant measures speedily followed by others |
which indicated that :" old things were passing
away and that all things were becoming new"
Ireland had to be quoted there were only two
ways of doing this, either by governing with rod
OF iron, or by conciliating the great body of the
peope-generous conduct towards them on their
most tender point. Sir ROBERT PEEL rightly adopt
ed the latter mode. The charitable endowments
bill was passed; the education of candidates for |
holy orders according to the rites of the Roman
Catholic Church in Ireland was provided for
at the public expense; the Church OF Rome, in |
Ireland, recognised Church; pous indi- |
viduals were empowered TO endow benefces and |
build Roman Catholic places of worship at their |
pleasures the Romish clergy permitted to be- /
come bodies corporate, and, like the Protestant
Wears and rectors, to hold property corporations
and an annual grant of many thousands of pounds |
is now proposed for the better education of Caho-
lie priests. Thus is Sir ROBERT PEEL steadily and
uniformly pursuing the only plan which appears to
hold out prospect of peace for Ireland, and, of
course, for the United Kingdom He is acting
justly towards the majority, aud with exceeding |
good policy towards the minority of the population
Of Ireland.
But it is not in regard to churches and education
alone that the wheel is going round. The financial
system OF the country seems to be now in the bal |
ance. The formerly strongly held theory that IN
direct taxation was greatly preferable to direct tax
alton appears to be getting out of date in England
The income tax has been renewed for three wears
an amended tariff has been introduced, four hundred
and thirty articles have been exonerated from i'm
port duties, and trade set free from great many of
It's shackes; export duties are to be levied no |
more raw cotton and other elements Of manufac- |
lures are to enter British ports free of duty glass
IS exempted from taxation auction duties are abol-
ished sugar can be placed in the cup of the poor
man at two cents and half per pound cheaper
than II used to be. The country is to be relieved
from upwards Of three million pounds sterling of
annual taxation and even with increased estimates
for the navy and other purposes, surplus Of nearly
one hundred thousand pounds is expected at the
expiration OF the ensuing year. In 1912 the inn
port duties were reduced on seven hundred and