The New York herald., 1862-01-20
TAXATION IN ENGLAND, FRANCE AND PRUssl
British Revenue During the
Eleven Years War.
Sixty Millions Sterling Yearly
Raised from Taxes.
REVENUE SYSTEM OF FRANCE
OUR ABILITY TO SUPPORT TAXES
HOW TO RAISE $27s,OoO,OOo OF REVENUE,
&C., &c., 90

Taxation is . question so entirely new 70 Amoro"~
citizens that the public mind may be said 70 have yet no
definite notions about the fiscal expedents forced upon
us by the war; Tho cheapness Of the federal govern
snt has hitherto saved the discussion OF the thou
sand theories Of taxation that have psrpexed the states
men and vexed the people of the Old World. Our reve
nue. system has been chiefly confined to tarih on mpor
tations and fondly hoped that taxation would
provo foreign to the revenue Of our government
as despotism has been to its rule. Tho rebellion now
temporarily increased the national expenditure
nvefold and have therefore alternative but of
tho nonce adopt extraordinary expedisnts for raising
the national income. We willingly yeld precedence to
Europe the matter Of fiscal acumen In the Old world
taxation is science thoroughly systematized a. sur
Rery Being, fact the method Of dressing the wounds
and setting tho broken bones Of the body potc. 1t bass
Of course its literature theories its doctors and its
schools as much the inferior science that deals merely
with the misfortunes Of the body physical The schc-
asc study Of taxation may be very interesting for those
who learned to regard national burthens 10 an in
separabe accompaniment Of government but Americans
are quite satisfied that the science Of taxation should ro
main of the peculiar institutions OF Europe All we
desire take short practical lesson Tor present use
from the experience of governments that have grown
gray in taxation, having no time to spend among tns
theorists.
EUROPEAN PRECEDENT.
reat Britain and Franco may be regarded az the coun'
tries that more than any other in Europe have regu
lated their taxation with intelligent regard to tho in'
tsrests Of trade and the feelings Of their people Ia
both countries the taxes, though mostly originating
with the government have generally the quiet acqui-
escence of the people, being, on the whole, the
least burthensone way Of raising revenue II, There
FORE Europe affords any precedent worthy to guide US
the present emergency, We are most likely to nnd ID
the systems Of England and France 1t has been ooshy
ub hor knw
ton Tho truth that she has prospsred only in spite q
it, Hsr devslopement greatly indebted to tho generally
udcious adjustment Of hor TAXATION and IL strkingy
proves how rapidly people may progress despite Of the
heaviest fiscal burthsns provided those burthens be not
allowed to fall nuriousy the productive resources a
the country.
BRITISH TAXATION DURING THE FasNcH wAR.
The period of heaviest taxation In England was daring
her war with France and the Allies. During tho Glove.
vears-from 1903 to 1s1s-she maintained elective
army of about Ia5 900 men, and navy numbering abese
l2O 900 seamen and marines. The population Of The
United Kingdom at time about eighteen Millions
90 that the proportion Of subjects enlisted In the govern
msusosrvics was one and half per cent. In this 70.
spsct her position differed materially from ours In The
present rbeon population in the dsld bsng abous
three per cent Of tho whole Tho yearly expenditure q
the United Kingdom during that period averaged twenty
i've dollars per head Of tho popuaton our own at ths
ratio Of about eighteen dollars per head Of the loyal pops
laton
Tho question Of chief interest 10. now did England thse
raise her rsvenuss Her total revenue during that eleven
years was upwards Of four thousand seven hundred n
lions Of dollars OF sverass four hundred and twenty
sovea millions Of dollars year. The following eompArs
son will show in round numbers. what proportion sach
source Of revenue contributed 70 this enormous assrs
gate:- -. $40. - ,e1s
Percentage Of Whole.
Tar. ,.x.t,or a 400 900 900 INK
From Fio loans l,oe0 100000 2lx