The New York herald., 1866-06-29


but We imagine that our people viii place
more reliance upon them II the English gov
ernment will promptly come forward and pay
the Alabama damages. We shall then have
some substantial evidence that the action Of
our authorities awill be cordially remem-
bered."
TAXATION ON WoRKs OF ART.-We understand
that q remonstrance has been forwarded to
Congress by the artists Of Rome and Florence
against the tax Of thirty per cent imposed by
the tariff On the statuary imported into this
country. They contend that such tax il not
only impolitic, but that 1t is an ungenerous
return for the advantages derived BY American
sculptos from the facilities afforded them in
Italy. To the last Of these arguments we may
object that American art students obtain no
greater privileges than those Of other countries,
and that what they get they pay for. The
money spent by them In the requirement
Of knowledge Of their profession goes
to enrich and benefit the centres Of Italian
art, whose interest II is to encourage the aggre-
CATION of foreign students within their limits
This, however, is petty view to take of the
matter. The real question is whether the
benefit the revenue derives from the tax COM
pensates for the injury which it inlicts on the
interests Of American art. We are bound to
say that 1t does not Like many other imposts
In the present tariff it is, in pecuniary sense,
Of no account whatever. It's effect is simply
to prevent the importation Of works which
would be of vast benefit to the progress Of art
in this country, and which, If encouraged,
would do away with the necessity of our young
sculptors going abroad. The fact that we have
no national collections Of sculpture or paint
ing, and are not likely to have any, renders it
all the more necessary that no obstacles should
be thrown in the way Of the introduction of
foreign works. On these gffooIinds, and these
alone, we advocate remission of the duties
They are not only impolitic but unproductive ;
and this latter fact if there were no other to
urge in favor of the measure, would be suffi-
cient to justify their abolition.
"ScorCHED Bur Nor KILLED."-It appears
from the statement Of the Minister OF Finance
to the Canadian Parliament that the Fenian
raids cost the government one million one hun
dred thousand dollars, and that the sum of FIVE
hundred thousand dollars, heretofore asked for
militia purposes, has been increased to the
heavy sum of one million five hundred thousand
dollars. In presenting his budget the Finance
Minister stated that the Fenian snake had been
"scotched, but not killed." and hence it was
necessary to prepare for future warlike action
on the part Of the Brotherhood. This shows
that the Canadian apprehensions about the
Fenians have not yet entirely subsidized. But
we think the Canada people can calm their
fears for the present W. do not believe the
bold Fenians will undertake to fight both the
American and the British governments. That,
of course, would be folly. Their business will,
in all probability, for some time to come, be
directed more to the value Of polls than pixies
in aid Of the cause and under the familiar
cry Of "repeal" they will make The neutrality
laws test question in the coming Con-
gressionsl elections. Then our Canadian
friends may prepare for "scare" !" In earnest.
A PRACTICAL MODE or SHOWING BRITISH
APrREorArIoN or AMERICAN NEUrRAIrY-Pay
up for the ravagos committed on American
commerce by the anglo-rsbel pirates Alabama,
Shenandoah, Tallahassee, Florida, DC.