New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
TAXES AND EMPIRE.


a,~,nr An danger. no man should be exempt from
some small share In keeping Il safe. and that II
is clear that England does not have the right
system for the times, since the sources OF taxa
ton are TOO few 10 yield the necessary supplies.
Mr. Greenwood does not specifically propose
general tariff for revenue purposes; but since ne
sweeps aside the poll tax as an Impossible al
tentative. ne virtually leads up 10 the conclu-
sion. which THE Daily Mali expresses without
eouivocation. that q tax OF or 10 per cent on
foreign manufactured imports is Indispensable
This involves Reputation Of free trade and a
reversion TO the fiscal and economic policies OF
Fngland's chief industrial and mercantile rivals.
the United States and Germany. Mr.. Chamber
lain two or three years ago broke the ground
for a change Of tariff policy IN his famous ad-
dress before the Canada Club; yet he abandoned
the plough when the furrow had been turned
but without showing any signs OF repentance
'-The Times" which draws much OF its inspira-
tion from Mr.. Chamberlain, has demonstrated
against the tentative and feeble methods OF
financing the in South Africa, and has bold
~ advocated the widening OF the area OF taxa
ton so that the burdens will not fan exclusively
upon a small portion Of the community. MI
Greenwood has only expressed the convictions
Of a large body OF English taxpayers in laying
stress upon this fundamental question Of tariff
and fiscal reform.
IMMEDIATE CHANGE UNLIKELY
Immediate changes OF the fiscal system are not
10 be expected Sir Michael Hicks Beach. while
an old Tory In politics. is a Liberal OF possibly
a whig in finance. He has been influenced by
permanent stan OF Treasury officials. who are
indoctrinated with the principles and practice
Of free trade: and he has followed the lines OF
Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Gladstone and Sir William
Haroourt in working out the problems of ma
tional finance without having their original ca
pacity for introducing new methods under press
ure OF necessity Even with an overwhelming
Ministerial majority behind him he has stood in
dread OF Sir William Harcourts criticism. and
has valued the compliments Of the Opposition
leader more highly than the prestige which he
might have won by fayoring new principles
adapted 10 the times He neglected to take ad-
vantage a year ago OF great opportunity for a
revision Of the system Of taxation. A penny a
pound on sugar would have yielded more reve-
nue. than he has derived from all the increases
OF taxation on incomes, tobacco, wine, beer and
tea He did not venture TO expose himself 20 at
tack from the Liberal benches. and wasted
golden opportunity for widening the area OF tax
alton He has continued 10 conduct the finances
OF the war in a faint hearted way by petty ex-
pedients in raising revenue and borrowing money
piecemeal on unfavorable terms stronger
hnancier than Sir Michael Hicks Beach Will be
needed at the Treasury before Mr.. Frederick
Greenwood's reforms can be carried out.
While the Treasury policies are unchanged the
Imperialist movement is the greatest force in
English politics and is carrying everything be-
fore Il. There has been a complete change in
the English point OF view in the last fifty years.
The old time fanatical Cobdenite believed that
tariffs would disappear, that wars would cease
and that the nations OF the earth would be
linked together by the industrial bonds Of pacific
trade. In his enthusiasm for universal free
trade the expansion OF the empire did not inter-
est him. So long traders could have free
access 20 all markets II cid not matter what
flag hoated them whether the empire
was large or small The Cobdenlte even
ready 10 regard It open question whether
the Canadian and Australian colonies would re-
main permanently united with the mother coun-
try and whether il would be advantageous 10
have the Imperial connections maintained. The
times have changed and England with them.
The force Of American economic experience has
been longer and surer lever than English free
trade IN directing the tariff policies OF maritime
nations. Nobody outside the narrow coterie Of
the Golden Club is now convinced that II is the
best thing for England that II should remain in
splendid isolation the only free trading country
in the world. There is no longer pessimistic talk
about allowing Australia and Canada 10 with
draw from the empire whenever they may think
II advisable TO do so. The necessity for binding
the colonies by indissoluble links TO the mother
State is generally recognized. and Imperial fed
Grafton. instead OF being something chimerical
has become a problem Of practical statesman
ship. In place OF Mr.. Cobden's dreamy realm OF
universal peace and free trade under many
nags. there is looming up before the English
imagination a vast federated economic empire
under the British flag. united IN its mercantile
and Industrial interests anc arrayed for self
defence against the world.
il is probable that the Treasury policy next
year Will be timorous and hating one with
a complete suspension OF the sinking fund ser
vice and further additions 10 income and other
direct forms OF taxation. Meanwhile the great
question OF the reorganization OF the military
system WITH be taken up and gradually trans
formed into a far reaching problem of Imperial
defence. with symmetrical DEVELOPMENT Of all
the auxiliary forces OF the self-governing col
onies. Naturally. the colonies VIII be consulted
respecting this scheme, and an Imperial council
in which all OF them viii be adequately repre-
scented may be expected in London Mr. Cham
berlain without doubt already has this council
In mind. plan OF Imperial defence Of the first
magnitude viii be costly, and the income tax