Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-21
THE BRITISH BREAD TAX.

The hard contingencies of the Boer
war have forced the British govern
mert to turn its back upon It's econom-
ic policy of the last half century by
reimposing an import tax OH bread
stuffs.
This impost although apparently
slight, yet-amounting as it does to two
cents on the quartern loaf of the
Englishman. Is sure to create great
dissatisfaction among the people OF
Great Britain, and it is not unlikely
to have far-rcaching consequences
elsewhere.
Wheat is an article of such universal
consumption in England, among the
working classes,--to whom 1t means
what both meat and bread are to us,
and these consumers are so exceeding
" Jealous of taxation which reaches
down to the level Of their daily food,
that 1t will exhaust the resources of
statesmanship to keep the situation
from dangers that threaten on every
side.
The stimulus OF the demand for
goods which the war itself furnishes
may keep the streets of London and
Birmingham free from bread riots,
but the masses will be discontented
Mt best over a burden which they
must see is carried in support Of an
unjust and unnecessary war upon an
Innocent people.
Ireland, too, is likely to be the seat
of disturbances, to augment which
advantage Is sure to be taken of the
dissatisfaction over the tax on grain.
The ever-present land question in the
unhappy island is again at the front,
pressing for solution. The palliatives
of Gladstone, and the nostrums of less
worthy statesmen, have ceased to have
longer any effect, and the tenantry-
even the protestants of Ulster, are
now demanding II remedy which shall
ixtirpate the vice of landlordism
This means, of course, the expropria
tion of their titles, and the demand
comes at the most inopportune OF
times for the peace Of the tory party
With Kitchener calling for more sol
dlers. and Ireland IN need Of garri
sons. Mr.. Chamberlain finds himself
compelled to look after colonies nearer
home than those he is annexing t.
the crown in South Africa.
The English landed gentry are o
course delighted with the recrudes
cence of Il policy which seems [,
bring back to them the golden ag
of the "corn laws" forgetting tina
the commercial supremacy of thel
country began with the decline In tn
price OF breadstuffs and has kept stel
with II since; and the capitalist mus
reflect that. IL the English workman
shall do as his German cousins hay,
done In an emergency,--fall back OF
potatoes, the importation of whea
from India will fall Off, so that tn,
Hindoo-while he may thus be allow
ed, by eating little of the grain h,
has raised, as he is not now pcrmitte,
TO do, to Keep from starving to death
Will not he able TO longer pay ren
TO his London landlord.
To us In America the consequences
of the rcimpostion of grain Ia,
viii be looked for with interest. L
resort shall he had TO potato diet
then, of course by so much will o,r
market for export wheat he cut of
and our agricultural interests mus
suffer accordingly. If II were true
as we were seriously Informed h,
Republican newspapers and politician
a few years ago, that the foreigne
pays the tax then indeed would tn
situation he serious one for ou
farmers, however, pleasant 1t nigh
be for the English workmen to hav
us pay the duties on his bread. II
difi,cult TO believe that within te
years such a claim has been mad,
and that men rode into Congress o
the back of the statement that sue
tax was paid by the foreigners IA
the privilege of trading In our maj
ketS" No doubt Mr. Frank Myel
believes It yet, ana thinks that one q
the blessings OF high tariff is thu
our farmers must pay two cents
loaf for bread to feed Engllshme