The sting has, however, practically been taken out of the Opposition attack by the repeal of the shilling duty on corm. The freetraders are jubilant, and it. is said that the Cobden Club'are thinking of celebrating. the event by a dinner. Of course the Liberals can make the most of the inconsistency of the Government. Last year we were told that this tax was imposed because it was necessary to broaden the basis of taxation, and that the consumer would not feel it. Every Minister defended it not as an exceptional measure to meet an exceptional strain, but as a measure based on a right and proper principle. That tax they told ws, ight never to have been abolished. Now Mr. Ritchie treats it as an objectionable tax—a tax on the food and raw material of the people—a tax only imposed with reluctance under pressing necessity. One cannot. help feeling some sympathy with Mr. Chaplin. when he says. that the Government have made "absolute fools" of their supporters. It was only a small tax, but it, w protective tax, and the Protectionists hailed it with delight, Tts repeal} isa sad blow to them for it means that this first little victory that they ha won in fifty years has been wiped out in twelve mont
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.