The party in favour of direct taxation has its head-quarters
at Liverpool ; its mouthpiece is Mr. Robertson Gladstone, President of the Financial Reform Association. At the annual meeting of this body on Tuesday, the doctrine was laid down that it is not their pro- vince to frame a definite scheme of direct taxation. The Government must do that. Let public opinion insist on a recognition of the principle, and all will be done by "the paid servants of the state, who, in that case, will readily find the means. With these func- tionaries," we are told, "it is the will that is wanting, not the way." The council thinks a great reduction can be made, naming 5,000,0001. as a minimum. Lavish expenditure in our dockyards is severely handled, and the building of the Warrior pointedly condemned as useless, and as an imitation of what we condemn in the case of the Emperor of the French. One of the speakers in this meeting to pro- mote direct taxation had the courage to demand the repeal of the income-tax! "Call you that backing your friends ?"
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