MR. CHURCHILL'S METHOD.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] was much interested in the article in your Last issue under this heading. I was brought up among old Radicals of the Cobden school, and continually heard complaints (this was fifty to sixty years ago) that large sums were raised, by taxing those who could ill afford it, to provide posts for the younger sons of the aristocracy. There was possibly some truth in it. Whether there was or not, it is certainly true that the present Government would tax, and succeeding Socialistic Governments (if we allow such things to be) would extend the taxation of, all wealth, all thrift, and all industry, to pay an army of inspectors, inquisitors, and valuers, et hoc genus omne, and to pension and support the idle and incompetent; but why this scion of aristocracy, this grandson of a Duke—" Oh these Dukes ! How they harass us !"—should be permitted to draw a salary from the long- -suffering taxpayer in order that he may go about the country Breaching spoliation and robbery, and trying to stir up hatred against the class from which he derives his only claim to distinction, is more than a plain man can understand. He may be useful to his party as an object-lesson more damaging to the ducal houses than all Mr. Lloyd George's invective ; like the man whom legend says certain teetotal lecturers kept in a state of perpetual intoxication as a fearful example of the effects of drink. To many of us he must appear a combina- tion of the evils of the old and new regime.—I am, Sir, &c.,
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
Previous page
