THE MORAL SIDE OF THE FISCAL QUESTION. pro THE EDITOR
OF THE "SPECTAT011."1
SIR,—The moral side of the fiscal question has, I think, received too little attention from the advocates of Free-trade. Stress has, however rightly, been laid mainly on its economic aspect. Surely it is important that the poor now know that necessary food is as cheap as can be, nothing being done by the Legislature to increase its price. The wage-earner, when temporarily out of work, or sick, or "hard hit," has the satisfaction of knowing that no taxation is imposed on his bread or meat, and his richer brothers have a like satisfaction in feeling that fiscally they place no burdens on him in his necessity. If Mr. Chamberlain's proposals were adopted, the poor would not only have to pay the food-taxes, but feel the pressure at their weakest momenta; they would, as it were, be hit whenever they were down. This knowledge would give rise to bitterness and resentment on their part, and surely it ought to trouble the consciences of the well-to-do. Is not ' the absence of savage hatred and jealousy from English wage-earners to a large extent the result of the present compassionate system of taxation P-1 am, Sir, &c., H. A. H.
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