If all the indirect taxes are removed, the poor (at least down to
those earning L1 a week and upwards) must be made to contribute to
direct taxes. It may be urged against Universal Free Trade that the
poor are so ignorant that they would sooner pay sixteen-pence a week
in taxes indirectly than eightpence directly. This might prove a
fatal objection to carrying out Universal Free Trade at the first
attempt; but one of the objects to be gained by direct taxation is
the education of the people. It may also be urged that the whole
political power being now in the hands of the masses, they are so
selfish and unjust that if taxation is made a plain matter they will
put all taxation on the rich and refuse to pay anything themselves.
The reply to this is, If this is your estimate of the understanding
and morality of the masses, you should not have put the whole
political power in their hands.

We are only attempting at present to show that the L40,000,000
sterling (to replace duties and those parts of the excise which hang
on duties) _could_ be raised by direct taxation: we are not
attempting to show the best way it could be raised by direct
taxation; it will be seen hereafter that a portion of it might
perhaps be better raised by a National Property Rate.

The L40,000,000 would be raised by an income tax of sixteen-pence in
the pound--(I am underestimating safely--about a shilling in the
pound would raise it really),--carried down to L156 a year without
any reductions; while incomes of L1 a week paid eightpence weekly,
and incomes of L2 a week paid twelvepence weekly. In the Crimean War
the nation endured an income tax of sixteen-pence in the pound; it is
certain that the nation is richer now, and better able to bear such a