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. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ P 1034 . . THE LEADEK [No. 494...
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OUR MISMANAGEMENT. The public has been a...
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THE PAPER DUTIES—LIGHT FROM JAPAN. A cuH...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Smetiiuust Jlesson. The Smethurst Ca...
barbarous as to make many of the spectators faint . The present race of judges may tell us that without the gibbet and a host of minor appliances of a purely vindictive kind , society would not be safe , just as their predecessors declared hanging children for trumpery offences was essential to the security of the state ; but public opinion overrules professional prejudices and will not tolerate , infliction ^ , that are neither curative nor preventive , ^ id _ prtrch assume the character of diabolical revenge . In addition to affording new arguments for the abolition of capital punishment , the Smethurst case has excited a strong feeling in favour ' of courts of
appeal in criminal cases on matters of fact . At present ( af ter conviction ) appeals really take place in the Home Secretary ' s office , without publicity or the slightest guarantee for accuracy of method or . result . Sir Cornewall Lewis may contintie to discharge this part of his functions with care and discrimination , but previous Home Secretaries have played the most fantastic pranks with the prerogatives at their disposal , and the secrecy of the process has protected them from the responsibility that ought to attach to every judicial act . It would no doubt be more satisfactory fo _ have these aDDeals considered by a properly constituted
tribunal , but it will need a good deal of discussion before its precise form and method of procedure can be agreed upon . Some are for a new trial , to give supposed wrongfully-convicted persons a chance of acquittal , but not to afford an opportunity of convicting persons supposed to be wrongfully acquitted . In political cases there are obvious reasons for adhering to the niaxim that no one shall be twice tried upon the same charge , but they dp not equally apply to ordinary criminal cases . The poverty of most criminals would , however , furnish a reason why they should not be put to the expense of employing counsel for a second
defence , and in many instances there would be a virtual denial of justice if they were subject to a second prosecution unless the burden of their defence was borne by the state . But as punishing the innocent is a greater wrong " than allowing the guilty to escape , it must be conceded that the need for courts of appeal to revise convictions is far stronger than for a reconsideration of acquittals . It does not , however , follow , as some have p roposed , that a new jury trial should take place in doubtful cases of conviction . It might be sufficient if the judges in bench reconsidered the evidence upon which the conviction was founded ,
together with any new matter that might be adduced , but it would be more satisfactory if a portion of the court of appeal were composed of persons not having the class prejudices of our criminal judges ; and " experts , " or persons specially acquainted with technical portions of the evidence might be added with advantage . One thing is certain , that wo shall have no peace until suitable legal means are adopted for satisfactorily reviewing criminal decisions , as experience shows that whenever scientific evidence forms the turning-point of a case it may be had in any quantity and to any effect . If one chemist declares his inability to detect a poison , another swears lie could have found
a thousandth part of the quantity assumed to be present $ if one doctor pronounces a set of symptoms to be rare , and to manifest the action of noxious minerals or vegetables , another doctor declares that hip patients are in the habit of suffering precisely in the same way from natural causes . There is a sort of professional pride which induces medical men , and especially the least eminent for learning , to meet with great wonders in their career ; and no sooner is a fresh disease nicknamed
and described in the journals than they feej the same determination to have it in their practice that urges a linendraper to supply his shop with the latest novelty of tno season . It would be impossible to describe any symptoms that some of the se wondormongers have not seen under totally different circumstances ; and until scientific evidence is prepared with more care the public will bo bewildered by the assertions or pretensions of rival professors , nor can an ordinary unscientific jury bo oxpeoted to see their way through the maze of difficulties eroatod when doctors disagree .
. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ P 1034 . . The Leadek [No. 494...
. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ P 1034 . . THE LEADEK [ No . 494 . Sept . 10 , 1859 .
Our Mismanagement. The Public Has Been A...
OUR MISMANAGEMENT . The public has been again horrified b y military Hoggings : again informed that soldiers like Bailors ( continuall y dosei * t ; and again terrified by the information that they are still defenceless—that they neoa stout Boamon to stand betwixt them and
danger , and can ' t get them ; and again they find themselves utterly deceived by the confidence they have undeservedly placed in the fifth-rate men , whom they are taught to admire as highminded statesmen . The ZYwies , which is most diligent in working these themes , calls on Mr . Cobden to take the subject of national defence in hand , and try if hfe can ' t secure more protection at lesTfcost . IfcHappoints him to the Herculean trust of cleaning out the Augean stables of naval mismanagement . He must be amazingly flattered by being told that he can do what half-a-dozen Admiralties have been unable to perform ; but the public will
scarcely urge him to undertake the duties of Ministers and their subordinates . Putting him to do their work and leaving them the emoluments carries the system to a climax of absurdity . The public deserve , however , to be outraged by the continued arid disgraceful barbarities of flogging and by the alarms of invasion , for they invite by their respect and homage the arrogance and negligence of the know-all ' s and do-nothing ' s of the Ministry . Glorious as we are as a nation , we have come to a pretty pass when we pay 60 , 000 , 000 Z . a year to have our work done for us , and are continually obliged to do it ourselves ; and , instead of being served , are insulted by those who fleece us .
The Paper Duties—Light From Japan. A Cuh...
THE PAPER DUTIES—LIGHT FROM JAPAN . A cuHious illustration of the reciprocal influence of nations has just . occurred . Captain Sherard Osborne has made the public acquainted .-with the extraordinary extent to which paper is used by the Japanese , and has thus imparted a fresh interest to the ever -interesting subject of our own paper duties . Trunks , tobacco-bags , cigar-cases , saddles , telescope-cases , the frames of microscopes , water-proof coats , pocket handkerchiefs , towels and dusters , the inner walls of houses , string , and a material like leather , are all made in Japan from simple
paper . Each Japanese has his breast pocket stuck full of note paper , and converses , preventing much disorder , by writing rather thsn by talking . We have not yet got any information as to the quantity of paper consumed by each Japanese , nor as to the mode of making paper in Japan . We can only conjecture , from the extensive use made of it , that it is not subject to a special excise duty , and can only conclude , when we know that , in Europe , paper is made as delicate as gossamerweb and as solid as rock , that the Europeans have not much to learn concernincr the manufacture
froni the Japanese . The use of paper , utterly unknown amongst savages , and applied to sueh a vast number of purposes here as well as in Japan and China , both highly civilised , may be token as an index to civilisation . If it be not as extensively used here as in those countries , while our civilisation is of a higher class than theirs , and our knowledge of the art of paper-making is at least as great as . theirs , we can only ascribe the defective use to the continued existence of excise laws or some similar restrictions . Of the connexion betwixt civilisation and the use of paper our own statistics supply illustrations .
The inci'ease of the population in the Unite ' d Kingdom since 1844 , when the returns of the quantity of paper consumed before us begin , may bo stated to have been from 26 , 800 , 000 to 29 , 500 , 000 in 1858 , or little more than 10 per cent . ; but in this interval the consumption of paper has increased from 104 , 594 , 874 lbs . to 176 , 298 , 997 lbs ., or G 8 per cent . We have , however , gradually come to use much thinner paper , and could the increase bo estimated in squai'e yai'ds it would bo considerably greater than estimated in pounds . That in the same interval the nation has made a groat progress in civilisation , has acquired much knowledge , has
improved many old , and invented many now arts , ana has become more wealthy and refined , is quite certain . Thus , as might bo expected from the many uses to which paper is put , and especially from tho chief use , as tho material on which all printing and writing is done , the consumption of paper has increased with civilisation , and more vapidly than the p opulation . . The excise returns , too , whioh liavo just boon published for the first half-year of 1859 , bring under our notico a very groat difference ) in tho quantities of papor manufactured and consumed in the throo parts of tho united empire .
The following are the figures for the six months : — Paper . charged He-la iuod for with Duty . CousiMiintion lbs . l ! ., i . England ...... 79 , 470 , 0 ' . i 2 Tz . Ml r ° . i Scotland 24 ,. 005 , « o ; i 21 ' . Ml i-ii Ireland 4 , i 70 , «> jt > 4 , ii > S * ri 4 Total 107 , 015 , 915 Os . -J • 21 , 578 The proportions are similar in successive years . We transcribe the figures for the whole * year 1858 : — Paper charged . Uctaincd for with Duty . Consumption lbs . . H > . « England 142 , 300 , 108 12 fs . y . "J , ii ( t 7 ' Scotland . 42 , 012 , 03 <> . ¦ ; si ); ' 5 l : j , v :. ' « Ireland 7 , 875 , 027 7 ,. s 50 , 0 ' . ) 5 Total 192 , 847 , 825 lriViOS . uo ? Thus England , with a population of 1 D . 500 , 000 , makes per annum betwixt seven riiul eight times as many pounds of pajjer . Scotland , with a population of 3 , 000 , 000 , makes fourteen times as many pounds , and Ireland ; with a population of 7 , 000 , 000 ,, makes very little more than lib . for every inhabitant . The consumption of each is in a similar proportion . In addition , we import and retain for home consumption about 1 , 300 , 000 lbs . of paper , making the total consumption of the empire , in 1858 , nearly 178 , 000 , 000 lbs . In 1859 , should the increase in the first half-of the year be equalled by the inci'ease in the second half , the total consumption will be not less than 198 , 000 , 000 lbs . Paper serves so many purposes in civilised society , that it is as much a necessity as food ; and therefore , taking tho empire throughout , the increase of consumption has been very great , " notwithstanding the onerous tax . Financiers find in the fact that the tax continues to be productive , and does not entirely overcome the great natural influences . win eh inuke society progressive—an ample justification for continuing it ; but its effects-in England and Irejmid , considered separately , make vis believe that it injures the revenue as well as impedes civilisation . In 1850 and 1858 the quantities of paper made and consumed in England and in Ireland were as follows : — England . Taper made . K . taincd . for
lbs . lbs . 1850 105 , 712 , 953 ' . )' . i , » lil ,: « P 1858 .... 112 , 300 , 108 l , 'S , ' . » v ! li , uii 7 Increase 185 S 3 i ! , (« 7 , 21 . - > 31 , i » K » , ? 17 Ireland . 1850 0 , 710 . . W 2 f > . 710 , J . "i 1 1656 .... 7 , 875 , 027 7 , s . - . ii , r . ' , i . » Increase 1858 .... 1 . 105 . W 5 1 . 1 KV 1 J 1 It is possible that Ireland may import paper from England , but this fact docs not appear in the returns . According to them , between IS . 30 and 1 & 58 , the make and consumption of paper increased in England between 34 and ill pur cent ., they increased in Ireland only 17 por cent . But in relation to England , and in proportion to population , the consumption of paper w »* , antl is , very low in Ireland—and since 1850 , when she is supposed to have been rapidly improving , the consumption of paper to approximate her consumption to that of England should have increased more rapidly than that of England ; instead ol which it has increased only half as fiist . It is quite certain that the paper duty has impeded the progress of papor-makmg in England , and we now sco that it has almost arrested tho progress in Ireland : Tho tax , which may bo a trilling _ impediment here , may bo ruin tlicre . H hns impeded civilisation in England and <> -onc fur to r < tpp it in Ireland . How much the gravity and lovo oi order noticed amongst the Japanese , and proportionnuly . amongst the English and tho Scotch , nrc-diic ta tho use of papor , and how much thu levity nnu lovo of disorder noticed among the Irish , nro duo to being denied tho uso , wo must leave to nicer calculators than wo arc to determine . Hint ft tux impodos civilisation is not an influential argument with financiers if they fancy it tlocs not deduct from tho revenue ; and for thoir behoof ¦ wu in 8 j on the fact that the relative slower increase ot tlio manufacture and consumption of pupor in Ireland than in England is tantamount to u loss oi revenue , as it is unquestionably a relative dimi-, nution of prosperity . * .. Tho general and increasing uso of paper by' uu oivilisod people , aa now mndo manifest , in i * g » ' ° social phenomenon- —if . it bo not also a K '| iont . " tural or material phenomenon— -not to bo ugmiy
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 10, 1859, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10091859/page/14/
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