The withdrawal of the threat to tax books is to
be welcomed for more reasons than the obvious one. It shows that even in war-time not only the big commercial battalions prevail; the body of cultivated opinion in England, though neither large numerically nor powerful financially, can still exercise effective pressure on the Government. This is an encouraging sign. Intelligent minorities, when patriotic as well as intelligent, may nowadays too easily despair of making their voices heard or too docilely bow their heads before the vague, general claim of the national interest. There were many who, knowing within them that the taxation of books was wrong, were yet inclined to shrug their shoulders and submit rather than criticise the Government in time of emergency. Those who fought and succeeded have not only prevented a particular wrong but have vindicated a civilised principle; and they have enabled the Government to increase its credit by an honourable retreat.
CHARLES MORGAN.
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