TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY NEWS.”

Sir,—The burden of defending Canada begins to be felt, and it is urgently demanded that the Colonists shall pay a share of their own military expenses.

Why should not these free Communities pay the whole of their own military expenses? They have received the full powers of self-government, why should they not undertake the full duty of self-defence? They enjoy all the substantial attributes of nationality, why should they not bear the same burdens as other nations? If this is the reason of the matter, our people will see in course of time that it is, and at length they will require that it shall be done.

There are no Marquises of Westminster in the Colonies, but the Colonists, on the whole, are far better off than the mass of the people in this country, and they have no national debt on their shoulders. To tax our people for their defence is injustice. Once grasp this solid fact, and chimeras pass away. If rulers could but see it, plain justice comes first, doubtful objects of sentiment must come after. When Government is made to shew a case not of sentiment but of necessity for every tax, there will be some chance of a sound fiscal system.