The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-11-05 00:00:00

FAIR TRADE LEAGUE.

In reply to Lord Randolph Churchill's recent utter-
ances on the Fair Trade question, the Council of the
National Fair Trade League have addressed a letter
to him, explaining that the League advocates to-day,
as they did six years ago, duties on foreign manufac-
tures, combined with duties on all foreign imports of
food, but stipulating always for the free imports of
raw materials needed for home industry. The Fair
Trade League has never suggested any special tariff
on any one article, as, for instance, on corn. Such a
detail is clearly one that must be left to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer of the day. The propositions of the
Fair Trade League deal with foreign imports of food
to the extent of £140,000,000 or £150,000,000 per
annum—it does not single out the article of wheat,
meaning less than £20,000,000 of value, or of foreign
wheat (last year) only to £12,500,000. It is much to be
assured that his lordship does not oppose such general
proposals provided there be a "national demand" for
it. This is a great step gained, and a vast encourage-
ment to Fair Traders to persevere in their propa-
ganda. It is because our Empire can feed the Mother
Country and with such a market at its disposal can
give an adequate return trade that we are able to re-
taliate on foreign tariffs and say that we will no
longer give a free market-place. Questions of detail
arising out of special circumstances in no way affect
the general principle of Free Trade (as far as
possible) within the Empire, and Protection against
the world." Under the differential system in lieu of
absolutely free imports, our Empire would be all the
same united in commercial bonds, and there is pro-
bably no British colony in existence that would not, in
return for a preferential market on our shores, only
too gladly give us a preferential market on theirs. Should
there be any so blind as not to be willing to do so,
then such colony or possession would become, ipso
facto, for taril purposes the same as a foreign State.

LORD GRANVILLE AT MANCHESTER.
Earl Granville on Tuesday afternoon was received
at the Manchester Reform Club by the president, Mr.
Hoyle, M.P., and briefly addressed the members.
His lordship, having recalled with pleasure that he
took part in the opening of the club 16 years ago, re-
.narked that the Liberal party was not at %11 in a
drooping condition, but was increasing in strength
every day. (Hear, hear.) There were signs of this,
he thought, in every possible direction. The other
day he read a speech by a leading member of the
Government, who stated that the wheels of the
chariot of Sate were clogging in consequence of tho
great obstacles with which it was being met. That
was fine language, but in plain common sense it meant
that the present Government were sticking in the
mud, and alit mud absolutely of their own creation.
(Hear, hear.) The Liberal party, while regretting
many of the things that were now taking place, could
afford to look on and Wait; and he had no doubt
whatever that the ill-ft eling which was being aroused
on the part of the Irish would not be increii,ed by
their knowledge of the great support they were re-
ceiving from enormous numbers. of People in this
country who were in sympathy with them. (Cheers.)