The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-30 00:00:00

FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 1842

When the tariff of Sir Robert Peel was first brought
before the political world, we were assured by the
brawlers of the Anti-Corn-law League that its provi-
sions would have no effect in reducing the price of
food to the people. The admission of foreign cattle
was said to be a measure which could be productive of
no sensible .result. We should receive no such im-
portations as were promised us ; and the permission
to import was therefore treated as something little
better than insult and mockery of the public. Again,
with respect to the reduction of the duties upon
foreign salted beef and pork, and the abolition of the
prohibition which had previously existed against the

introduction of these articles in a fresh or slightly
preserved state, the boon thus conferred upon the
consumer was openly scoffed at by the very men who
had been most active in agitating in its behaif—by the
very men who had painted in such glowing colours the
quality of the beef and pork of America and other
lands, and expatiated most loudly upon its cheapness.
The agricultural interest, on the other hand, looked
upon these changes with the utmost alarm, as likely to
operate to the serious disadvantage of the native grazier
and breeder. Our fairs were to be inundated with the
cattle of the neighbouring countries, whilst our pro-
vision markets were to be filled with the cheap beef
and cheap pork of the United States and of Germany.
We cannot, as yet, point to any evidence, as to the
operation of the measure, to shew whether on the side
of the free traders or of our agricultural alarmists the
greatest amount of truth and reason lies. As a whole,
indeed, the measure can scarcely, up to this time, be
said to have had a trial. Many of its provisions do
not take place until after the loth of October; and,
under any circumstances, the importation of a large
quantity of provisions, (not being such salted provisions
as experience has shewn will not be consumed by any
class in the country, however low the price,) can never
take place in the summer months. We have, how-
ever, even now before us sufficient indications of the
mode in which "the measure must operate upon the
interests of the agriculturists and the public. Already,
as may be seen by reference to the accounts in another
column, the price of cattle, sheep, &c. has fallen in
every recent fair throughout England and Ireland ;
and, now that the weather is approaching which will
permit of curing, we may fully calculate upon large
arrivals of\barrelled beef, pork, &c., from the United
States and some of the ports of Europe, which, if not
equal in quality to the best or even middling meats of
Great Britain, must, by interfering with the sale of the
lower qualities, consumed by the poor, have a sensible
effect upon prices generally. That such a result is an-
ticipated by parties who may be presumed to be in pos-
session of the best information, may be gathered from
the fact that, in the face of markets which will not at

present warrant it, the contract for the navy provisions
has just been taken at prices for pork about 305., and
for beef about 265. per tierce lower than the same con-

tract was executed at last season

The angry growl of the free-trader, at the non-
eiEeiency of this enactment, is, therefore, we are con-
fident, both factious and unreasonable. The fears of
the agriculturist are, we feel equally confident, exag-
gerated. We shall have, and, we may add, we ought
to have, as the result of the new tariff, the price of
butcher's meat considerably reduced. The consumer
expects this, and the agriculturist must prepare him-
self for it ; and we know not that we can do better,
in a publication which must go into the hands of
many of the most influential and best-skilled farmers
in the district, than to enforce upon their consideration
this truth.

It may be an unpalateable one. We have no doubt
it will be so. These, however, are not times when

men pursuing any avocation can hug themselves in se-

curity that competition cannot reach them. That the
farmers of England have lagged behind the march of
science and improvement cannot be concealed. They
have gone on in the " old ways"—which are good
when principles are concerned, but bad when we come
to the common business of life—until the community
who depend upon their industry for bread and meat
are compelled to cast about for a cheaper and better
supply : they,have by so doing weakened the hands of
those who were disposed to be their fast friends; and
they can only right themselves by putting forth the
same energies which are used by other portions of the
great family of mankind.

We are ourselves, it is well known, although living
in the heart of a commercial district, supporters of the
agricultural interest. In the same voice with which
we would pray for the prosperity of " ships, colonies,
and commerce," we nave ever prayed to " speed the
plough." We love the homesteads of England, and
the calm and quiet happiness of agricultural life, better
—far better—than the gilded luxury of the manu-
facturer or the merchant, accompanied as it is by vice
and squalid poverty; and we trust that our earnest
entreaties to the agricultural classes of Great Britain,

to put forth their best energies, as their surest pro-
tection against the competition of the foreigner, may
be taken, as the entreaties of one to whom their best
interests are dear. To them we would say depend not
upon the prophecies of those who tell you that by the
present tariff you will not be affected. Depend not,
either, upon the continuance of a large amount of pro-
The agriculturist must make up his mind to
meet and overcome competition, by the adoption of
the best modes of cultivation which science can point
out ; and, if he does not this, he may depend upon it
that the most strenuous efforts of his friends will be in
vain to turn back the march of ruin from his doors.

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