The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-22
EXTRACTS FROM ENGLISH PAPERS
BROUGHT BY THE CALEDONIA.
Commercial Treaties.

We shall AT present give no deliberate attention to
the tree'trade debate which Mr. Ricardo has raised
this week, because 1t is perfectly useless again TO
expose the absurd assumptions and iallaces OF such
narrow minded bieois as Lord Howick and the ho-
norable mover II the free-traders had the same
degree OF confidence in their doctrines they had
twelve months since, proposition to affirm " that
Il is not eXpedlent that any contemplated remis-
sion of import duties be postponed with the view of
making such remission basis OF commercial ne
goc'atlons with foreign countries" ought TO have
had 4O0 voting tor u, % against it instead OF which
it ha0 81 for it, 1876 against it, There cannot be
clearer parliamentary evidence of waning cause,
and doubling minds, than this division affords II
the results OF the great experiment had given
reason tor additional confidence-if they had tend
ed to realize Mr.. GadsOne's Christmas vision that
6 the late commercial changes" were moreover so
decidedly OF nature to indicate determined and
comprehensive purpose" we should not have wit
messed a motion designed to effect that comprehen
sive purpose abandoned to the support Of less than
one-tenth of the members of the House of Com
mons. Nothing could be palmer proof that the
government are conscious of having precipitaiey
jumped into false and dangerous position, wherein
they dare not risk the hazard of moving forward,
and are ashamed to acknowledge the necessity of
moving backward. With this impre we shall
altogether abstain from crticsing the speeches de-
livered on Tuesday, and will proceed with a very
brief adverence to certain circumstances in
dicative of some of the fruits of the
policy which the Government so sanguiney
adopted in the session of 1912 This appears to us
at the present juncure necessary to Just compre-
hension OF the nature of the Canadian Corn or
FOur-bill, as well as to more distinct view of the
state in which British industry is likely to be placed
by the operation OF our commercial laws as they at
present stand.
l. 1t appears, from what Sir R. Peel said, that the
Foreign Minister OF the Brazilian Government had
laid down such basis for proceeding to negotiate
commercial treaty with Englasd as compelled
Mr.. Ellis at once to decline entering upon the sub
ject with him at all ; and leading Senator (Senor
RezendeI made speech in which he stated 'that
the English nation, by which he did not mean
either the Government or the arlsocracy, but the
people, lost more by the existing treaties than the
people OF BRAZIL" and he indicated, in the most
unequlvocal manner, his conviction that. from the
declarations of the British Ministers in Parliament
and the proceedings of the agitating free traders
OF Parliament, the English Government would be
compelled by the force Of pubic opinion to con-
cede all he wished, without any concession what.
ever from the Brazilian Government. This (to say
nothing of POrtuga) is the most signal proof of the
evnced in the session of 1872 Foreign States, re.
II citing on the principles we have laid down, ina
CINE they have only to wait awhile TO see US give
free admission to their products without their having
the annoyance OF dealing with the vested interests
OF their own subjects.
2 1t appears that several hundred bales of Anne
rlcan cotton manufactures have arrived from the
United States at Liverpool Let the League have
their will and admit all foreign products into all
British possessions at such duty as is now paid
on the introduction of raw cotton, and within
quarter OF century Manchester, a seat o. manu-
ture, would be as lfeless Norwich and Colches-
ter, without this salubrty and horticultural enjoy.
ments. The able politician the American General
Green, said, on the subject of free trade at public
me- citing IN London, THAT among pc epe OF equal
scientific and ply steal powers, those who had the
cheapest food and were the least taxed would com
mand the ma rk et and such had been proved to be
the case" Here we have sound doctrine and the
facts to illustrate it, Food IN the United States is
less than one halt the price it is in England, and
taxes are about onetenh the price for every human
being Yet the poor silly free traders, like moths
fiying at the light of candle, seduced by the glare
OF what they call enlightenment" are pursuing
that which must destroy themselves Will not
shire, and the state of revenue, abate their san
guine folly 7
3. The essence of the principle of free trade is
competition. What the effect Of bringing foreign
labor into competition with English labor in our
largest fields of productive industry is we fear but
too plainly indicated in the altered feelings habits
and manners, and the increase of crime among the
laborers in husbandry and in the densely peopled
manufacturing districts But this haowed prlnci.
pie of modern craftsmanship has been tested on
small scale, and has given Gut very significant re-
suits. In Dublin. the mail coach contract, in which
1t appears, the Irish people dreamed they had a
vested interest, has been transferred to Scotch.
mana fel.ow-subject; and at once the sanctuary
of power in which dwells the Vicegerent was beset
with alarmed aud murmuring compliments and
threatening demonstrates; The honored leaders OF
the people rush to the rescue the press echoes the
ropular cry. and Dublin rings with discomfort The
persons whose livelihood was thus placed in eopar
dy, were not two millions OF agricultural laborers
tenth OF that number of British Sailors fisher
men, or manufacturers, but less than two thousand
las alledged) nandcraftsmen employed in making
coaches. Then comes forward an ingenious Swiss,
not fellow subject, who proposes to give the
benefit OF cheap watches by making enc, not in q
month or a week, but IN an hour; and his back ers
say that this done in the presence of the unc-
narie 0F he If rad Her. e.
nous opportunity OF gratifying the honest pride
every poor hand loom weaver, his wife, sons, and
daughters, by wearing watch which he could
procure without commercial treaty, IN exchange
for small amount et the product OF his labor. No,
said the wnchmakers Of FInsbury, this shall not be;
it will ruin us. The Board of Trade supported the
scheme consistently and maDfuy; its Right Hon.
Vice President pleaded for it eoquenty; but il
touched the liberal free-traders Duncombe and
Wakley, in the quick and they mustered their
friends in such strength, that they defeated the pro-
ject by majority of l54 against II.
These facts speak with emphasis and signifi-
canoe which no minister ought to disregard, as TO
the temper OF the British people to encounter the
competition of foreign labor. II may not in the
case Of the great fields Of industry be brought into
direct and palpab.e rivalry with them; they NAV
not SO clearly discern the cause as in these little
llmitcd technical departments; but il il produce SINH
lar effects their welfare, and those effects are
widespread and enduring will the evil be less be-
cause their feeling cannot vent itself on object in
immediate contact with them No statesman
would abstracedly deny, than an evil smothered.
ranking, breeding all manner OF ills in the body po-
lite, is UNNECESSARILY wore and more dangerous
than one exposed, venting itself in remons rance,
and seeking reliei and remedy. A responsible ruler
would be mad to disregard such evidences of the
effects OF competition and pressure have point
ed out; and we are satisfied that they have made
great impression on the government. Whoever
will take the trouble to compare the tone and Ian
guage of SIR Robert Peel and Mr. Gladstone, in the
session OF 1872, with their tone and language on
Tuesday night, will discover the remarkable differ
ence in their feelings. Seeing this, and looking at
the division, in which there is not the name of sim
gle member OF the late administration. (uness we
must except MIR Tuffne as one nor one of the
present, in favor of Mr. Ricardo's motion, we are
astonlshed at the assertion with which the Morn
Ing Chronicle" commences article on Thursday
when 1t is said, The debate on Mr.. Rlcardo's mo-
ton was a remarkable proof of the advance which
the principles OF free trade have made within short