Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-27
THE ENQUIRER.
pICHMOND Va
Morning, November %. 1916.
MR.. BANCROFT AND THE BRITISH PORTS.

We refer 10 this subject once more, because
The Wings have seized upon it in order 10 assa
the Administration, but, above all, because, in
their political game they make heavy conces-
sion to the Democratic 'heory in favor Of Free
Trade. The London Standard first originated
the charge against Mr.. Bancroft. 1t says that
RUSSELL and Collenham, al Cabinet Council,
urged The necessity Of an early session, 10 enact
the reduction Of the s. on imported grain. Al
a subsequen, meeting OF Ministers, 'lhc oppo-
nenis CT an early session had The advantage OF
Mr.. Bancron's arrival ffoa The United States,
with the intelligence that the SUPPLY of grain col
lected in the merican ports, tcr expiration, is
- ample, as 10 render extremely improbable the
necessity for reelection OF Inc Ivy
A writer in The Journal of Commerce shows
that The London Standard wss least likely to
know any thing about the Cabinel Councils OF
the presen, Mnisler-lhal paper flying The ''pro-
teclion flag" while the Ministry are The devoted
friends OF Free Trade. We have already point
ed out the improbabily Of the story, in The TACT
that Mr.. B. did not reach London until alter the
Cabinet Council had resolved 10 defer the ses-
sion cl Pa liament.
But, give the above exracl The full tenef! OF
The construction mos, favorable 10 The comments
of The Wing press, which coni'ud that MIR.
Baccfcl's is; act, ale! reaching England, as
the Minister from he United Sales, was 10 pre-
ven. he opening ii Brush port, 10 American
gram" VIVA, does it impUl1 In the language Of
the correspondent, Of The Journal Of Commerce:
oSimply that the English Premier or some Of
his cabinet, asked Mr. Bancroft, the U. 5. Min.
is,er Ia ST. James, whether or no he thought
The excess OF production 10 The U. S. would SUI
fee io The demand occaspned BY short crops in
Europe.
al Mr.. Bancroft had told deliberate false
hood. and created panic in the MINDS ofihs En-
slish NJ islry, they woulc probably have s:ra'red
every nerve 10 secure, while arc w.e.e hev
could bread for lie vans .! In octp,e WON
they govern, and in AL probability n" aui'es
upon grain would have received their death blow
before The time ixed ny Sir r Peei'> BILL 7iz 1879
This panic might have been very serviceab'e
10 our farmers, miliers anG merchants bli could
language strong enough have been ieund 10 cna
racterize The npudsnt knavery OF us orig'natoii
LIE; IL, however, ADM; the ira:h OF The wnole
Wing story-,bat Mr.. Bancroft, either win he
wanlon intention 10 inlnrc the merchants and ar
mers OF America, or with an uniusifiah!e isno-
rance Of The effect Of his declarations, hal taken
the course complained Of. The Wing press, in
making ou,lheir case against Mr.. B. and the Co.
yernmenl, are compelled 10 ad iii The truth Of the
proposition laid down BY he Democratic party,
tha, The opening Of The British poris is great
benefit 10 our people, and that we should, BY Ii,
beral policy on our side, foster and encourage so
advantageous measure.
The Richmond Times says:
awe are not aware that any Wing journal has
argued that opening the ports would not be ad-
vantageous TO this country"
Now, unless We are grossly deceived, this same
paper once commended, that opening Inc ports
,eonld BE- injurious 10 our iarmers-because, as II
alleged, under tire old duties, We could avail our
selves OF the privilege granted 10 Canada BY ship
ping our produce from her ports, under more Ia
vorable terms than the other grain growing coun-
tries, particularly the Baltic, Black Sea, &c,
which werc by The repeal of the corn-laxs, placed
on an equality with us, and therefore, would drive
US out OF The European market Does The Times,
moreover, forge, lha, no, long since Mr.. Clay, in
the face of The vas, exports OF grain 10 England.
boldly maintained tha, the benefits expected from
the repeal of the corn-laws, were mere deuslons
and that we must look 10 The boosted "home-mar-
ke,," consume our leeming sranaries2
A few months since, the Wing press gave the
whole credit OF the rise OF prices 10 the crop fail
ure OF Europe and laughed al The assertion that
it was IN any way attributable 10 the opening OF
the British ports. They have now changed their
tune. and concede what the Democratic press
commended.
The Times admits, by negative pregnant,
that The opening the ports would be advantageous
to The country. The n. Y. Courier bclabors Mr..
Bancrof's first act, which was. it Says, Ito rre-
ven, the opening OF the British ports 10 American
grain!"-lhereby conceding that measure to be
most valuable 10 his country. But, above all,
the Philadelphia North American, The most ra-
bid Tariff paper in the Union, assas Mr. B. and
the Administration n the following generous aud
elegant style:
"This old Federaist and ianarical Loco Foco
no sooner catches stray beam OF the glory OF
he is sworn TO proect, and advises policy
which RODS TIC merchants and farmers Of Anerlra
NJ Me just Y,eftts Of ttcir industry. Thu results
will be feil, and erievousiy, by every merchant
and ,raGesman whose prosperity depe ads upon
that q. our az .ic1!iurc. Now iris Is tie name
in which the naturalization fosters thu interests
Of the farmer Let Us hear no ore nt heir az
peals 10 the country on this score, until they shall
have explained Ike interference Of Bancroft VITA
The British council"
Max how, for party purposes, this Tariff pa
per abandons its own ground, and sezes upon Tho
true Democratic policy. We have commended
that the narrow policy OF the TaTfftes in re-
slric,ine foreign commerce under The guise Of
protection" thereby necessarily calculated 10
close The foreign ports 10 our gain, "robs me
merchants and tanners Of America OF The jusi
profits OF their industry" We" IRE glad IL see
Inc No..!. I american compelled 20 avow such n
opiniun. The result, which he charges The Ad-
Manifestation with destroying, has been produced
nv Inc liberal commercial measures OF that Al
minis,ratiou and oflhe British Government. The
"home market" is here acknowledged by one OF
its most Jealous cha nipons 10 o. utterly insufh-
mers of America. The logic OF this article is
weak and absurd. Il denounces the Adminisl.a.
ton for wha, The Proieclionists themselves are
guilty Of. We go for liberal trade and 'o7ening
the ports"-,hey, The Tarifies. sustain policy,
which would confine our farmeis 10 he narrow
limits OF delusive "home-markst," ard closed
ports.
But say. the Times, "lhis measure The open
ing ofthe British poItsl is entirely independent OF
our tariff system ard ought not 10 sfecl it," This
is in direct opposition TO Ihc sentiments Of Mr..
Webster who, in his Baltimore speech, urged
modification of our tariff, "as an inducsment"
10 England 10 admit our grain upon better terms.
Is such position consistent with the common
principle, of human aclion2 Manufacturing
England saw the bold stand taken by the Ad.
minis,ra,on for Tree trade, and looked naturally
10 a more liberal policy on our part, which would
admit her manufactures into chr ports on better
terms. To bring about so desirable an end, may
she not have been induced 10 relax her own sys-