New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-28
ENGLISH FREE TRADE-EAST INDIAN FHO



The Free-Traders are making drafts at their
own risk upon the experience of England.
They hold, among other things, that the duty
on imports forms a tax always PAID by the
consumer and that I'M consequence the prices
of all commodities are enhanced. The pro-
ceedings of q meeting recently held there strlk-
ingly prove that it is not credited where free
Trade is supposed to be best understood. Ih1s
meeting took place at Burnley, was presided
over by the Mayor, and was held for the pur-
nose of procuring the abolition of the duty OF
five per cent on cotton goods imported into
India, Numerous statements there made IN
the speech of Alderman Robinson, who based
his arguments on the ground that the rate was
"protectivc,n are in direct conflict with what
il told us the experience of England places
beyond question.
or warns and goods produced in country" said the
Alderman were free from duty, and those spun IN
another country subjected TO such duty surely tna
was protection TO goods that went free Both classes
OF goods OF the same quality had 90 be sold In the Dazas
and one class having TO pay duty from which the other
was Free vas thus unfairly weighted ana handicapped
This plainly means that, in the face OF do
nestle competition, British goods have to pe
sold at the same price as the native manufac-
ture which would not be the case if such COM
petition did not exist. The consumer, Of
course, benefits by this result, as he receives
his commodities at least as Icheap as before,
while home manufactures are stimulated and
protected. The speaker then referred to the
reply which Mr.. Laing, the Financial Secre-
tary for India, made to the Manchester Cham
Der Of Commerce eight years ago, when they
applied to him to promote the abolition Of
import duties, This reply he pronounced ere
"markable,r because it is evidently not con-
sstent with British interests. But Mr.. Laing
had, long before that occasion, written that
"every country has political economy of its
"own, suited to its own physical circum-
"stances,r and lie further enlightened the
Chamber thus:
"Indla had also a large native manufacture, which,
although conducted for the most part on primitive meth
ported article over q large area. India, moreover,
commencing cotton manufactures with all the improve
stances which held good hope for future progress
cotton factory at Bombay had the advantage OF saving
wages mn India was about the same rate per month
was paid per week In Lancashire Coal was dearer but
the production OF factory and the main disadvantage
was the want OF that concentration OF e1ptal anu sk
the metropolis OF the cotton manufacturing interest In
the TG b e IeSt %S ~ syey new fo and as re-
garded the Indian market at least, the comparative
cheapneSs OF labor and material made the rising fas
tories Of India rivals not 10 BIO desplsed."
Mr.. LANG assured the Chamber of Com
merce that the matter was rs clear as pos
sible. from an English point of view, but from
the Indian it was not SO clear, nor capable of
being made 80, to the understanding of Hin
docs and, perhaps to relieve the monotony of
financial discussion, told them that if England
would assume the liabilities of the Indian Gov
eminent it would be possible to relieve them
from the duties which, said Alderman Robin
son, we are paying" This speech Of the AL
at all, prove that British merchants know we'll
from actual experience that the five per cent is
not tax on the consumer, because revenue
of about 1920, 00O,0O0 is raised annually in India
and it is not likely that the Lancashire men
would DO very solicitors about the small sum
realized from the tariff on cotton manufactures.
1t explains one of the motives England has in
promoting "free trade" agitation in this
country. II she considered that the United
States were as accessible TO the influence of
public meetings as the Indian Government,
she would have an unlimited number Of them.
This would not result from any interest that
she feels in the American people more than
in those Of HindOstan, but that her manufac
turers might be enabled to charge us prices
which, in consequence Of the domestic cOmpe-
tition stimulated by the tariff, they cannot now
obtain