The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-04
THE pRorEcr1oN1sr nEv1VAL ABRoAn
The Old Doctrine Again Gaining Ground in
Great britain.

Great Britnin.
LONDON, Feb. 15.-It is now considerably
more thnn thirty years since England practi-
cally adopted the principle Of free trade. There
are still some articles on which duties are
levied. but the list is n very short one and not
one Of the duties is in any way protective. since
they apply only to such articles us wine. spirits,
tea coffee tobacco. and cocoon.
The battle in favor Of free trade was n hard
fought one. and was carried forward by such
men ms Richard Golden. Sir Robert Peel. w.
f. Gladstone. and John Bright. When the VIC
tory was finally won. many apparently good re- |
suits followed and England certainly did about |
that time enter upon remarkable career OF |
commercial prosperity. 1t is the fashion hero |
to attribute this result to tho new fiscal policy |
then adopted. but am inclined to doubt that |
very much. About that time railways and |
steamships were lust coming into general use.
and that great change brought the whole world !
into closer relations with England. They |
opened the worlds markets to England. and |
England alone was ready to take advantage OF
the new order Of things
Howbeit. England then began to wax rich and |
strong. and 1t was easy to give free trade the |
praise Of ii. and protectionists soon came to be
looked upon as persons Of weak or unsound |
minds. Even Disraeli-now Lord Beaconsfcld |
though at one time the champion Of protec- |
ton. professed after n time to be n convert to
frce-trade ideas but his conversion has always
been strongly doubted. No doubt he is ut heart
a protectionist still. and who knows but that in
the reaction which seems now TO have set In he
will again be the leader OF the cause.
The great landholding interest Of the coun-
try fought free trade to the worry last. but Eng
land has not ut any time in the present century
been an agricultural country in any degree.
Commerce and manufactures were the great
interests. and it was natural enough that these
should advocnte free trade. II was evident tothe
minimizing even, that no other countries were
in position to send manufactured goods in con-
siderable quantity to England. Clearly. no inter-
est need fear foreign competition in homo mar
kets. except the agricultural. and. since this was
in the minority. it had to give way. The duty
on cereal grains was the only one that had any
real bearing on the case The promise to the
masses Of cheaper bread was potent argu-
mcnt Probably the real purpose OF the FREQ
trade policy was, 50 far rs the mass Of the
voters were concerned. only to induce other
countries to do the same. Had other countries so
| DONE England would have had nearly absolute
control OF every great market in the world.
| Englnnds free trade WIS only Il bait thrown out
to catch very large przc. namely. the worlds
trade. She got the greater part Of II as II was.
| but fortunately did not get the entire command.
| hill u'A bIfNuUluE " lipuNuuNt fttlfA ibi VI
| against free trade. but merely giving what
believe England's motive to have been thirty
years ago. and what also believe it 10 be to-day.
The proof Of this lies In tho fact that ms soon
rs genuine competition in home markets has
become n settled fact the old story Of protection
| comes TO the front again. The very fact that
/ tho subject has come 10 be "A matter OF daily dis
cussion in the papers again. is evidence that the
revivalis Of no mean dimensions. 1t must not
| be inferred that any considerable number Of the
| great leaders Of opinion have spoken for pro-
| lection. They really have not. but generally
! tilicontinue to look upon protrctiunists with
| lofty CONTEMPT. At least, 50 they profess To do
But IL Is worth mention that all Of them are find
inas II necessary to tell over the old arguments
| ngnin I'm favor Of free trade whereas they SUP
| posed the question settled beyond all doubt
But the prOectiOnist revival is no mere scare
crow. 1t Is genuine thing, and has alr"udy
| among the leaders. nS have already said. hut
among the solid business men and manuiac
going on just where the votes are; that is mat
ter of some importance. Chambers Of Com
mrrce at many large commercial centres have
passed resolutions IN ihVor OF what they call
rrcipro al duties and copies hay" been sent
% IN" on 'Hrs oi tue boN'lhll'ut, Ashlhg lhht
the matter shall have prompt consideration.
Meetings in favor ~ reciprocity" are being
held everywhere They do not generally Ike
reciprocal duties They ask that the prod
ucts Of every foreign country shall bee linhle TO
the same duty on coming 10 England which
British .ooGs are compelled o. pay ON going To
tho-- countries. There Is NO ialror PROPOSITION
IN the world. but il is protstti0 ON nom. tho less
British Industries are now feeling tn -tr.ss
/ OF ioreisu competition most severely and the
| question IL ono of vital moment MANY coar. or
grades 81 American cotton goods are now SELF
ing in Manchester HIt elsewhere at prices COM
sid"rahly under thusn which rnn To- afforded
! 10y British makers. In fact. British makers
candldN say th"y are losing money at present
| prices. Tue Amer can goods are also admitted
Tho Manchester trade is larry pnralyznd At
this time owing O. foreign competition 10 home
field, birmingham. AMI NoiycrlamWou are IN
! Just about th' same stat. \ Government of-
Il 'ial some time aEo issued "A call for "a large
Nearly one hundred dlticr"nt patterns w'r' de-
sired. Tho offers were made and considered
ana selections niaNe. In an interview the oii'er
stated that nearly the whole supply purchased
aud nearly every pattern were American. lie
said they were both better ana cheaper than
thu ones offered by English makers
Belgian iron ami steel are also entering
greatly into compeiition with English goods IN
home markets. Even Belgian steel rails can be
| s"ut To- ENGLAND and sold AZ much lower rates
than English makers can undertake. TO sell the
same Kind OF goods Tor. German goods are
also meeting good sale here. American goods
have not yet come into serious comp ttlon with
the heavier articles of iron and steel. nor In the
finer grades of cotton goods. but mat may be
only matter Of time. But there j. a very long
list ot lighter articles-like locks nni tools
where competition L. very active. The British
manufacturer is not conn blaming about an i'm
hslnty rN.l whth ne hlbs OF ioreGn COMPETE
? uou. Two years ago the Idea OF probable comp"-
utOu of uthrr countries ia English home mar
kcis WIS son ~ a. bat IL potent reality now.
! Tue HuH"H~t -on" ~ London,s best financial
inurnals-tsserts itself to hr In favor of insist
Iug ON reciprocity in th" mHttrr OF tariffs. and
yet stou,y denies any desire 10 return 10 pro-
lection pure and simple. A number Of other
financial papers Of less prominence take "a still
I1,otr H"Mr S."Gd IN nE?r /" ,1' nny EaspeI
paid u visit to Manchester. Birmingham. and
sheffield, and found n"urly everybody Aiklus
/ ia favor of reciprocal duties. They say iroc
trad" H. right IN prinopi", hul mas somr IL M
tultirs IN pr"ure' Ihcy hcSin I" lear thal ilrr