Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-05-24
cSournal arl0 Courier.
Tuesday Morning, May "a, 1881.
SICK OF FREE TRADE.

The free trade policy of England is not
just now so universally popular in that coun-
try as its advocates would like to have it.
to it's continuance. The Times reluctantly
admits ''that it is becoming necessary to fight
the whole battle of free trade over again, ~
and the Glasgow Herald has frankly acknowl-
edged that even in Scotland, the fortress of
the Liberal party, the working glasses and
manufacturers are beginning to discredit free
trade, or rather that free trade which pits
tariffs and expects her to win. Mr.. jennings
telegraphs to the New York World that the
younger Liberals, those who are not person
ally identified with the Corn-Law League
are inclined to break away from the free trade
tradition and to join if not to lead the new
movement, and that even Mr.. Gladstone is
beginning to waver. On Thursday last a
deputation of sugar reiners waited upon
him and stated their case, namely, that the
bounty fed refnsries of France have almost
closed the colossal reineries on the Clyde
A commission appointed to consider the sub
ject some months ago reported IN favor of
countervailing duties. This report, although
made by men above the suspicion of being
actuated by selfish motives, was ridiculed by
the free traders, but it is now being discussed
with respectful attention. In reply to the
deputation the Premier made some remarks
which have been interpreted as implying that
he is open to change of opinion. France
is not the only nation on whose exports the
agitators propose to clap retaliatory duties
the feeling against the free admission of
American goods is even more intense be-
cause in many lines the competition is more
keenIy felt than that of the protected French
artisan, and there is a widespread belief,
moreover, that to the example of the United
States is due the reactionary policy which
now prevails on the Continent.
The opponents of free trade have recently
gained an important victory by electing Mr..
Eckroyd, the Conservative candidate for
who represented the ultra-Radical section of
the Liberal party. Mr.. Eckroyd is a cotton
spinner, and he came out on a platform of re-
taliatory duties or reciprocity of tariffs. Mr.
Thompson, the Liberal candidate, came out
as Bright free trader, and many old veter-
ans of the Corn-Law League went to his aid
But what is the use, asks Mr.. Jennings
of quoting Adam Smith, Bastiat or
Golden to lot of cotton operatives who
know from bitter personal experience that
the trade of England and the bread and but
ter of the workingman are threatened by the
system which throws open the home market
to nations which bar their doors against
British goods ? Mr.. Eckroyd and his friends
in reply to the stock aphorisms of the free
traders simply pointed to the gangs of opera
tives who walked the streets because of
s'short time'' at the mills, and called upon
the manufacturers to explain why ''full
time" has become rare thing in Lancashire.
1t was question between theory and expert
ence, betwe en- the doctrinaires and the
workingmen, and the latter swept the consti-
tuency Mr.. Eckroyd's majority was over
1 800.
Mr. Jennings believes that unless the signs
of the times are misleading the triumph at
Preston is only the precursor of a national
victory before very long. And the Globe, a
Tory paper, declares that ''the patience of
the English working classes is fairly worn
out, and come what may, they insist on re-
ceiving fair treatment in the matter of recip-
rocal commerce. All this will be highly dis
pleasing to free traders all over the world
who have been looking to England for proof
of the working quality of their theory, but
facts are facts.