The daily gazette., 1881-08-30
TUEsDAY, AUGUST so. 1881.
"FRER TRADE AND FAIR TRADE


treat Britain, under the lead of Peal,
epealed the corn law and adopted her
resent policy Of '.free trade" The
truggle resulting in the adoption of |
free trade" was one of the severest |
contests that English politicians had
in; and it was mainly be-
tween the wealthy land owners and
agriculturists on one side and the
manufacturers ON the other. Sir
Robert Peal led the "free trade"
party. After its triumph Great
Britain extended her commerce in all
receiving into her ports on
. very low scale of duties nearly every
article necessary to the sustainance
of man and beast. The election con-
test and the controversy in Parlia>
ment had attracted the attention of
the great merchants in all parts of
the world, and prepared the way for
. ready reciprocal trade. The ex-
change of British goods for articles
of subsistence in almost every port on
the continent and in all parts of the
world, enabled the manufacturers to
feed their workmen at saving of
lust about the amount Of the tariff
or tax that was stricken off these arti-
cles as they came into the English
ports, and enabled the English manu-
facturer and merchant to add to the
rice of their manufactured goods.
1t appeared in this wise: Great guam
titles of grain, during years Of peace
full labor was raised in many coun-
tries more than could be consumed.
The exchange of British manufac-
lures for grain was therefore exceed
ingly profitable if it could be sold in
England. The repeal of the corn
laws enabled this to be done ; and
hence one of the great causes of Eng
lands great success in extending her
immense commerce throughout the
world. Another aid to the British
manufacturers occurred not many
years afterward through the great
wars that European and Asiatic ma
tions engaged in, and from which
England kept as much aloof as pos
sibls. They all naturally looked to
her for arms, war ships, and all army
supplies which were obtained through
the same importing houses. On these
supplies immense profits were made
and the English builders and manu-
facturers were enabled to INTRODUCES
the finest and best adapted machinery
Every one must understand that
manufacturer or builder who fits vi
patterns for work can build dozel
ships or machines on one order at ia
less price than he can get up th
moulds or patterns for one. And ft
. third of century or more Gre,
Britain as q builder and manufacture
has occupied just such position ;
this In relation to other nations. 81
has built Of war and mercantile steal
ships and of almost all machiner,
twelve to one of any other countr,
She now Ands her first and almost on
rival in the United States. The wa
of Europe and short crops led
famine in many lands not excepting
part of the dominion Of Great Britai
Hence the inability to buy war m
terial and to continue war.like stru
giles, had the effect to throw many
England's workmen out of emplo
ment, while the failure of the Gro
caused the demand that Is made up
the United States for grain and fo
Of all kinds. 1t was very natural th
the British merchants who held O
bonds should seek their payment
grain and produce. Fortunately t
crops of this country were abundar
and the sale of our surplus abro
enriched our people, and has enabl
MS to extend our manufactures
every branch, even to competing wi
England on her old trading groun,
This has q tendency to make I
English manufacturer lean toward
Eaglisb agriculturalist who want
higher duty on grain, and hence
find the English free trade writ
adopting modified and middle coul
They now demand "free trade 1
fair trade" They find the Brit
manufacturers in dilemma and
trying to help them out of it. 7
British manufacturers desire gr
and produce of our farmers to co
into European ports "frse as here
fore but they see that the vast su
Of money that is sent to the Uni
States to pay for grain is building
great railroads that carry the prod
10 the seaboard and building ships Q
great manufacturing establishme
that compete with them eyerywhe
What are they to do2 If Il
exclude our grain and products b.
heavy tax they increase the c
r. 4 a