The Labor enquirer., 1884-12-06
VOLUME ". NO. 50.
ENGLAND's AGITATION.
Falsity Of capitalistio Grounds Free
Trade and Fair Trade
Considered.

From London eng. Justice.
The discussion in Parliament on th'
depression or trade led to nothing. The
liberal leader expressed his adherence K
economical theories which were curren
when he last had time to study politica
economy; Lord Granville denied the ex
gistence of grave distress; and the torie'
'funkeda giving their adhesion to pro
tectionist falIacies which were exploded
generation ago, but for which they still
have sneaking fondness. But the fret
( lances of both sides have thrown ou
/ suggestions by way of testing public
opinion.
The more irresponsible tories have
long been using some of the rent ant
wages they have appropriated, in buying
over aworkingmen" to agitate for afai
trade" 1t is disgrace to the genuin,
workingmen Of London that they allow
men who are well. known to have hire6
themselves out to betray the cause o
labor, to address gatherings withou
hearing their doings. denounced and
their careers exposed on theplatforms o
the meetings thev convene with the aid
of tory-capitalist money.
AT conference of workingmen" ir
London on the sixth instant at which
Mr.. George Potter, Mr. Kelly, and q
regret to say Mr.. T. s. Lemon spoke
Mr.. Eekroyd, NJ. p was allowed to say
that the "onl!, remedy was sound fiscal
system, and a proper Union Of all parts
/ ofthe empire. and a resolution on the
part of the gorking people to grasp
every inch of that territory which Prov
idenee had given the English nation as q
heritaseforeYer."
Now we ara Bnlch against free trade
las we know it in these islands), as any
fair trader, ard good deal more candid
in saying so. The theory of free trade
is unassailable, and will be universally
adopted by tie workers of the world
when they control their own affairs.
For then it will really mean that the
commodities required in any locality
shall be produced on whatever spot of
the earth's surface least labor is required
to produce them. Under the control Of
capitalists, however, it now means that
it is good thing for those who do not
live by productive labor that comnfodi.
ties should be produced where they cost
least, because the less paid in wages the
more can be taken as profits Protec'
tion for English industry we are in favor
of, but protection in any shape or form
. under capitalist landlord rule must inev'
itably mean that not the industry, but
the profit taken from it by landlords and
capitalists, is what they are going to pro-
fleet. =, -, gs>-
So much for one political faction. The
other Is coquetting with state interfer'
ence. The Pail Mall Gazette valiantly
declares that the liberal party has done
with the laissez faire theory and is now
all for ''social reform" 1t has attempted
to magnify the scare about the state OF
the navy, and is anxious that the gov,
ernment shorld alleviate the condition
E of the unemployed on the Clyde by Civ:
ing some orders for ships. 1t has sent ito
the distressed districts of the north 8
reporter who declares government con-
tracts are the only thing to save the ship
Wrights Of Clydesdale-on one condition
that the men are not so foolish as to
strike for higher wages when the orders
come in. If, says this disinterested jour
nalist, the men are mad enoughto insist
on getting share Cf the benefit of con-
tracts for government ships in the shape
of higher wages, then the masters must
be ruined and the trade leave the dis
trict. II, however, the trade unions are
wise and allow the masters to get all the
benefit of any orders which may result
from this newspaper scare, which, for all
anyone knows, has been directly orlndl,
rectly broughs by the money of these
very masters, all will be well. This is
the sort Of, social reform" advocated by
the coming liberals. this the kind of state
interference from which ship-bulldlng
capitalists are so self-sacrifcing as not to
shrink! State interference we are in
favor of but here we see clearly that IN
>. ,to~. = Az by the lniddle-class govern
teuust necessarily be to bolster up
troft-system which is the breath OF
show most clearly
entertain as sincere
, ny political faction.
rof free trade falsely
is the anarchy pro-
competition. Pro-
Inference until the
Fs4h but make con-
lded. 1t is our duty
iy before those who
fer state of things