Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-09-28
BRlTAlN'S SELFiSHNESS.
THE BASIS OF HER PRESENT INTER
EST IN AMERICAN POLITICS.
How the Battle Between Protection and
Free Trade is viewed on the other Side
of the Herring Pond--England's
Advantages Versus Ameri an
Prosperity.



LONDON, Aug. 30, 1ssS.-The American
who would be cordially welcomed in Eng
land just now must be Simon pure dscl
pie of democracy, or at least must relig-
iously refrain from parade of his polltl-
cal preferences as a republican. Beyond
this, there is no effort upon the part OF the
English press in the metropolis, or in fact
in any of the industr centres of the
United Kingdom to conceal English IT.
terest in the impending political contest
in the United States, and the most casual
observer cannot mistake the side to which
England lends her sympathy, not to men
ton more substantial contributions, in
furtherance of the result desired. The
London Times, the mouthpiece of the gov
eminent, specially delights in its efforts
to belittle Blaine and throw discredit upon
his statements as the apostle of protec-
ton. 1t finds equal pleasure in disparag
ing Gen Harrison, while its custom of
commencing President Cleveland for his
singular courage in attacking American
interests in the English interests provokes
the apology for his retaliatory message on
the fishery question, that it was actuated
by the present political situation in the
United states. which required the presi-
trade message or stand against the charge
of being the English candidate. The
Americans in London, to whom these
things are most palpably apparent, need
only 10 90 to official sources for facts that
furnish the reason for Eugland's desire
that Cleveland and the democratic policy
should be regnant in the United States.
The republican party has declared for
continued protection to American indus
tiles, as a guarantee of the American
market for American products, while the
democratic party, led by the president
has declared for a stimulation of foreign
importations into the United States
through a reduction of the tariff. Some
facts and figures rs to the differing condi
tions which govern the interests of the
two countries IN question are pertinent in
an explanation of the situation. The
United Kingdom, by the latest official
census, has a population of 1880, GOO the
employed portion of which Is engaged in
the three main branches of industrial ac-
tiYity as follows Agriculture. 29S9, 600 :
| shipping and merchandise, | OBS coo, and
| in The manufacturing of textiles and iron,
with its products opal 900. OF the latter
number, ,O34 POI are connected with text
lie manufaci uring industries. BY the
/ figures it will be seen that quite two thirds
OF the employed population Of the United
Kingdom, are interested in manufacture
/ ing, merchandising and shipping. 1t is
! patent without argument lHdU JDt manu-
featured products OF the country must
| largely exceed the demand for home con
sumption, and the necessity for foreign
markets is equally apparent. The greater
! the volume of manufactures and that of
/ Incidental trade the greater are the oppor-
tunities for profit to those engaged in mer-
| chandlsiBg The same degree of manu-
featuring activity that benefits the mer-
chant acting as the middleman in the mar
ket of foreign buyers, is felt by the ship
ping interest. These facts considered, and
/ t is plain that while those employed in
agriculture in the United Kingdom may
deplore the policy which has deprived
their occupation of profit, they are power
les To assert their interest against more
/ than double their number and billions of
capital committed to the policy of cheap
7 food rs an excuse or apology for cheaper
labor. The prepondelant occupation OF
the people in pursuits, other than agricul
tural, provoked the importation OF foreign
food products into England in 1856 10 the
amount OF Si64 500 49,, while the United
States in the same year p divided her home
market and exported agricultural pro
| duets to the amount of S4S4 954 595--a sum
| equal 10 almost 13 per cent Of the whole of
the domestic exports from the United
! States. The manufactured products of
/ the United States, offered for export the
same year, amounted L SlSO, 500, 1874, while
The British blue Book" quotes the total
Of manufactured products exported from
the United Kingdom at the magnificent
sum Of Sl,002 OOS, $50. Perusal of these
| figures and attendant facts may make
clear to the reader, as they have to me,
the reason, in some measure, for Eng
| lAud's sacrifice OF her farmers to her mann
mon, free trade. and her patroni2ng in
terest in any foreign power that would
stimulate her man features by inviting
her products into a favored market, such
! as the United States affords