The Press., 1888-08-09
(For The Press.)
An ICnpIiAh View.


 Walter Bagshot says in the Contempo- rary Review for July, 1880: "Out of England free trade is almost everywhere unpopular ;" and he might have added that in England it is not universally popu- lar. There are ''fair traders" as we'll as ''free traders" who believe in placing heavy duties on imported articles lin order to induce or force other nations to receive our (English) imports free of duty, as we receive theirs free of duty" There must be reason for the unpopularity of free trade ''almost everywhere outside of Eng land." The reasons for free trade in Eng land are not far to seek. English writers themselves freely give them.
 When the system of fiscal freedom was ad rpted by England her manufactures and trades were properly established; they required no protection to set them going, but only free trade to stimulate their pro- ductiveness. We went in for free trade. and we kept at it, because we selfshly thought it would be the greatest advantage to the trade of England that the exchange of her products against those of other na- I tions should be as far as possible expand cd. We believe, and still hope believe, that system of free trade would best bring out the expansion and enable us proitably to increase our productions, to compete with the foreign manufacturer. and flood his markets with our goods. Our first, second and third thoughts were for ourselves"
 "The foreign manufacturer, on the other hand, did not quite sec the matter in the same light. He was painfully aware that English goods were being imported in mil | lions of v"rds and tons, and that hc was being beaten even ill his own market. He called for and received protection. We cannot justly complain of the foreigner for adopting a system which he considered best for himself and certainly we cannot fairly call him St ltish if he avails himself to the fullest extent of any advantages he may consider he obtains from our system of free trade; he would be a fool if he didn't"
 "Our foreign and colonial trade depends on our powers of competition in hostile and, especially, in neutral markets and any increase in the cost of production, any self-thrown stumbling blocks in the way oI our trade woul ld by'so much diminish ouI powers of competition, and decrease tho volume of our trade. The fact is too much put aside or forgotten that we stand in [ very different position from any other na ti0n in the matter of foreign trade. No only do we engross fifty-twO per cent. o the whole carrying trade of the world, but we, with our population of 35 millions have an annual foreign trade of nearly 700 millions. We see, therefore, that our for eIgn trade IS of much more relative i'm portance to us than the foreign trade o any other nation is to her. Other nations were in different posti, n, and believed that the best means of enabling theiI traders and manufacturers to obtain Tail start, and prevent their markets from be ing flooded with our goods, was to protc c and foster them. Their policy has beer thus far successful that they can now pro duce articles which they used to have tC buy from us"
 We have taken the above paragraphs from an article on "Fair Trade and Free Trade" in the Contemporary Review fol December, 1881. Here we have m Eng. lishman's reasons for free trade, and briefly tney dIe IuCSe I-EuBlanu pfcullal and different position from any other ua tion in the matter of foreign trade Q Her manufactures and trades, being prop erly established, require no protc c;ion to set them going, but a stimulation to pro. duction. 3 Her desire to flood other markets with her goods. 4-Selfishness 'Onr first, second and third thoughts were for ourselves"
 This Euglishman's view of prott ction is well worth considering. He says "The foreigner" the American for instance, ''seeing that he was being beaten in his own market, called for and received pro- lection; ; and this policy, he admits, "has thus far been successful"
 We agree with the Euglishman in each and all of these allegations. Free trade for England but protection for America. O. P. CHAMPLIN.