Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-08-24

"A history OF the Free-Irade move
mept in England would be utterly incom-
plete if it did not include some account of
the large, numerous and influential pub
lie meetings which were either held by
the ~anti-corn-law league themselves, or
convened in furtherance of their views.
1t was through the medium of these as
semblages chiefly that public opinion
made its voice heard, which, swelling
louder and louder, commanded attention
and enforced respect. The continued eff
forts of the league had placed the subject
of free trade under such a fierce blaze of
public discussion and inquiry, that the
old commonplace, sophisms, and 'musty
phrases by which it had so long been
o%bscured, were vaporised and cleared
away and those truths which, till then,
had been known to only a few political
economists, became widely prevalent and
popular.
"Indeed, hardly an attempt was made
to c%ontroyert them by reasoning. The
pr~otectionist journals complained bitter
ly that the parliamentary representatives
of the old system allowed the statements
and arguments of the free traders to pass
unrefuted in the House, and that, content
with being victorious in the divisions.
they allowed their opponents to triumph
in the debates. 1t was this gradual and
ever-growing conversion of public opin-
ion to the principles of commercial free
dom that led to their practical adoption,
for it was not the people alone that were
converted, but numerous proselytes were
also made among legislators and states
men,"
In 1913 Sir Robert Peel said in parlia-
ment:
1--WE have reserved many articles from
immediate reduction in the hope that ere
long we may attain . increased facili-
ties for our xports in return. At the
same time, l am bound to say that it is
for our interest to buy cheap, whether
other countries will buy cheap or no q.
If we find that our example is not follow
Ou. IL We hiiu iIltt lllC ldllOllS, lusltdu
of reducing the duties on our manufac-
lures, resort to the impolicy of %increas-
ing them, this ought not, in my opinion.
to operate as a Encouragement to us to
act on those principles which we believe
to be sound. If the Brazilians
choose to pay an artificially high price
for cotton and wooden cloths, that is no
reason why we should pay a high price
for sugar and Coffee
Page 81, the progress is stated for 1913
as follows:
'SOon afterwards the an%ti-corn-law
league commenced their preparations for
the next campaign, Their first step was
to issue a report stating what work had
been performed during the year. To sum
it up briefly, we find that the number of
tracts and stamped publications issued
and distributed by the council during
that period amounted to 9,026 900, weigh
ing, in the aggregate, upwards of 100
tons-the lecturers employed ii in mum
Der, had delivered $50 lectures in So
counties through England, Wales and
neutrality-suspicious. had been sent to
l56 public meetings in counties and Dor.
oughs-the total expenditure had been
f47 ,S14 IS. 9d.-and the balance in hand
on the 9th September was f2.476 los. Sd,
"The three chief features in the pro.
gramme they now put forth were: l,
To raise a fund of f1OO, 900; 2. To en-.
gage Convent Garden theatre for fifty
nights, at a rem of $4,000; g.. To devote
10000 to the publication and distribu-
ton of a full-sized weekly newspaper tc
be called The League. \ bold and com.
prehensive scheme, which only the en-
thusiasm of deep conviction could have
conceived, and only the efforts of com.
bined pluck and talent could have carried
out. Here was a handful of men who,
by the legitimate agency of instruction
persuasion and eXhortation, had rallied
round them a force of public opinion
which enabled them to enlarge theil
sphere of agitation to the extent now pro.
posed. Truly, a notable performance OF
the difficult feat of converting a minori.
ty into a majority"
son the 2Sth September the first pub,
lie meeting convened by the league al
Convent Garden theatre took place. Mr.
George Wilson, as permanent chairman
presided. Every part of the vast ares
was crowded to excess. Richard Colder
and after him Mr.. Bright, spoke, anc
their two admirable and effective speech
es elected enthusiastic applause. Their,
then came forward a round-faced, obese
man, of small stature, whom Gf you
avoid looking at his eyes,, you might
take to be a person slow of comprehen
sion and slow of utterance-a sleek, sat
istied, perhaps sensual persona calm
patient and somewhat lethargic man
The only thing remarkable about hin
always excepting his eyes, was a mass
of long, thick, black hair, which waved