The Iola register., 1890-11-07
GLADSTONE AND THE TARIFF.
The "Grand Old Man" Takes . Very Con-
seryative View OF Americas Tariff LAWS
He Is Against Retaliation.

He Is Against Retaliatisn.
DUNDEE, Oct 30-Mr. Gladstone
arrived in this city yesterday and was
met at the station by the provost and
the Council. An immense throng Of
people surrounded the station and ex-
tended far along the approaches thereto.
On arriving at the city hall Mr.. Glad
stone was conducted to the Council
chamber and there presented with the
freedom of the city of Dundee. the
parchment being inclosed in silver
caskct of elegant design and skillful
workmanship When the ceremon-
les at the city hall were completed
Mr.. Gladstone and his hosts re-entered
art exhibition. 80
Mr.. Gladstone was promptly intro
duced to the eager throng and at once
commenced the delivery Of his speech
in opening the exhibition. The speech
was an exhaustive and able dissertation
on political economy. In referring to
the Mckinley Tariff bill, Mr.. Gladstone
said that, while he recognized the fact
that the commerce of Dundee was seri-
ously threatened by the enactment of
that measure into law he would not
bring railing accusations against the
people of the United States While it
was true that the enforcement by the
Americans of a protective policy might
cause incidental and collateral injury to
the trade and commerce of other coun-
tries, it was none the less true that it
would eventually inflict far greater in
jury to the material interests of the
country adopting it
There were people, the speaker con-
tinued, who believed that the injurious
effects of protection were chiefly in the
countries dealing with the protected
country. That was fundamental mis-
take. There might be a deal Of dis
turbance and even decentralization in
trade, but it was not true at any time
that the trade of any country on
earth could interfere seriously with
the prosperity of Great Brit
ain. Supposing there were twenty
great markets in the world and in one
a stringent protective measure like the
Mckinley law was passed. In that case
doubtless the first effect would be to in
jure England and to restrict dealings
But larger and wider effect would be
to raise the standard Of prices under
protection. This meant diminished
power of expectation. Therefore, while
England was injured in this market it
was benefited in the rest
France and Germany. Mr.. Gladstone
said, threatened retaliation. England
should not be led into such suicidal
folly. Cheers. There were still cap
ital and plenty Of resources in this
great country to hold and keep its place
in the markets of the world. 4.
The operation of the Mckinley tariff.
the speaker declared, might not disturb
trade so much as some expected.
America must get paid for her exports
to England and must take payment
either in British manufactures or in
foreign or colonial goods through En-
glish markets. One effect of the Nc
Kinley tariff would be to direct the
attention of the British manufacturers
towards the productions of finer classes
of goods, because these bore
the least intolerable protective
rate. The result would be to ele-
vate and improve the taste of British
manufacturers, to spur them on and to
stimulate their ingenuity. Cheers
The probable tendency produced by
tariff among the Americans would be
toward the manufacture of coarser
goods, thus degrading their productions,
whilst the English improved theirs.
A ho1 irht =
ening her protective system she had
not lessened English trade, in proof of
which statement he quoted statistics.
Continuing, Mr.. Gladstone said that
in spite of protection commerce between
America and Great Britain had rapidly
and generally increased. The expert
ence of the past ought to dispel alarms
that the Mckinley law would effect
material injury. The harm to English
commerce would be fractional compared
with that done to the people of the pro-
tected country. The word protection
was a misnomer. 1t ought to be op-
preston. 1t was delusion and fraud.
America was the country that could
best afford to try this strange and
astonishing experiment Her natural
wealth, soil, minerals and immense ter
ritory made her world in herself.
With the vast amount of free trade
within herself, nothing could interfere.
The possession of these enormous ad-
vantages helped to disguise the truth
from American resources, but the adop-
tion of the Mckinley law would involve
q fearful waste of resources by which
her people ought to be made strong and
happy. Cheers He advised that En-
gland should not com plain so much Of
injury to itself; first because it was
impolitic, and next because it would
be mainly untrue. Cheers Substan-
tial injury could not be done, though
occasional injury might here and there
result America should be left to
argue out the question of protection and
find for herself the evils the tariff would
accom- plish.
In conclusion Mr.. Gladstone said: 'If
we have faith in the economic and
moral truths of free trade, let us nave I
faith in their vindication west of the
Atlantic as we'll as east People so
acute as the Americans will find the
way to results best for themselves
sooner and more effectually if respect
fully left to themselves, especially by
the people of England, who ought to
show that as much as they value Amer
ica's commerce they value her friend
ship and regard still more" Cheers
Gladstona,s Nar.o- Escune