Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-10
NO STRIKING BACK.
England Hasn't Any Notion Of Adopt
ing Tariff Retaliation.
THE SWORD CUTS BOTH WAYS.
Bona Eide Home Rule for Ireland Is Sure
to Come Very Soon.
A PARLIAMENT OF ITS OWN CERTAIN
roonnnsroxDexcE OF THE p1srATcH.l

ley tariff bill there is no doubt The most
careful inquiries among British members oil
Parliament and other reliable authorities,
have convinced me Of this fact, and 1t may
be well for American politicians and states
men to understand this thoroughly. We
all have been led to believe in the United
States that the English people threatened
all manner of things as retaliation for the
high tariff imposed by Americans on the
goods of the former when imported by Amer
leans. AT least two leading threats have
been referred to by numerous alleged au-
thorities. One was that the Brit!sh Par
Lament would pass measures imposing inn
port duties on American goods, and the
other was that English manufacturers
would absolutely decline to recognize the
Worlds Fair, which is to be held in Chi
cago in 1898.
These are certainly questions Of the
utmost gravity to Americans. In many
instances was struck BY the indifference
displayed regarding the matter and I found
that the majority Of those to whom talked
cared nothing at all about how many tariff
bills the American Government makes law.
had particularly long conversation with
Thomas Burt on the matter. Mr.. Burt I
may point out is thorough representative
man and has been a member of the House
for 16 years. He is in all respects qualified
to speak in behalf of the masses on the
question. In response to my inquiries Mr..
Burt said:
FEAR FREE TRADE MORE.
''There certainly cannot be a more mis-
leading notion than the one that leads
Americans to believe or to think that the
English Government will do anything in
the way OF retaliation because of the Ameri-
can tariff laws. Whatever other European
powers may do, am certain that England
will do nothing in the matter. Americans
have perfect right to pass all the tariff
bills they want if they believe they will
benefit Americans; but we, in England, are
certain that protective duties here will do
harm instead OF good. OF course, American
import duties on English goods is bad for
the English, but matters would be made
worse if our Government were to resolve to
impose import duties on American goods
By doing SO we might do little injury to
Americans, but we would certainly be doing
greater injury to ourselves, because we
would raise prices while we couldn't pro-
duce more articles at home than we are
doing now.
"I have talked the matter over with
prominent members OF the Golden Club and
Mr.. T. B. Potter, the President of the club,
is of the opinion that the greatest harm to
England will come when America adopts
free trade policy. Many great authorities
hold this opinion, and very well-informed
and thoughtful Englishman now In America
writes to the effect that certainly America
could soon shut England out of the worlds
market were the former to become q free
trade nation. To me this opinion is pretty
sound one. 1t is, therefore, clear to me that
the English people will never abandon free
trade. The truth is the English masses, as
may term them, take little or no notice Of
what America does in the NATTER
"How many protective members are there
in the House OF Commons?"
SHEFFIELD Is INJURED.
''Very, very few. dare say that only
know OF one who has absolutely declared
himself on the question, and that is Colonel
Howard Vincent, the member for Sheffield
division. Mr.. II. Chaplin was strong pro-
tectionist, but he has changed, and so have
others. Colonel Vincent may have good
cause to be protectionist, as he represents
a section of Sheffield, and undoubtedly the
American tariff has done and is doing con-
siderable harm to the manufactures Of that
city. But that is only one city. The Shet-
field manufacturers from time to time rise
up and declare themselves against the
American tariff, and I dare say many
threats are made.
A few years ago movement called the
Fair Trade movement was commenced in
our country. Its policy was to retaliate,
that is when America imposed an import
duty on any of our goods we were to put an
import duty on some Of the produce we got
from America. That movement, however,
has collapsed. 1t made little flicker for
awhile and I dare say led many Americans
to believe that the English people were in
clined to desist free trade principles. We
have few fair traders before the country
now simply because England cannot afford
to impede the importation of any useful
things into her ports"
"Reports have been circulated to the eff
feet that the English manufacturers because
Of the Mckinley tariff bill. will not patro-
nize the Worlds Fair at Chicago. Is there
any truth in those reports?"
WILL PArRoNIzE THE FAIR.
'I don't believe there is; in fact I'm sure
there is not. English manufacturers are
business men and they certainly will do all
they can to place their goods before the
world. If they think exhibiting their goods
at Chicago will do their business any good
why they will do 1t regardless of either Nc
Kinley's bill or anybody else's bill"
The above opinions expressed by Mr..
Burt were substantially the opinions of all
the members o. Parliament to whom I
talked. I failed to see Colonel Vincent.
He, OF course. is an out and out protection
ist, and has notice on the order paper of
4laH d. =
such hopeless minority that it is imma-
terial what his demands or opinions NAV be.
There are, however, in London one or two
trades that are clamoring for retaIiatory
measures of any kind. The watchmakers
are one of the trades and they are certainly
great sufferers because of American compe-
titlon. I had talk with a member of this
trade last evening. His name is Joseph
jackson and he has been in the business
more than 80 years. He said: sour trade
has been absolutely ruined by Americans,
A few years ago we could earn excellent
wages by making watch cases, but now we
can scarcely find employment at any price.
The Americans are shutting us out entirely,
so much SO that have been out of work as
long as two years at stretch. Still our
Government will not try.toIstop the importa-
tion of American watches or watch cases.
We want them stopped, of course, because
the Americans can send their goods here and
beat US on our own grounds.
1t is certain that American products are
gradually superseding those of England.
Even Mr.. Hyndman, who met Mr.. Brad
laugh in public debate the other day, stated
in his speech that America was running
England down in the worlds markets.
But, as I have above stated, the Britisher
does not believe that he is in anything like
position to declare commercial war.