Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-15
OUR TARIFF ABROAD.
SIR LYON PLAYFAiR THROWS LIGHT
ON IT'S iNIQuiTlES.
Protection Everywhere In Distress-Thc
Opportunity Of Canads-Our Com
n,erciaI Boycott-Forcign Notes.

tBy Anglo-Amcricsn cable to tho Dispatchl
LONDON, Enc, November lin a
speech 10 his constituents at Leeds last
night upon the new United States tariff
legislation Sir Lyon Playiair. after
giving the tariff history Of the United
States. said that the promoters OF the
Mckinley bill sought to prove that the
measure was needed in order to equalize
the difference between tho higher wages
| Of the United States and the lower wages
Of Europe. but their argument would not
bear examination. There is no intimate
connection. he said, between the tariff
and wages. As q whole, wages in
America had already been reduced under
the high tariff and there seems TO be no
tendency to raise them. Wages are
highest in unprotected industries and
lowest otherwise. The farmers would
find that while their foreign markets
were dwindling every necessity was in
creasing in price merely to enrich few
manufacturers.
A COVERT ATTACK on CANADA.
He thought that the trainers OF the bill
might be suspected OF a covert attack
upon Canada. He declared that Canada
would be able 10 supply Great Britain
with all the food she now gets from the
United States. In less than twenty
years the United States will have no
surplus food to send, so it is TO England's
interest 10 aid in developing Canadian
husbandry. The natural effect OF the
Mckinley act, no maintained, would be
TO draw England and Canada closer to-
gether. If we buy from Canada, she
will he compelled to buy from us. Ii
Canada would reconstruct her tariff on
the principle of revenue, Europe and
Asia would contribute TO her future com
mercial prosperity. She could become
one of the greatest and most prosperous
countries in the world by maintaining
her political independence, if she only
had profounder conviction OF the vast
benefits OF commercial freedom. He
argued that protection OF commerce
naturally led 10 restriction OF immigra-
ton and would have an adverse effect
upon an already unsatisfactory popula-
ton. Then how, he asked, are the in
creasing manufactures 10 be absorbed by
decreasing consumers?
THE AMERICAN BOYCOTT.
Referring to the American meat in
spection bill, Sir Lyon declared that the
empowering Of the President by Con
gress to boycott the nations was n
brutuD1 .fuimcn, unworthy of a great
nation. The boycott had never hitherto
been recognized by international law.
He considered that the reciprocity
clause in the Mckinley bill had the
same direction, but deeper meaning. 1t
was snfety-valve to prevent high pres
sure, to prevent the blowing up of pro-
lection. lie believed that Blaine in
tended it rather as reciprocity clause
than ms a retaliation clause.
PROTEC ION N DISTRESS.
Commenting upon the recent cleo
tions in the United States, Sir Lyon
said that the protectionists We're not de-
stroyed, but that they would fight in the
future with their flags furled. He declared
that already there were signs in Ger
many, Italy, and elsewhere Of flags Of
distress. In conclusion, Sir Lyon said
ho hoped that though England might bo
injured for a year or two by the United
States tariff legislation she would not
dream of repriaals.
The Times this morning in long edi-
torial says that Playfairs speech Is tho
most complete exposure yet published
on either side Of the Atlantic. The OPP
ponents of high tariff duties, it says,
could hardly do better than circulate his
argument among the American electo-
rate before the next contest for control
Of executive power, which is almost GER
tain to be fought on this issue.