Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-10-15
Tactics of the Cobdenites.

More than any other man Richard
Golden stands credited with whatever
of progress and popularity attaches
to the policy of free trade among ma
tions. No one challenges the patriot
ism that inspired him to make for the
land OF his birth and his home at the
head OF the great nations of the world;
nor will they call in question the wis
dom of the conclusion that ultimate
success OF his cherished policy could be
most certainly secured by placing fet-
ters upon the progress OF those rival
nations most likely to crowd England
in the race for supremacy in the COM
merce of the world.
In it's incipiency the adoption or re-
lection of Cobdenism was a question
that outsiders were content to leave
to the people OF Great Britain-to be
settled as they should conclude best
in full view of their material environ
ments and such light as might be
gathered from the history of three hun
dred years OF past experience. But
when their converts to the policy OF
international free trade organized as
a propaganda, with the avowed pur-
pose of engrafting their peculiar no.
tions upon the policies of outside ma
tions, then it was that the situation
assumed a changed aspect. Not only
did there arise general opposition to
the establishment of free trade so long
as equality of conditions were impos-
sible; it was soon discovered that the
ethics of the propaganda were quite
as Objectionable as the doctrine it
sought to enforce.
The theory that the end sought
would justify such means as might be
employed for its requirement then first
gave sanction to deceptions that have
ever since been a conspicous feature OF
free trade tactics.
Golden foresaw that the instinct
OF self-preservation would initiate
against international arrangements
in which all parties except Great
Britain would be badly handicapped,
and he stood ready, at the proper
time, to sanction a resort to subter-
fuge when more candid tactics were
found Ineffective. Referring to the i'm
patience OF certain OF his followers,
when it was discovered that the treaty
with Napoleon iii, in 1860, failed to
secure all they desired in the way oi
practical recognition OF the free-trade
principle, Golden dictated to John
Bright an extenuatory letter in which
he set forth that much more had been
gained than appeared on the face o.
the treaty. Among other things he
said: "These people seem to think
that free trade in France can be car
ried by logical, orderly, methodica
process, without resorting to strate
gem or anything like an indirect pro
ceeding;" and added that the French
emperor, with whom the treaty wa'
arranged, chad as good a right fol
cheating the majorities of the senat,
into an honest (?) policy as Peel hat
in dealing with the House OF Lords
| [Morley's Life OF Golden, p. 53S.
Here is found inspiration for tn,
ethics that makes it legitimate for free
trade attorneys to conceal whateve
of that policy is likely to be most un
popular, and to "resort to strategem
and "indirect proceedings" to gain tn
desired end. In their observations Q
it's questionable ethics they have al
ways been found quite as faithful t.
| Cobdenism as in their reiteration @
it's demand that the trade of this coun
try shall be placed under tribute t.
the insatiate greed of the beneficiarie
of British commerce.