The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-04

The excitement aroused b. Lord Salisbury
in his recent "far-trade" speech at Hastings
has not vet abated nor has the spirit Of an
tagonism aroused by his Lordship been
quieted. To the contrary. it is stated that the
British Premier is the most talked Of and
best abused man in England. The Liberals,
Of course. cannot find words to denOunce bis
new position. but that is on account Of politi-
cal opposition; the adverse criticisms how
ever. are not confined by any means 10 the
Liberals. His own Conservative contreres,
when they do not openly condemn his utter
ances, are reported as preserving an ominous
silence whenever fair trade is alluded 10, and
wlncing when their leaders change Of front
regarding the cherished British free-trade
teachings and doctrines is spoken of.
The sudden, and really revolutionary posi-
ton of the Premier has been compared TO the
famous Tariff Reform message OF President
Cleveland which threw this country in such a
flutter in 1888. and alarmed his own party at
tho sudden forcing Of so important an issue
in the campaign. But beyond the excitement
which Mr.. Cleyeland's Message and Lord Sal
between the two ceases for while the feeling
against the ex-President was because of his
advocating freer trade. that against the Pre-
mier is because he wishes to place restrictions
upon the freedom Of trade.
And then. what sounds very singular 10
American ears is that the growls Of disappro-
val against the Conservative Premier for his
startling anti Conservatism 20 up,we are told.
chiefly from the cities and towns. from the
workshops which are hammering, saving and
weaving for the markets OF all the world.
Fair trade. or retaliatory duties, would, they
fear, close good many Of their markets to
them. as it would be likely to beget counter
retaliation.
Here indeed isa singular condition Of afairss
We in the United States have had it dinned
into our ears for years and years past. that
one of the main great blessings of Protection
is that it protects the American workmen
against competition with the psuper labor Of
Europe, and keeps up his wages,
and yet in England it seems that any
suggestion of Protection is promptly
cried out against by these very same
peuper laborers of tho Old World. while the
Agricultural classes. who in the United States
are free traders. are in England the only ones
who look with any patience at all upon Sails
bury's new ideas. Here is nut for our polit-
ical economists to crack, and here is an argu-
ment which can be used with good effect in
favor of Mr.. Cleyelands election during the
coming Tariff Reform campaign.
1t will be very interesting 10 watch the fate
of the Fair Trade movement thus inaugu-
rated in England by the Prime Minister. His
motives for urging it arise from a desire to
retaliate upon the United States for refus-
ing to admit into our markets the industrial
products of Great Britain. For this reason.
If the Democracy are unsuccessful next No
vember. Protection ideas may grow in Her
Majesty's dominions; if the Tariff Reformers
win. however, we may expect 10 see the old
Free Trade policy OF Britain maintained
without change, for to say nothing of the
well-known conservatism Of tho English peo-
pie it IS under that policy that the United
Kingdom has fourished and grown rich.