The sun., 1893-05-07


he arrived at them. Let us glance first at the
passages which recount the change In the
authors attitude toward tho orthodox econo-
my. because his experience Is not only inter-
esting in itself. but corresponds to that OF
many OF his coevals.
The Duke began life. he tells us. with an
aversion. almost an antipathy. to tho Whig
party. This was due to very early familiarity
with the life and speeches Of the younger Pitt.
whom he regarded and still regards as. on the
whole. by far the noblest figure in English po-
litical history. The influence which had been
exercised on the mind OF Mr.. Pitt by the writ
inGs OF Adam Smith is we'll known. Tho IA
nous speech in February. 17SS. on his pro-
poseis for free trade with Ireland is full Of
sentences inspired BY the spirit and the doc
trines OF the Scotch economist There was,
however. wide margin In his case between
the intellectual perception OF great general
principles and tho possibilities>vhich were open
to him in The direction OF their full practical
application. He was forced by the almost uni
yersal state OF public sentimentin England to
make large concessions to the policy Of pro-
lection. Tho necessities Of q long and arduous
war displaced altogether from politics for
many years'nny question Of applying this doc
trines OF Adam Smith to reform OF the British
fiscal or commercial system; aud when peAco
came. 1t came with circumstances Ct alarm
from falling values. which gave q new and
firmsr hold to protsctionfst d0ctrines.e The
question OF free trade in corn was never en-
tertainsd by the Cabinet Of Lord Grey. and ono
Of our authors earliest rocollcctions is tho
saying OF his successor. Lord Melbourne. that
any ono who contemplated such measure
"a ha m adl mn n n Dp1 nd
This was the phase OF thought which held
the field when tho Duke Of Argyll's interest in
political affairs teGan--some nfty-threo years
ago-and it continued to prevail until Cobden
began TO teach sounder doctrine. Our nu-
thor 6 own education on the subject began with
the circumstances which brought about tho
Of sir Robert Peel ~ was" he
tells us. "an attentive and constant listener
under the gallery Of the House OF Com mons to
he great debates which preceded and followed
Peers attainment OF power in 1S41. could not
but observe the very guarded terms in which
le handled the abstract doctrine OF protec-
ionism. the large admissions he made. and
he direction which his opinions were
evidently taking In the line OF re-
reat with tho inevitable result OF COM
,lete abandonment When the crash Of
he potato famine came I had personal
md painful experience Of the economic
essons to be learned from all its causes and
rom all its results- ! had to deal with largo
population on some parts OF my own property.
many Of whom were in danger OF starvation.
became convinced free trader. But 1t was
n free trade In all its com mpleteness that I be-
leved. Free trade In the products OF the soil
oud not be met except by free trade also in
and itself and by conducting agriculture and
and owning as n business. on the same con.
ltions on which other businesses are con-
ucted when open to competition" That Is |
D SAY. the Duke held and stlfl' holds that the |
wning and occupying Of land should be con.
ucted on tho basis OF free contract He has |
cen that basis repudIated for ireland by the |
and act OF 1881 and in subsequent legislation.
nd he fears to SEQ tho precedent followed In
ireat Britain.
Pursuing his personal reoollections. he goes
n to say that In public life he Joined tho
roup Of statesmen who inherited the tradl-
ons OF Sir Robert Peel. OF which group lie
nd Mr.. Gladstone are now the only survivors.
nth them he remained till they were alb
orted in the coalition cabinet OF Lord Aber-
cen In 1853. The first and special bond Of
MON between the Peelites and the Wings WAS
,sistanoe to any attempted return to the sys-
,m Of protection. But for his own part the
luke was not then and never has been in
nythirC like complete sympathy with what
as called tho Manchester school. TO his
'int tie language used by many OF its repre-
sntatives too often implied the curious de-
lsion that protectionism was the special and
VII device OF land owners. They seemed to
'rget the fact that the trading and manu-
Icturing classes had been the earliest and for
'nturies continued to be the most vehement
lpporters Of protection and monopolies.
gain. the language OF the school OH war and
lelr Indifference to the part 1t has played in
'e progress OF mankind struck our author as
nnatural. and especially as unhlstor!cal.
bove all. the coldness. TO say the least. with