The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-06-11

In an open letter the other day Mr..
lamented the fact that the
principle OF FREQ trade Is falling Into
disrepute among the nations OF the
earth. According to his view, England
stands practically alone as the free
trade nation. All over the continent
Of Europe the governments, one after
policy OF high tariffs, both with refer.
ence to raising revenue and protecting
home industries.
MIR. Gladstone not only deplored
this fact. but called attention to the
growing tendency on the part OF tho
British colonies to adopt the protec.
ton principle, and to subject the
mother country to the imposition OF
their tariffs. It was significant amp
suggestive confession on the part OF
the greatest and Oldest statesman OF
Great Britain that the policy which he
has enthusiastically pursued tor thir-
ty years is doo.led 70 failure.
I The cause of this difference OF policy
between England and the other La
.tions OF the earth is not difficult to
find. Intelligent students OF current
history will understand at once where
the kernel of the problem lies. Eng
land Is the great manufacturing coun-
try OF the world. but sne produces
very little OF what may 10 called food
stuffs or raw materials. She buys
: everything, manufactures 1t and sells
! 1t again, and 1t Is the most natural
! thing in the world for all Engiishmar
to be free.trader. She invariably
wants to buy In the lowest market
and have her manufactured goods
sold In the highest markets OF tht
world duty free
But with the other countries OF the
world the shoe Is on tho other foot
They are producing countries. and
manufacture is only u subordinate
part OF their industries, and none o
i them are content to follow the grca
i doctrine of free trade and continue
It producing breadstuifs and raw iuaLe
a trials for England, while they take he
manufactures at her own prices. Il
|, simple truth. the thing Is rldieutou
i, on the face OF 1t.
n Then, too. comes the great question
!. of raising national revenues. Tn
. countries of Euroua are burdened wit
enormous expenditures OF their arm
. les and navies. America is flghtin
. out the problem against direct taNil
,r ton to meet her enormous nttionN
id requirements, and ail the colonies q
b, Great Britain ARE strugRiing to dsvolo
their resources aud to establish III lnu
- factures IN order that they may prt
P duee their own commodities In the
own way. 1t Is as in9vi ab!e TIM
France. Germany and Russia, as we
u as Canada. Australia AMI the Unite
!. States, should b. high thrift countrit
ms IL Is that Great Brituin should I
the chief apostle and propa gandist
It. free trade.
OF That America Is high tariff con-
H. try. both in principle ami III practlc
is has been Significantly demonstrated
Il the proceedings OF tile FIFTY third Col
*. gress. Az between tariff Tor revent
y, VI and tariff for projection there ma
be an honest ditleie Hce OF opinion. b
as between a revenue tariff and win
lis known in England I'D FREQ ttu'
there is not mitch diversity OF co
viction among Americans.
III While human nature remains what
Ell Ia and as 1t Is. the political policies {
States aro bound to he selfish. al
will probably not cease to
I'd Il country OF reasonably high tall
ns Tor many years 10 come.