Evening star., 1895-11-01
PROTECTIVE POLICY
Interest in Lord salisbury's Deliv-
erance on That Subject.
FREE TRADE net An UNMIIED BLESSING
Possible Effect on Politics in This
Country.
W HY AT THIS TIME

Lord SaliSbury's deliverance on the policy
of protection attracts more than ordinary
ate lt,on. The subject is one of very great
interest to the United States, and, besides,
1t Is reported that the conservative party Is
licking in this direction for an ally in a
great scheme of English-speaking domina-
ticn. The digging of the Nicaragua canal
and the revision and a new assertion of the
Monroe doctrine have already been men
toned in English circles as projects in the
execution of which England and the United
States should join hands. Is England pro-
posing also to turn protectionist, in order
to make her company the more agreeable
to this country?
Effect of EnSlnnd's Change of Policy.
This question is answered. Yankee fash
ion. by the asking of another: What would
the general effect be of change of base on
England's part on economic lines, SO far as
the interests of this country are concerned:
That the free traders in the United States
have been strengthened by Englands eco
nomic attitude is conceded. They have
drawn their inspiration from that source;
have filled their quivers with arrows fash
ionsd after the Golden pattern. They have
ascr.bed all of England's more modern
gIe ltness to her free trade policy, and have
insisted that the United States, by follow
ing that example. would share in that be-
neficence. Replying to this. the protection
lists have dubbed the free trade party the
English party, and have charged that the
effect of the adoption of free trade by this
&C untry would he disastrous here, and would
operate only in the interests of England.
Conce ling, for arguments sake, some ad-'
vantage to England from free trade, the
protec ctionists have pointed out that what
is one mans meat is another mans poison; /;
and that England might in some things
benefit by a policy that would prove wholly
inju-i1uS the United States.
VIII Please the PrOtectionists.
But now comes Lord Salisbury, the most
powerful man in the realm, and with regu-
lar Tom Reed majority in the commons at
his back, and declares that free trade has
not proved an unmixed blessing even to
England. He regrets, indeed. the unreserv-
ed adoption of that policy. For one thing
in particular he ascribes the existing agri-
cultural depression directly to 1t, and a
fair inference seems to be that If he could
hope to effect change he would enter lpon
the task
Here. then. 1t is suggested. is something
that must tickle the protectionIsts IN the
United States. 1t is an argument in their
own line, and If it contributes or is designed
to contribute nothing more of advantage 10
them, it cuts the ground from under the feet
of their opponents. The putting up of the
economic bars by England again might not
Increase American trade on that side the
| against the taking down of the bars already
up over here. Such a practical confession of
the failure of free trade in the one country
whose circumscribed opportunities seemed
to invite and did invite its adoption would
snuff out those who are urging the policy
| upon great empire like the United States.
Why at This Times
Why does Lord Salisbury bring this SUBJ
ject up at this time? He has foreign COM
plications enough on his hands TO keen him
| going. Turkey, China, Venezuela and the
United States have business for him. AS a
| rule, too. he prefers questions. of interna-
| tional policy and politics. And yet he turns
| at this time to this feature of home affairs.
Does he connect it in any way with his
| controversy with this country? Can he
make it serve any subtle purpose? Is his
! tribute to protection sly appeal to the
| party whose policy that is and which is
just coming into power in Congress- and
may presently be looking into English ag-
| sressiveness in Venezuela and elsewhere?