New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
PROTECTION ~ ENGLAND.

The American Free Traders are much DIS
turbed over Mr. Chamberlalns zoilvereh
scheme 1t is not so much that they expect any
Immediate customs union to be established De-
tween Great Britain and her colonies, out t!iii
they foresee the downfall Of all their own hopes
of n Free Trade America If Cobdenism Is ais
credited on its native soil. II sacrlllce OF the
traditional English system Is worth even seri-
ous consideration for the sake of bringing the
different parts of the Empire together then
II will be difficult to convince people in TINS
country that they should throw away the FRO
tectiye tariff, which has brought marvellous
prosperity at different stages of the Nation
life. for the sake of an economic theory, when
is pronounced the only philosOphc one by its
advocates but which those who have tried IL
show increased willingness to depart FROM
1.-THE Saturday Review" in the discussion OF
Mr. Chamberans plans, tells something ABOUT
British and colonial trade conditions when
more than squints in the direction or frotec
tion and shows how theories have been ap-
| piled to British revenues to the hurt of the
| treasury without benefit to the people. Speak
ing Of the attitude of the London press 1t says:
| 1.-The Daily Chronicle warns US that Protec-
| ..tion means the destruction of our foreign
| trade But The Daily Chronicle knows bet
| .ter than that; it was the first paper to point
| cont that the German iron and steel trade was
cheating our iron and steel trade, and showed
| chat this superiority could not be attributed
| $40 lower wages or to the longer hours of the
| "worl,man And from this standpoint to the
..stondpoint that even Protective duties are not
| $50 Injurious TO trade as Golden and Bright
| Imagined is but q step. Look at the signs Of
''tbe times Lord Peel has Just excused him
self from presiding over the dinner to be given
"by the Golden Club in celebration of the jubi-
''lee of Free Trade, and the Duke OF Devon
shire has followed his example. and these arc
"both sensible men Of good judgment and no
"preiudices.'
| "Tbe Saturday Review goes on to state that
| New-South Wales has not done its trade much
good by adopting Fee Trade. and that Vic
toria has not been ruined by Protection III says
that while Protective duties were still in force,
wise statesmen might have solidificd the En-
pire by following the American example OF hav-
ing Free Trade between the States and Pro-
lection outside Mr.. Golden thought it the duty
of Englishmcn Ito cleanse our house of this
stuff and get rid Of the colonies. but, happily
Mr.. Golden and his colonial theories are at a
discount Just now" Small preferential duties
established now, The Saturday Review be-
lieves would have nothing Protective about
them in the bad sense 1t does not defend the
system of the last century. which stroye to pro
| tcct every petty interest regardless OF the gen
| eral benefit, but it quotes as an example OF the
foolishness of making fetch OF Free Trade
the shilling registration duty on corn 1t was
levied for years after the adoption Of Free
Trade 70 the general satisfaction and the bene
fit of the treasury to the extent of t2.oOO,OOo
wear. Then some pcdant discovered that i
was illogical and struck it off. The revenues
suffered and nobody was Il penny the better
off.
If an all-round registration duty of PEI
cent were levied, 1t believes some tlS,OOO,00'
would be realized, and with the present retail
competition the price TO the consumer would
not be Increased. When thoughtful Englishmei
begin to have such views of Protection. no won
der the American theorist takes alarm.