New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-16
AND THE CUSTOMS UNION.

A curious effort is being made to bolster up
the declining cause of Cobdenism. The growing
discomfort among Englishmen of all parties
with a system which compels them to do bust
ress at n serious disadvantage. the increasing
inroads of German trade in markets once
mOnOpOliZed by the British and even H. the
markets of the British Empire itself. the
strength of the movement led by Mr.. Cham
berlain toward an Imperial Customs Union
which shall establish Free Trade throughout
the Empire and Protection against the rest Of
the world instead Of Free Trade with alien
countries and Protection against fellow mem
bers of the Empire-thesc and similar things had
disquieted the faithful exceedingly. But when
Mr. Laurer, the Canadian Prime Minister
whom they had fondly reckoncd as one of them
selves. came out as a Protectionst and an adyo-
cate of an Imperial Customs Union, they were
reused to the energy Of despair Hence the
frantic efforts they are making to conceal or TO
distort the facts even to the extent of trying to
get Mr.. Lauricr to rcpudiatc his own words and
acts.
The trouble is, however that what has beer
done is more potent and more significant than
what can now be said. Mr. Laurier is reported
to have given "a dramatic turn 10 the talk by
saying that the proposed Customs Union would
be mere Protection. and thai Protection which
has been the bane and curse of Canada would
be the creates: possb" mistake for Great Brit
ain and the Empire. These he brave words.
But why, then did Mr.. Laurier on his acces-
sion to the Canadian Prime Ministership. not
do away with that "bane and curse against
which he and his party had 50 long been in
Weighing? Why did he, instead. adopt Protec-
ton in even n more extreme form than il had
known under his Conservative predecessors:
He talked well of Free Trade before election.
and he talks well of it now. But the concrete
fact is that he has fastened tho Protection Sys-
TEN upon Canada more firmly than ever before.
He has done so because he could not do other
wise II was an absolute necessity of practical
politics and of practical economics He is NOT
to he censured but rather congra tulatpd upon
il. But II is mistake and an Injustice for slI-
perserviceab BILE Cobdentcs 10 argue upon il as Il
triumph OF their creed.
Mr. Laurier Is also represented as saying that
the Canadian tariff discrimination in favor OF
Great Britain is not step toward nor an ap-
proyal Of The Imperial Customs Union scheme.
II was not adopted on the principle Of give and
take. II was free gift 10 the mother country.
| for which no return is asked or expected. Those
are noble sentiments. But they do not conceal
the fact that il was to Great Britain alone that
The gift was made. II was not made To other
| countries. On the contrary. The tariff wall, -
I as Cohdenites call il, was built all the higher
against them. So, despite all proestations. this
| free gift was step. not toward Cobdenism but
! toward the Customs Union. not toward Free
| Trade. hui toward Protection. n means Free
Trade within the British Empire just as Pro-
lection means Free Trade within the United
States. Bui II means Protection against all out
| side the Empire. just rs the American system
means Protection against all outside Of tho
| United States. In that radical respect IL Is the
antithess Of Cobdenism. the cardinal prln-
ciple Of which 10 that there shall be no dlstnc-
| ton between the fatherland and alien lands In