The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-06

1 on the dUNii' VI "a t@iN''f WV
represent that the q heater use OF ~electri-
cal traction I'm the United States has
brought ~ manufacture TO a higher de-
gree OF perfection, AMI made It far less
expensive han I'm England
That shows the great sense OF the Erg-
lish government and of enlightened pub
tic opinion there also. The government
wants rails for a road it IS constructing
and II goes out into the market and buys
them where they can be had cheapest.
No demagogue n comes prating about
It's duty to patronize 'home industries"
receives any attention. The government
replies that Il is not in the nursing bust
ness and that ~. as well as all its citizens.
has n right TO get what it wants upon
tho best terms possible. The action Of
the London Central Railway is an evil
dence also of the sound and healthy opin-
ion prevailing amongst the people. This
company buys its supplies where It can
secure the best at the lowest prices. This
action by government and citizen IS the
result Of tho great work done for the Eng
fish people fifty years ago Ivy Richard
Golden. when he led the movement that
resulted in giving England perfectly free
trade. II greatness isAto be tested by
the result Of a mans work. then Richard
Golden was the greatest Englishman that
ever lived. for he secured England the
greatest blessing that ever befel the peo-
pie when he so moulded public opinion as
10 force an abandonment of the remnants
Of foudalism that bound England down 10
the ideas of a protective tariff.
We read, IN The Washington Post OF a
few days back. the following:
THE town Of Brockton, in which I live.
is the greatest place in the world for the
manufacture OF mems shoes" said Mr..
+. c. Kingman at the Riggs.
There are no less than fifty factories,
and they give employment TO several
thousand people. There Is not a manu-
f~acturer in the lot who does not fear the
injurious effects OF the tax on hides. We
are just beginning to build up an export
trade. and. If let alone, in a few years
would be selling shoes in every quarter of
the globe. Our shoes are preferred 10
those made in any other country; they
are infinitely heater and more stylish and
better put together than those Of foreign
make. In spite Of the fact that we pay
our wOrkmen much higher wages. we
could, with untaxed hides. beat England,
France, Germany. or any other nation I'm
the markets Of the world.
"But IL we cannot get free material and
at the same time have 10 pay higher
wages, there Is no use trying 10 do any
thing in the outside markets, for we can
not compete with those who have 10 pay
smaller wages and also get their hides
free Of duty. We would thus be doubiy
handicapped. and the burden would be
great. A very small margin Of cost turns
the balance for or against you, and in
this case it will turn against the shoe
makers of New England beyond a doubt"
That is sensible talk.
We cannot do better than to end this
article by the following extract from the
speech of the Right Hon. G. H.. Reid at
the dinner given in Paris a few days
back by the British Chamber OF Com
merce to Colonial Premiors. He said:
1.-THE patriotic display made recently by
all parts of Great Britain in honor OF
our illustrious Queen has quickened a
desire in some quarters for closer politi-
cal and commercial relations, but. so far,
no dehnit policy worthy OF serious con-
sideration has been unfolded. As for po-
litical ties, the truth may resemble a
paradox, but 1t is the fact that the more
slender the official tie has become the
less has been the strain upon it, so that
the virtual independence Of the self-gov-
erning colonies has brought about a de-
gree Of imperial solidarity without prece-
dent in history. AS for commercial ties,
the trade OF Greater Britain is mainly
with the United Kingdom, and the slight
changes possible scarcely call for a policy
OF adventure. They are not likely to
bring about any tampering with the
British policy Of free trade. That policy
has enabled 100000 900 Of white people to
live on 10000 square miles of territory.
That policy has enabled those 100000
of Great Britain 10 seize and maintain
supremacy in trade and finance over al
nations, including even the 10000. 900 Of
the United States with their S,OO0,000 Of
square miles of territory.
1.-THE great nations OF Europe and
America may feel Jealous, but they oanno
we'll quarrel with England, for she re-
turns good for evil. All the world sells
10 her, even If all the world will not buy
from her. and the British people In their
homes. their shops, and their factories
get the unique advantage of goods and
raw materials free from taxation. 1t Is
this liberty to buy all over tho world
Cno9piNt ana 10 ldnu Tree OF ChStohiS
duties the cheap abundance of the world,
which is the secret of British supremacy
in Shipping. in manufactures. and In
finance. Some Englishmen will renounce
free trade. because other nations will not
| adopt IL. l say sac will he supreme only
so long as the other nations do not adopt
It. If Europe and America UNDERSTOOD
the advantages of free trade as wen as
the British merchants do. inc Almost
| magical predominance OF those httie Spots
| Of earth known as the British Isles woulu
soon begin TO decline.
81 am proud to be able TO say that New
South Wales. the mother colony OF the
Australians. has now even a freer tarln
| than that Of Great Britain. We aim al
aeve,opiue in the southern seas a destiny
eouallv noble. Our ports are oren 10 inc
enterprise of the whole world. our indus
tries are founded on a rock. Inc trade
OF free England is II, 500, 1000 francs a
wear for a population of 100000 or 40
francs for every man, woman and child
In the mother country. The trade of New
south Wales is 1000, OOo,0O 0 francs a year
for a population Of 100000. or ibg francs
Cor every man, woman and child. 30
,hat the bounteous gifts of nature may
he freely exchanged by all people.
II earnestly hcpe that the worlos COM
merce will soon be as free as the al
ana sunshine of heaven. with the spread
., m the dangers OF war VIII ae-
| cline Every fresh tie Of trade ana ip'er-
oho,ge Is a fresh guarantee or peace.