The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-10
Come!
1913 EAST BROAD ST,
Next Corner First.


for moment the intense feeling OF ha-
tired which existed I'm regard Go Holland
/ and 10 Spain during the times OF their
greatest wealth and prosperity as Inn
perial Powers. This hatred was due 10
tne policy of exclusion and of privilege
enforced by either Power Every indi-
Vldual trader not a Spaniard or a Dutch
man was b0und 10 De the enemy Of Spain
or Holland. for every trade-dO0r was
closed against him. It was indeed dou-
Die hatred FOR the cOl0nisis, whose very
blood was sucked by the Imperial Power
felt almost as aggrieVed as the excluded
foreigner. How different II the case with
the British Empire. The foreigner may
hate ms IN the abstract. but when II
comes 20 business De cannot feel very
angry with "a nation which not only ai-
lows him to come freely and sell what
DE has got 20 sell here but does not
claim the slightest extra privilege over
him iu the Colonial markets. Thus our
free-tfad8 policy has given as a world
wide Empire that eXcites the minimum OF
popular hatred and jealousy Each Pow
er might like 20 get India or our African
posse ssiOns for itself. but IL that IS not
possible. it would prefer the status quo,
for no other Power would be so good 70
trade with as England. IL was very diff
lerout ln the cases Of Spain and Holland.
Amy change seemed then a change for
the better. The policy OF unrestricted
free trade has helped as even more in-
side orr colonies and dependencies. Tur-
COTS saving that colonies always dropped
Off the parent tree like fruit when they
were ripf was true un'ler a system Of
oNt0rtinG pecial privileges for the mother
country. By allowing the colonies 20
manage their own fscal affairs without
restriction and by giving them just as
good treatment iu the home market when
they tax our products as when they do
mot we have given the cOi0ni5ts aconh-
deuec in the mother country that no
other scheme of action would have been
able to give. Every coionist instinctiyeiy
fears being exploited by the mother cOun-
n.y. How is it possible for Victoria 10
say we are making use of her when
She taxes our goods and We do not tax
Hers1 The freetrade policy of free
markell e.. the policy OF allowing all
men 20 come here and sell freely what
ever they have got % sell without ques-
ton asked or hindrance glven-has
alone. we believe enabled the Empire 10
develop without any sense Of injury or
injustice growing up among the colonies.
Think for moment what would almost
certainly have been the result II we had
tried To- develop orr Empire on pr0tec-
ZIONIST lines. and had tried to make every
colony and dependency give ms n priv
legged position In that case every fresh
acquisition Of territory would have been
met with II cry of alarm from the rest or
the world Here the nations would
have said Is another piece OF territory
passing under British eXciusiveness. How
long is This TO Dee lOrne2 Next. is II pos
r.r..f..ffHf FlItIN WHnlIpI 10
the colonies. even though intended 10 90
them no HARM would not have ended i'm
constant squdbbies and disputes some
colonies would have wanted more pro-
lection ard some less. and none would
have been really satisfied. Lasuy, our
own trade. debilrated by close markets.
would never have taken The place u now
has. A. 30 lis. our vast. free, and ex-
uandiug trade helps The Empire Tot All
people like Dob be- connected with louI-
ishng FIRM Can 10 be contenued that lnis
feeling would be- as strong with a mar
rover and more jealousy conducted
business Depend ubon IL. the British
Empire az We know it could not DE Kept
together under anything but d system
of free trade.
1--WE shall be told. no doubt that the
old frce-tfaders certainly never thought
that empire and free trade had amy con-
n4ction Instead 10 will be argued. they
that they were antagonists
We readily grant the truth of this asser-
TON The old free-trsders were not III me
least aware that free trade would prove
the best possible foundat0n-stoue for the
Empire They bullded that is. better
than they knew. And herein We see an
example 4f the good results that may
incidentally arise from laying hold or and
following out "a really sound principle.
Tine policy Of free trade was sound and
true and therefore. its consequences
were ln the long run sound and true.
though different from what men expected
Probably Mr.. Golden would bave ac-
oufescci I'm such an Empire as we have
To-day but if not. and n it could be
nrorod that he would have been annoyed
s+ SIS persistence In troubles MS very
Iitrle Freo trade is far TOO big matter
a., no mined 10 any one mans coat-taiis.
and we should always refuse IN allow
rho noilev NJ free trade 10 be tested ny
,.rat Mr. Golden or Mr.. Bright "ouia
i,.,.o Thought Of us most recent develop
narts They aid not discover the doc
zinc of freetrade. and 10 IS not subject |
~ arv limitations that>may be found in
ff