The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-23
BRITISH HEADWINDs

A London cable notes the agitation in
England, by the Golden club of an anti,
bread-tax movement. since Sir. Michael
Hicks Beach brought his budget into the
commons renewing indirect taxation in
the shape of a shilling hundred pounds
duty on grain and 5 pence on -four per
hundred.
The Cobdentes, although this tax is.
technically a revenue tax regard it's i'm,
position as a retreat from the principles
Of Golden, Bright and Gladstone and they
no doubt recall that Mr. Gladstone had
In 1854, when he altered the duty of
shilling quarter on grain, which had
been imposed in 1916, to duty of pence
per hundredweight on wheat and other
grain, declared that he was reluctant to
adopt any source Of revenue which might
be regarded as a permanent imposition
upon the most necessary article of human
subsistence. That bread-tax was RENTED
in 1868.
Since then great changes have taken
place, England, thereafter, rising to the
dominant position in the indust rial world,
so that her public men boasted that she
was the workshop Of the world
Golden, in his forecast of the future of
this country. as a competitor of England
IN manufactures, admit ed the possibility
of such competition in the course of time
and sooner than some of his contempora-
ries thought, for some of them believed
that we would never rival England in
manufactures. We have done it and lust
now we are crowding British trade every
where in vigorous manner and showing
her industrial lords how to do things.
Under these circumstances Great Brit
ain Is strenuously renewing the agitation
for imperial federation which means the
! federation of all Britain's colonies under
her headshtp, she to monopolize their
trade and exclude all other nations by
! protective taxation.
Engllsn publicists have contended that
duty on American wheat would not ad :
vance the price of bread, as ample sun
pies could be obtained from Canada, who.
In return. would be willing to admit all
English manufactures into her ports on
similar terms. Golden entertained this
view. Recognizing the inability of the
brltlsh farmers to meet the home demand
for foodstuffs, he favored making England
the dumping ground Of the surplus wheat
OF the world, she continuing to be the
workshop of the world"
AS to the imperial federation scheme.
which will be discussed at the meeting of
cO1onio1 -
season in June, the colonial secretary.
Mr. Chamberlain, is an enthusiast on the
subject, and he will pour forth his elo-
quence to convince the eminent premiers
that the federation will be a good thing
all around. Canada is not likely to enter
into it, nor is Australia which, as pow
erful confederation, is constructing pro-
tectlVe tariff. Canada's concession to
England of a preferential 25 per cent off
her regular duties, has not proved profit
able, for the Canadian manufactures want
as little competition as possible.
Imperial federation is yet theory and
dream. 1t means, in practice, a self
contained British empire. The depend
enee of England upon outside sources Of
supply and the industrial ambition of the
colonies are obstacles to its realization.
Tie Fair Traders so called, want all
raw material imported free and foodstuffs
taxed. The Farmers Alliance of England
has denounced Fair Trade" as a "dalu-
sion and a snare
However this may be, it is evident that
the advocates of protective duties in
England are gaining strength. They
point out that. while the tax on imported
-four and wheat would not be of any ma
terial advantage to British farmers, since
theycannot grow wheat at a cost which en-
ables them to compete with foreigners,
notably Americans. it is becoming more