The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-25
The Voice of
The People
THE FEEDING OF GREAT BRITAIN.

THE FEEDING OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Editor Providence News:
On a short visit 10 this great land"
one is compelled to the expression OF
deep and genuine admiration OF its many
and varied achievements; also OF its ca
pacity for further and larger successes.
This letter Is drawn from me by the
How we feed Great Britain from our
crop overplus' In the News OF yesterday.
from the pen of Mr. Claiming A. Bar
tow.
From the sos OF the 10th century. we in
England have been taught by our fiscal
reformers that America is the country of
the future. and no Legislation, no restric-
ton OF ours, will for one moment hinder
that development. which. rapid as IL has
been, Is destined TO be more rapid and
decided: with an enormous unoccupied
territory, with population doubling It
self every twenty-one years, with tide
OF emigration setting steadily towards
her from all parts OF the old World, with
a people as enterprising and energetic as
any on the face OF the globe It is impos-
sible not TO foresee the brilliant future
that awaits her, and the folly OF those
who think that by the paltry barrier Of
her resistless course onward. A course
which must soon place her in at least an
equal position with ourselves among the
| commercial nations of the world"
IL is exactly 80 years since this was
written, and one is compelled to acknowl-
| edge the true spirit of prophecy with
| which the passage Is instinct.
There Is no computing the BENEFITS TO
| the whole world derived from the adop-
| ton OF the principle OF free trade by
| Great Britain In 1si6
Every country has felt the beneicent
| influence OF It. and this Is quite IN ac-
cord with the mighty truth that the
! planets is the homeland OF the people liv-
| Ing upon st. at the time they are living.
So 10 remove barriers. not erect them.
! is a part OF the duty OF each denizen OF
the planet.
The ringing note OF pride in the follow
ing passage from Mr.. Bartows letter.
I'VE sent 10 the United Kingdom-last
| year-more lard, tobacco, cotton, -four,
fresh beef cattle Indian corn and bacon
than all other countries combined" Is
| one which every lover OF British interests
can back up with lusty hurrah.
All trade is barter or exchange. and that
was the case last year as In all other
years between the United States and the
| United Kingdom.
go long ago as 1895 the British Isles
began 10 be dependent upon foreign aid
for feeding their evergrowing population.
! etc SAYS Mr.. Barlow. without any al
! iusion 10 the cause OF this effect. viz. the
corn law. and the land laws. The war rag
ing nj the time against France, with the
| drainage OF ainew from England and
Scotland 10 be buried like "Carrion" In n
foreign land The population of England
and Wales I'm 1901. the first census taken,
was lust below nine millions. IL Will there
fore be readily seen that there was nc
real need for the importation OF corn. the
acreage OF cultivable land being sufficient
for a much larger number Of people
The up spring OF industries from the
middle OF the 18th century affected Eng
lleh life 40 wonderfully that special art
lcie vould be needed 20 deal with II.
This much one may be permitted TO say
during the period i795-lA6 the trades OF
The United Kingdom kept dead level o'
100 million sterling. In the latter yeai
cobden. Bright and Peel pulled down th'
restr,ctive pallsadnRs which had beer
| erected around British trade and com
nerce for the purpose OF protecting IL.
From that time 20 the present ther'
has heen a constant and marveloui
grcw,h. which has spread itself over ev
sry country I'm the world. blessing eacf
one. 80. A..
No fairy tale comes near this tru'
story OF the development OF the world
wealth which was inaugurated by IN
above named British statesmen In TN
eariv wears Of Queen Victoria.
The writer's few weeks holiday II
America has niled him with nobl'
pride In the achievements OF those gh'