New-York tribune., 1903-06-12
C0BDEN-CHAMBERLAIN.
-in0Iog1eS and Contrasts Bet5reen
Their Economic Policies.
London. June s

Chamberlain was q merchant at the beginning
Of his career and took interest in public
affairs a business man. Cobdens career
opened in the same way. He was not a bookish
man. hut a very close observer. and he acquired
by travel in France. America and the Levant
great stock Of commercial and political infor-
nation. His earliest pamphlets disclosed are
rnarkahle talent for reasoning in practical
spirit upon the results of personal observation
as q man of affairs: and when he had COM
,aanded a hearing he did not appeal to the uni
zersities for support but made of the cham
hers OF commerce as instruments for promoting
an agitation for the repeal Of the Corn Laws
Ills enthusiastic biographer. Mr.. John Morley,
saws OF him: Golden always felt that much
Of what is worth knowing is never written in
books: and on another page describes him as
stepping forth after wasted childhood. youth
Of drudgery in a warehouse and an early man
hood passed amid the rather vulgar associations
Of the commercial traveller. the master OF A
written style which in boldness. freedom. cor
rectness and persuasive moderation was no' sur
rsssed by any man then living" MI Champer-
lain has had a similar training for public WORK
he has the plodding habits of business man
and no marked taste for literature; ne is MOI
library student yet has become the reduies'
and most accomplished debater or the perloo.
with literary style remarkable Tor Iuclolts anu
sion
striving 10 undo Cobden's work. is primarily 10
,ba ctor,bars of commerce and TO the mercan-
tile classes.
The objects Of the two statesmen might be an
,agonistfc but the processes Of reasoning by
which they reached conclusions diametricaliy
opposed were analogous. What was ridiculed
sixty years ago as the -'bagman's millennium OF
free trade was the closely calculated forecast Of
a cool and methodical observer who discussed
the politics OF commerce with the hard. dry
manner Of e business man. He reasoned that
nations like individuals, should take measures
for making both ends meet. and should be left
st liberty to buy in the cheapest and TO sell in
The dearest market; and since their prosperity
was dependent upon the most favorable condi-
tions for the pursuit Of industry and trade. COM
rnerce must be without let or hindrance FOOD
must not be taxed war must be discouraged as
q crime against civilization. and non-interven-
non in international affairs must be regarded
as one Of the requirements of peace The COD
sienite gospel proclaimed that il was the chlet
duty of man TO trade to the best possible ad-
vantage The destinies of the human race were
dependent upon commerce; every nation must
work out its salvation by trade Mr.. Chamber
5sin reasons about the politics of commerce IN
the same practical spirit. He believes that
Great Britain ought to take measures for max
ing both ends meet and consequently he favors
1,olicies for uniting the mother country and her
colonies. and for defending the empire against
foreigners who menace it with commercial
reprisals and systematically raid its markets
with merchandise undersold by virtue OF the
export bounties behind it. He afirms that Eng
land must be allowed TO trade TO tie best advan
rage hut denies that the most favorable conol-
riors are secured by the surrender or the nome
market 10 all corners and by abstention from re-
1aliation preferential agreements and genuine
reciprocity He condemns commercial warfare
as practised by Germany against Canada, and
considers retaliation better safeguard than
1lon-intervention: and he is not convinced that
an empire can work out its salvation by allowing
its commerce to be destroyed.
The Two statesmen's conclusions are as far
apart as the poles but each reaches his desti-
nation by circuit of close observation and
practical reasoning. Golden considered the re-
peal Of the Corn Laws absolute State neces-
slty. because they were founded on the princi-
1lles of limiting as far as possible the growth
OF the population of Great Britain within the
means Of the soil to supply fgith subsistence"
He contended that the population could not
rrozy nor the commerce OF the country increase
and become a source Of vast wealth unless there
were cheap food imported from countries having
superior facilities for producing ii. MI Cham
berlain as an Imperielist claims citizenship in
3 worjd wide empire, which he considers has
resources for supplying the mother country with
ali its food stock and materials for manufact-
ure He is not afraid 10 reimpose considerable
duties upon food: and in due time II will proba-
bly, be found that he considers that the present
system OF importing it from all sources without
reference to reciprocal trade advantage tends
10 retard the growth of population in Canada.
Australia. and other self-governing dependencies
OF the crown; and he will be enabled TO borrow
Cobden's own phrases in demonstrating that
both the population and the commerce Of the
er,nire will be enlarged by restrictions upon
foreign food supply.
One of Cobden's favorite ideas was that the
nation must be worked as a large trading estab-
ljsfr,ent Conditions favorable 10 expansion
Of business he was in the habit Of saying must
10 promoted: all obstacles to the development
Of trs de must be removed and any line of con-
cuct tending TO render the undertaking unre~
munerative or TO interfere with its natural
growth and successful management must De
avoided Mr Chamberlain without doubt would
willing TO reiterate all these general PROPOSE
tons. but he would be careful 10 restate them
or broader grounds. He would be likely TO say
that the empire not the nation. ought TO be
operated great trading concern; and that
everything should be done TO develop its re-
sources and promote its welfare. Points Of
divergence would arise IN ways and means
rather than general objects Golden started
with the assumption that in the management
II the nation trading business Engishmen
zere under obligation TO produce manufactures
al the cheapest rates and supply the markets Of
the world at the lowest price: and since taxes
OF food and restrictions trade stood in the
way OF these conditions. there must be the clos
est possible approach to free trade. Mr. Cham