The Butte inter mountain., 1903-10-02

expansion with protective duties which
must have thrown burden upon the con-
sumer, | feel that they have retort to
which | have no reply. They may well
say that, although protectionist, they have
established permanent free trade within
the limits of their own countries, where
everything which can hamper production
or limit the increase of wealth has been
abolished by their patriotism and fore
sight, and they may well ask us whether
we, in the British empire, can point to a
similar picture, and, whether Our yaunted
free trade includes their great sef-govern-
ing colonies which we proudly boast are
TO be the great buttresscs OF our empire in
the future.
Free trade is indeed an empty name
and vain farce If it is fact that for
eign nations are setting themselves to
divert our industries, exclude our manu-
factures and limit the international policy
OF supply and demand. There has been
development of which Golden and his con-
temporaries never dreamed-the develop
ment of the trust question under protec
ton. The phenomenon is so new that l
dare scarcely venture to prophesy what de-
vclopment it is likely to take, but you may
be absolutely sure that in the alliance of
trusts and tariffs there is danger to the
capital and enterprise of this country
which acts and reacts not merely upon the
capitalist, for he is at liberty to go to
those regions where his industry will be
looked after; but it will fall with its
heaviest weight upon the artisan and labor
classes, which are incapable of protecting
their interests against such a calamity.
Now if | have rightly described the
dangers and evils we suffer you are en-
titled to ask me whether know of cure.
My answer will be disappointing; know
Of no cure, but / do know of a
palliation. The i'll has gone too far.
You will not get great commercial
nations of the world to abandon
protection. fear that you will not
get the great sclf-governing colonies
to retrace the steps which we without re-
monstrance permitted them to take / am
here, therefore, to recommend palliation
| which I believe to be still possible. Cob
den hoped and believed in free trade
throughout the world. What, in fact, we
have got to deal with is world where in
ternational commercial relations are regu-
lated entirely by treaty.
| st is common sense that we, the great
commercial nation, should come forward
! and say, 'We want to arrange treaties with
you. We have nothing to give you or to
withhold from you. We throw ourselves
upon your mercy and consideration
Please remember how good we are to our
commerce, how we throw impediments in
its way and how we do all we can for
you, and please don't forget us when YOU
are making your next treaty"
did anyone ever hear of successful nego.
tiations in which nation had nothing tc
give?
my fundamental and essential request
to you tonight, to which the rest of my
speech is subsidiary and accidental, is thai
the people of the country should give te
this government the freedom of negotia
tons of which we have been deprived, no
by force of circumstances or by the press
ure of foreign growers but by something
/ can only describe as our own pedantr!
and self-conceit."
"In my judgment" continued the pre-
mier, 'it is equally necessary that thi
country should have its command of Ahos
instruments of negotiations for which
am pleading The German states illustrate
how fiscal union has preceded ant
strengthened political union but as far a
our colonies are concerned, we have bee,
content to see fiscal divisions growing u