The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-10-10
CHAMBERLAN'S VIEWS
Former Member of British Cabinet
Opens Campaign For Protection.
RECIPROCITY WITH COLONIES

Former Colonial Secretary Stated His
Views Before An Enthusiastic Au.
dience In a Mastery Manner, Lack
lng Nothing In Phraoe or Argument.
Glasgow. oct Whatever may be
the opinion held regarding the great
question which Mr. Chamberlain has
raised or the probable issue OF his
campaign. it is generally admitted that
he has opened II In a mastery man
nor. bentting the mOmenious OCCASION
and that he can no longer be accused
of ncbulosity In presenting his case.
For nearly two hours. only referring
occasionally 60 fairly full notes Tor
figures and statistics he held vast
and enthusiastic audience absorbed by
one OF his finest oratorical efforts.
The points OF his speech attracting
remarkable attention were in eulogy
OF Mr. BaUour and his reputation OF
the idea OF slpcrseding him; his rep
resentation OF the coming struggle as
one greater in It's consequences than
the Bocr war; his declaration that all
workin -non in the colonies were pro-
toctionisis. and that any labor leader
visiting the colonies would inevitably
be converted to protection; his de-
scriDticn of the American tariff as an
abommation. and his curious preaen-
tat!on OF the case as affecting the
workmen's cvchequer. Thus. according
To him. the increased cost OF the new
duties 10 the laborer would be "A
cents. TO the artisan . cents, while
the saving by the proposed reductions
to the laborer would be 9 cents and
to the artisan o. cents.
Adducing statistics. MI Chamber
lain contrasted the moderate increase
OF ~ per cent IN the export trade
OF Great Britain and the increase of
30 per cent in hex population since
1872. with the enormous increase OF
trade In the United states and Ger
many and he asked how the country
could expect to support its growing
population with its trade practically
staenant for 30 years. lie proceeded:
con the other hand. the protected
countries which you have been told
and / myself one time believed were
going rapidly to wreck and ruin, had
progressed infinitely better in proper
ton than ourselves. and instead Of
our remaining the workshop for the
world. we are sending less and less
II our manufactures abroad. while the
protected countries are sending moro
and more OF their manufactures here.
thus our manufactured exports from
ei16.0OO. 600 In 1872 have gradually
!winiled 10 c73500.00n in 1902 10 the
protected countries OF Europe and the
United States.
The countries to which | have 70
ferrcd are in different stages Of the
protective process. In the United
States the process is completed. She
produces everything and excludes ey-
erything There is no trade TO be done
with her for a paltry six shillings per
head"
Mr. Chamberlain continued by say
Ing England can intervene now and
save a vast amount OF commerce by
reciprocity relations with the colonies,
which 20 years hence would be- lost
forever. After outlining reciprocity
proposition. he said:
Suppose we had made such an onef
10 the United States 10 or 20 years aso.
do YOU suppose that we should not
have been able 10 retain a great deal
of what We have now lost and cannot
recover? will give You an illustration.
America is the strictest OF the pro-
tective nations. II has astarin which 30
me Is an abominatiOn, unreasonable
and unnecessary, and although Amer
Sea has prohted enormously, / think II
has been carried TO excessive lengths,
and / believe that great number OF
intelligent Americans would gladly
negotiate with US for It's reduction. But
until very recent times even this I'M
moderate tariff left us the great TIM
plate trade. amounting to millions or
pounds per annum, and which we
might have kept II We had given some
reciprocal advantage. II would not
have been worth Americas while 10
put a duty upon an article OF which Il
had no particular use or special apti-
tude."
lie proposed 10 put a low duty. not
exceeding IS cents. on foreign corn.
but none on corn from the British pos
sessions lie proposed no tax on maize
He proposed corresponding tax on
-four. and he would give special pref
erence to the miller with the object Of
re-establishlng one Of the ancient in
dustries and OF preventing a rush FROM
the country 10 the town, and also OK
placing corn. offal and feeding stuf1s
more cheaply within the possession Of
the farmer. A small tax of about > per
cent. on foreign meat and dairy prod
uce would be imposed, excluding ba-
con. which was the food OF so many OF
the poorest population. Lastly, he pro-
posed to give substantial preference to
the colonies on wines and fruits.
Against these increases, he proposed
some great remissions. He proposod 10
take of three-quarters OF the duty on
tea, half the duty on sugar. with cor
responding reductions upon cocoa and
coffee.