The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-09
CHAMBERLAIN's MISTAKE
Manltoban Shows. Up "Pushfu'
Joe.s'' Numerous
To the Editor Of The journal:

brought up again to be made If possible
the national policy instead Of free trade. |
It Is a singular thing that the chancellors
OF the exchequer now living, men who are
known to be financial experts Of both
parties, viz, Sir Michael Hicks Beach (c)
Sir William Harcourt ~, Lord Goshen
tu), Mr.. Richie co., all join unanimously
in condemning Mr.. Chamberlain's fiscal
policy. The peers who have been viceroys
and experts I'M colonial policy such as
Lord Brassey, Lord Northbrook Lord
James, Lord Avebury, Earl Of Aberdeen,
and, last but not least, the Duke Of Dew
onsh1re the present leader of the union
list party, to which Mr.. Chambn1erlain pro-
fesses to belong, all join In the chorus Of
condemnation. Even Arthur Chamberlain,
the colonial secretary's Brother, speaking
at Birmingham, said that foreign war
with a great power would be less ruinous
to Britain than his brothers policy Of
protection.
In the selection at Bernard Castle
IN Dublin, where, despite the split be-
servative who was a nominee of Mr.. Cham
berlain's only came second. The liberal
and labor candidates who were both free
traders, together scored 6,179 votes, while
the Chamberlainite scored 1928 only.
The Cotton Employers Parliamentary
Association Of the United Textile Workers
association, at it's meeting held at Man
chester on July 26, by 81 votes to- passed
a resolution condemning the bill.
If the colonies are deprived of their
freedom to arrange their tariff to suit
their own interests, they will naturally
chafe against any restriction. Both the
Canadians and Australians have stated
clearly that they would regard with grave
suspicion any policy which would deprive
them of their fiscal liberty. - -.y
Clifford Seton, Canadian minister of the
interior, told the Canadian Society in Lon
don that Canadians are generally consid-
cred the present political connection as
nearly as possible satisfactory and they
were content to let time solve the prob
lens of the future"
The protectionist groans over the excess
of imports over exports, yet all the rich
countries are the same. Since 1886 Ger
many has always imported more than she
exported. since 1883 Great Britain,
France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Swe-
den and the Netherlands have done the
same whilst since 1885 Switzerland has
been in the same position and Japan
since 1894. On the other hand, Austria
with the exception of the year 1889
shows balance Of exports; SO does Rus
STA excepting the year 1899, likewise
Servia and Rumania "
Even protectionist can see that these
countries, which, according to their theo
ry, ought to be the richest in Europe, are
the poorest, and vice versa. The alarm
ISL cry That ITeat BrltalnS is growing
poorer is fallacious, as the following facts
taken from the board ofsstrade returns,
will prove:
Pauperism has declined in the last fif-
teen years per cent, while the papula
ton has increased Is per cent.
Savings bank deposits have increased
in the last fifteen years from G101, 900, 900
to a1s7,OOoOO I also give table of our
exports and that of the three other lead
| ing nations per head: Ss.k ...
EXPORTS. T =
1860. 8 d
Great Britain ..................... 10 8
Germany .......................
United states -. 49,. Is
From 1875 to 1879 our exports were 96
per head, showing a slight decrease, it is
true, but nothing to be alarmed about.
The other countries. have slightly in
creased. But In our imports we are, per
head, more than doubIea any other country
and nearly five times more than the United
States. Take the figures: So
IMPORTS.
Great Britain observation-disclosures. 8 II 2
| france 800. '.'..'....''.t '..'.......@4 .
United States 10 i
| Some Of our branches in the export
trade are declining, but the total exports
show no falling off; and we are some
times hit heavily by hostile tariffs; but
it is q curious factthat British trade has
increased 18 per cent in protectionist Eu-
rope and only 2 per cent in the neutral
markets Of Central and South America.
And in Canada, the one colony that has
given us preference, English imports
have increased only 10 per cent In the
last four years. Yet German imports
which have been specially taxed, increased
% per cent France 67 per cent, United
States u and Belgium 245 per cent. Pro
| fpCtjOn ma oh q dirty or,
what comes into the country. To make
us pay more for what we buy, naturally
makes us buy less, not more and the
less we buy the less work there Is for the
working man. .....
What Mr.. Chamberlain proposes to do
Is kept dark, but the Daily Telegraph,
which Is managed by his friends. tells us
that he will put a 10 per cent advalorem
tax on all foreign manufactured goods,
put shillings quarter on foreign wheat
and shillings on foreign meat. BY this
he would raise the price Of meat I'D a
pound and bread Nd per four-pound loaf
thereby adding s15, 100000 to the taxa ton
of the country. n.- -....- -
The colonies themselves also do not
seem to share Mr.. Chamberlains scheme
Canada coquets with the United States
Australia shows no sign Of reducing hel
tariff: even New Zealand will not throw
open the door any wider than it is al
stated in the words Of the Duke of Devon
shire said when he addressed the Empire
league last month: Whatever may be
the immediate advantages which will be
secured to any colony, I do not think Il
can be doubted that the colonies will be
called upon to surrender some of that in.
dependence and perfect freedom Of actor
IN their fiscal, commercial and industrial
legislation to which hitherto they have
appeared to attach in their own interest
| so great an Importance" AS for retalia
ton Is it is futile. Sir Robert Peel, thu
statesman who brought in free trade, sale
on July 6, 1849: II maintain that we mus
fight hostile tariffs by free Imports ant
the policy which for fifty years after wa
carried on cannot be doubted to have
turned out a success
The nations who tax our goods highes
are not those who compete with our col
onies. 1t is the nations who tax us leas
we should have to punish If we adopt {
preferential policy. Trade with Russia
Sweden, Norway and Denmark Is the mos
progressive part Of our European trade
There can be no doubt that the fisca
policy OF the colonial secretary will fai
as 1t means that bread and meat will bt
dearer and however much the English
human nature being what it is, he will no
be likely to give up any luxury for him
He will wave flag or drink an extra DO
of beer, but he will not sacrifice his owr
comfort for any ideal Of imperial unity
The great talk after the Boer war was
that we were all united. Why then thi:
danger Of being dsunited and the CRY
that we must practically bride the col
OnieS to be on good terms with them.