New-York tribune., 1903-06-09
BRITISH TARIFF POLICY.
Views Opposed to Those of Mr.. Moreton
Frewen.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your issue of June contains an interesting
letter from Mr. Moreton Frewen upon Mr.. Cham
berlain's scheme of imperial customs union and
urging the acceptance of this or some similar
scheme in the interests of the British Empire
But political economist as Mr.. Frewen may De
the grounds upon which he bases his argument III
his letter are my thinking, unsound ana que 20
misconceptions of real national prosperity and
greatness Mr.. Frewen speaks of Germany as
'culmnating her commercial triumphs OF the idst
twenty years by steadily increasing her tarlns
Is Mr. Frewen unaware of the great Industrial de-
preston in Germany of the last year or two ana
the widespread misery of the working classes thefe
In spite of the steadily increasing tariffs? of Is
suffering of the working classes iulInaterlait 50
long as there is built up wealthy elass' nin''eu
though ii may be?
Further as regards protection in the United
States, the conditions too entirely different
from what they in the United Kingdom or the
British Empire to furnish any true grounds OF
comparison as to the relative advantages or pro
lection the two sides OF the Atlantic; A NIitFi
few days ago think sir. in your columns 1a1d
ence between a compact, large country ana d ols'
Free trade must stand fall on i;s merits. and
II it be shown that protection Will peter Iii
be the first TO support it. The imposition OF d d
Tased the pce % Of the the Cheaper bread in
land the finer kinds of bread) one-haf pence
Diet Of the majority Of the population Of England
Does anybody seriously contepo 1naI II " Woup tc
uraI la borers or that it has done so?
No, sir. Mr.. Frewen commits the MISTAKE OF tte I
three tailors of Tooley-st.' and writes We the
people of England where he should write 'cdpi-
taIists few manufacturers and land owners.
That these would be benefited by measure OF pro-
Seo 6os 5hee sad be 80 fSu6 DO @ "oa
siderirg the condition of the country as a Whole
the idea the preferential treatment OF tc coo-
nies gives England 50 much more securTE ,oI lGr
money advanced to them than she had previously
is amusing. Are the people living on weekly wages
the great majority OF the population be II
bered-the holders of colonial securities ana re-
| ce, ers of income therefrom? And these are, tle
people whose necessities of life are raised WIthoul
~ ioportonal increase of wages. One my eCho ihe
might find homes in the more Favored c0IoHies U!
l. the empire But it must remain wish. Tne grcdl
| so-called social question will not be solved py
| schemes of emigration. A country whose ldpoL
market is understocked may flourish under sys-
TEN of protection that system the best or worst
but in the congested conditions prevailing IN t1L6
and widespread deStltuton, ana the puliuiIls
/ up of a smaller and smaller moneyed class ana q
larger and larger destitute class. 1t IS not ills
that will promote the true greatness OF te empire
| Either with without any scheme OF federdilol
| the colonies must work out their own salVatlon
That nation is happiest whose wealth. IS mosl
| be admitted which tends TO the enrichfneht ol
one class at the expense of the others IN any one
of the partners of the federation u
| exalteth nation. and ii would be better for Eng
land and the world that she should stand alone aht
! self-contained and every one OF her inh9 bltatts
have sufficient for his or her needs than that sht
should remain the mistress of an empire win Iee'
! surrounded by starving millions
| believe sir. that the empire is NOT inconsistent
| with domestic happiness and prosperity. but let US
! keep our minds clear to what is really great
! really true, and not be misled INTO thinking ina
federation. Of itself. is thing to be sought eNcep
| in far it conduces to The greater happiness
! Cf the empire ANOTHER ENGLISHMAN.
! Poughkeepsie N Y, June 3. 1903.