The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-30

you could take the British flag out Of
India, Egypt Australia, South Africa,
/ Canada. and all the isles Of the sea, and
instead Of hurting the old country, it is
my deliberate conviction that it would
! be a blessing TO her" said Robert Aur-
dock. Of Glasgow, Scotland, last night at
the New Willard.
! Il have been in pretty nearly every
nook and corner Of the globe, and have
made something Of a study Of this
colonial business, and my notion is that
/ the nation that has no colonies is that
best off: instead Of adding strength, they
are an element Of weakness, an injurious
and expensive luxury. our Canadian and
Australian brothers (Oh. how loyal they
are to the mother landN hurried TO help
when the Boer war came on. but did you
notice that they exacted and got more
than double the pay for their troops that
was given the soldiers Of England, Ire
land and Scotland?
Colonies Get Best of 1t.
what do We get in return for all this
! loyalty talk? We are back Of these
colonies with the army and navy Of
+ Britain, and not a dollar do they con-
tribute 10 the expense Of maintaining
either. Not a dollar do they send TO the
home government for any purpose what
ever, and yet were they TO be assailed. in
stantly the cry for succor would be
flashed TO London.
Let me tell You something else: Eng
land is to-day ahead Of any nation aye,
Of any two combined. in commerce, for
she has the lions share Of the world s
/ trade because she gets the cargoes both
ways; and this supremacy she is going 20
keep unless one thing happens-the adOp-
ton Of free trade by the United States.
Thinks Free Trade Needed.
Some people may smile at this. but
they do so In their ignorance. What Is
it but her free-trade policy that gives
this little speck Of land in Western Eu-
rope domination Of the worlds markets
a greater traffic than that Of the mighty
powers OF America and Germany put to-
gether?
Yes, but some protectionist answers,
the Germans are getting an enormous
trade that Will eventually kill of Eng
ush competition That would be inter
esting if it were not false. We have done
more in cottou-spinujns expansion in the
Manchester district IN one year than Ger
/ many has in twenty-five years.
"One-third OF her cotton production is
| in Alsace-L0rraiue, which was obtained
by c0nhscation. The bulk OF Germany S
/ other foreign business is obtained az q
heavy cost. by subsidies and bonuses.
artificial stimulants 10 which England
/ does not resort.
Calls Protection Robbery.
Very well about Germany; but the
United States has certainly prospered un-
der protection. has IT not? 1t has, but in
/ spite OF it. not by reason of the system
You are so young, SO yirIle. so rich iu
every form of natural wealth that you
/ have given but little heed 20 the robbery
Of one-half of your people by the other
half. Protection IS robbery and Il Is the
most wasteful policy ever adopted. Il
causes Americans TO buy In the dearest
markets and sell in the cheapest
1T puts an unfair price on everything
/ your consuming public buys; it enriches
the manufacture at the expense Of the
! farmer and the salaried man; It keeps the
outside world from trading with you, and
IL keeps YOU in subordinate commercial
rank TO a little country that is smaller
than one Of your big States