The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-03

William r. Hearst, that rival OF Bourke Coch-
ran as a rapid changer of political clothes and
who has scored a point by appearing with
several coats GA at once. cables from England
that while America is considering the advisa-
bihty OF embarking on free-trade policy.
England is considering the ACCESSIBILITY OF
abandoning it."
The advantage OF this story over the old
one is that it packs so many more misstate
ments in so much less space. 1t is but one
sentence and yet untruth it beats the
old story TO a frazzle America is not consd~
erfng the ACCESSIBILITY OF embarking free
trade policy Great Britain has no free-trade
policy and. accordingly. cannot be considering
the sdvisablHy of abandoning it. Moreover,
Great Britain is not considering seriously OF
abandoning the policy under which it has pros
pered for years. Other statements in the
cabled sentence OF Mr. Heart are true.
One difficulty with those who would go to
England to secure evidence TO bolster up their
fairy stories is that fairy stories cannot be
bolstered up. Their acceptance depend upon
ignorance and credulity. The American public
no longer possesses either OF these delightful
Qualifications anent the tariff. Another is
that the story-teIers themselves do not seem
to understand the difference between the mean
ing of free trade in this country and the
meaning of the same expression in England,
England Is not free trade country. II raises
millions Of pounds annually by the imposition
} of tariff duties. The tariff is one OF its prin-
cpal methods of securing revenue, although
there are many others. II imposes tariff
for revenue and not for protection. Trade is
IA free 1t can be under those conditions
and not more free. Tariff for revenue with
incidental protection is the English policy and
that is the policy of the Democratic party.
The Democratic party would not reduce its
rates TO par with those OF England nor put
as many imports the free list. The Demo
cratic party does not wish TO go AS far as
Great Britain in the direction of free trade,
fer while import duties furnish that country
with part OF its revenues they furnish the
United States with practically ali Of its reve=
nues. Consequently the rates here must be
higher and the free list shorter than in Eng
land
IF this IS what IT. t4earst means by free
trade the Democratic party would have this
nation embark upon it, and the nation appar-
Gritty is willing. If it is what he means by
free trade in England that is the policy OF
that country, but it will be a long time before
it abandons it. There are those who would
be glad to see the British manufacturers taken
under the shadow of government protection
and granted privileges by the government such
as are granted to their brothers in this coun-
try. but their wishes will hardly be granted
Certainly, they have failed in their efforts so
far. But even should Great Britain abandon
It's present policy and increase its import du-
ties and should the Democratic party be given
authority by the people TO carry out its pro
gram. years would pass before the duties in
this country and those in England approached
= each -ether.~-E Even Chamberlain did not advo-
cate rates as high those in this country. and
even the Democratic party does not advocate
rates low those which now obtain in
England, for tariff for revenue In this coun-
Try must necessarily be higher than a tariff for
revenue in England, there being no other means
of securing substantial for meeting ex-
pcnses in the United States. England could
adopt Chamberlain's policy and fall far short
of the rates in force in the United States, 1t
could materially revise its tariff upward and
still not touch the duties which would be inn
posed by Democratic congress and endorsed
by Democratic president.
What high protectionsts in this country call
free trade would be called high protection in
Great Britain, Our modern authors of fairy
tales should Keep this fact in mind, for in
this age of materialism even imagination must
bo anchored TO facts and the "bogy man
must be clothed IN the raiment Of today