PROTECTION v. FREE TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 77, 29 September 1881, Page 3

PROTECTION v. FREE TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING POST. Sir — In answering my letter in y-mr last night's issue on the above subject, " S.C." essays to give his experience in Kngland and France concerning the laws of Protection and Free Trade for the benefit of young men, in view of the coming elections. I really do hope his magnanimity will reap the reward it deserves. I may here state, en pageant, that I do not uphold wholesale Protection as applied to every artiole manufactured or grown in the universe. I beliovo rather in the law of reciprocity, as applied to the free interchange of products ; but I am afraid the day is somewhat distant before the Jaw will be universal. " S.C." must remember that this is not the year 1825 The requirements of Great Britain at that time, in the matter of commercial enterprise, waa altogether different to what it is at the present time; and I maintain there is no analogy whatever between an old-established country like Great Britain and the colonies, as a young country has her manufaoturies to build up. Surely " S.C." knows that for a nation to make laws as inviolate as were the laws of the Meads and Persians is not wise statesmanship, and not at all in keeping with our boasted Liberal principles of to-day. A wise nation must temporize with the times, and be ever ready to adopt measures consonant with existing circumstances. When Free Trade was first inaugurated in Great Britain, there was nothing to fear from competition from any of the Continetial nations— on the contrary, the Continental nations were absolutely dependent, in a great measure, on Great Britain for many of her articles, and also as a market for whatever raw materials they produced. "S.C.'s" argument may be a good one if applied to the period anterior to 1825 ; but he must remember that the appliancos of other countries at that time for manufacturing the raw material were of a very primitive description ; and also that there were no artizans in the world so expert as the British. Hence it followed that Great Britain soon rose to opulence and prosperity, and took the lead as the nation of nations. But as years wont on the Continental nations, becoming alive to the fact of Great Britain's extraordinary advancement, aronsed from their lethargy, and gradually began introducing the modern appliances from Great Britain to manufacture their own raw materials, until today, go where you will on the Continent of Europe, you will see manufactures of every description ; and as a rule these manufactories are managed or presided over by skilled British workmen, who, of course, teach the foreigners the intricacies of each respective trade. As I have shown that these nations were, more or less, importers, they are at the present time exporters to a very considerable extent. Does " S C." have the assurance to maintain that this state of things has not had a depressing effect on British commerce P I think so, and, in my humble opinion, the sequel has shown it. ''S.C." says he should like to say a " little" concerning Protection in America, but that it would make too long a letter. As I alluded to America in my last letter, as Bhowing the benefits of Protection, I will not revert to it now ; but will wait for the "little" of "S.C.'s," when he is in the humour to give it. Before closing this letter I will inform " S.C." that Canada has just gone in for Protection. Strange that these conntries can be so hopelessly blind to their own interests ; is it not, Mr. " S.C. ?" I am, &c, J.G.