Читать книгу The British Jugernath: Free trade! Fair trade!! Reciprocity!!! Retaliation!!!! - Guilford L. Molesworth - Страница 9

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I have said that facts are against your idol, let me advance a few of them:—

(1.) The prophecies made by the originators of free trade have proved to be false.

(2.) England stands alone as a free-trader. Free trade, at the present time, is either an English, or a barbarous custom.

(3.) France made a partial trial of free trade, but has drawn back and refused to continue the commercial treaty.

(4.) Increased wealth—due to improvements in science, steam, and electricity, although dishonestly claimed the work of free trade—has been shared by all civilized nations.

(5.) Protectionist countries have made greater relative advance in prosperity than England.

(6.) The exceptional prosperity of the years 1871–73 was due to a partial suspension of free trade caused by the Franco-Prussian war.

(7.) The rise of wages in England—dishonestly claimed as the work of free trade—has been shared by Protectionist countries.

(8.) The statistics of decrease of crime and pauperism—claimed as the work of free trade—are fictitious and misleading.

(9.) Protectionist America is passing Free Trade England by “in a canter.”

(10.) Protectionist America contrasts favourably with Free Trade Canada.

(11.) Canada having lately departed from free trade principles, is satisfied with the result, and clamours for more protection.

(12.) The Colony of Victoria, which has departed farthest from the principles of free trade, is the most prosperous of the Australian Colonies.

(13.) Free Trade Ireland contrasts unfavourably with Protectionist Holland, which has every natural disadvantage.

(14.) The agricultural industry of Ireland has been destroyed, and Ireland ruined by free trade.

(15.) The manufacturing industries of Ireland, which flourished under protection, have become extinct under free trade.

(16.) English agricultural industries are rapidly being ruined by free trade.

(17.) In the last eleven years, about 1,200,000, acres have gone out of tillage in the United Kingdom, and about 7,400,000 acres are lying fallow.

(18.) Numerous farms are untenanted, or let at nominal rates.

(19.) The loss to the agricultural classes within the last few years has been estimated at £150,000,000.[2]

(20.) Many English landowners are realizing what they can from the wreck, and investing the capital in Protectionist America.

(21.) English manufacturing industries are, for the most part, on the high road to ruin.

(22.) Silk industry is nearly extinct in England.

(23.) Cotton and woollen industries are struggling hard for existence.

(24.) Iron industries are said to have lost £160,000,000 in four years.

(25.) Protectionist countries have outstripped England in relative increase of commerce.

(26.) The accumulation of wealth is increasing more rapidly in Protectionist France than in England, in spite of a disastrous war, a heavy war indemnity, a civil war, and an unsettled form of Government.

(27.) Land cultivation is increasing in Protectionist France and decreasing in Free Trade England.

(28.) The relative increase in the production of iron is greater in Protectionist countries than in England.

(29.) The relative increase in general manufacture is Greater in Protectionist countries than in England.

(30.) The working classes, by whom free trade was carried, though nominally free-traders, are practically extreme protectionists.

(31.) The working classes, whenever they have obtained predominant influence, have become protectionists.

(32.) “The revenue returns continue to exhibit a stagnant tendency under all the heads which are considered tests of national prosperity.” (Telegraphic Summary of News, Civil and Military Gazette, December 7th, 1883.)

(33.) “It is predicted that, unless Freight rates to India speedily improve, a considerable number of steamers now engaged in the trade will be laid up.” (Civil and Military Gazette, December 7th, 1883.)

(34.) “Gloomy predictions are uttered about the immediate future of our iron-trade. Few fresh orders are coming in, and stocks are consequently increasing in an alarming manner.” (Civil and Military Gazette, December 7th, 1883.)

(35.) “Again it is alleged that the principles of free trade, which have been adopted in this country, have tended, in a great degree, to produce the disastrous results which we have at present to contend against, and which present a gloomy look-out for the cotton operatives of this country.” (The Mail, December 19th, 1883.)

(36.) “It is the intention of the leading men among the cotton operatives to move next session for a Royal Commission to enquire as to what extent, if any, we suffer from foreign competition, and what bearing our system of free trade may have on the question.” (The Mail, December 19th, 1883.)

Before I proceed to substantiate the facts above given, I wish to clear the ground by a few axioms which I think few will venture to dispute.