The British Jugernath: Free trade! Fair trade!! Reciprocity!!! Retaliation!!!!. Guilford L. Molesworth
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.
FOOTNOTE:
[2] By Mr. John Bright.
CHAPTER V. AXIOMS FOR JUGERNATHIANS.
| Axiom. | Action of Free-Trade. | |
| (1.) | The object of political economy is to increase the wealth and power of a country.[3] | Free trade attaches more importance to consumption than to productive industries. |
| (2.) | The riches or power of a country is in proportion to its produce.[3] | |
| (3.) | Industries, or the produce of the land and labour, are the REAL WEALTH of the country.[3] | Free trade destroys the sources of employing productive labour. |
| (4.) | The requisites of production are Labour, Capital and Land.[4] | |
| (5.) | Parsimony, not industry, is the immediate source of increase of capital.[3] | Free trade promotes consumption rather than parsimony. |
| (6.) | Capital is wealth appropriated to reproductive employment.[4] | Free trade is rapidly driving capital to Protectionist countries. |
| (7.) | Industries are limited by capital, and cannot be created without capital.[5] | |
| (8.) | Increase of capital gives employment to labour without assignable limits.[5] | |
| (9.) | Productive labour is labour employed to produce a profit.[6] | Free trade makes labour unproductive |
| (10.) |
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