Mr Bright and Freetrade

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 7, 2 July 1887, Page 3

Mr Bright and Freetrade

At a recent meeting 1 of the Glasgow: Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the question~of Fairtrado, a statement was mado that Mr Bright and Mr Coliden bad predicted that iv live years 'after: the introduction oi Freet.ude ' the whole world would follow our example jf|and that if not there would be, a good reason to reconsider the question.' Mr Bright's .attention having been ; called to this statement, he has,replied as follows 1 : — Reform Olujb, April I ( 21, 1887.— Bear Sir. -.: So far as 1 1 know I never predicted or expected that other nations would follow us .in Freetrade within five years, nor do -I. believe or remember -Mr ; G6bde'n ever said anything, of the kitid; .. As; to the reconsideration of the question, the notion to the' last degree is absurd. Neither : Mr iGobden nor -fl,!- nor an yi other man who knows anything about; the question, could possibly! have: said; or thought' anything so ridiculous and childish. • The more Other nations accent wrong upon this, question -the j the more necessary :©r desirable' it is i fcir us to 'accept,- and "adhere ;to; the| policy of Freetrade/ .Freetrade giyesj us .freedom • to ,tuy and, .increase pud buying, 'and -the : more. \we » buy ilthe more we sell and the greater our .trade;. even in spite ;of the /hindrance of foreignV;tarifiß.' ! ;Surely : no man iraaginea, .that , to. < • make \ importing difficult-:- that is to; prjaveht .our buying < freelyi— would lessen j 'the injury ; \phich foreign tariffs inflict "upbrl ! us, i ahd ; whidh^prevent our Sellinig freeily. ! It is not better to be able to ''buy freely.,than .by JavrTt^ be unable either to buy or to sell freely r : The" 'reason j -other^nations keep^ bn th'Sif* high tariffs is' plain 1 enough. r ■'; 'Dhe Pro-j iectionists in the United -States arej burdened; with a la>ge surplus reveniie itift. j^etj^ly?; refp&P) *£$$?[& ;'*^?. }Wr\ gpri flutiies^or 7®?%^ 'tneu'.protec^on.i a,nd- -this is rprqmpting >a L,Byatein "l-qt j jjprruption; une.quiiiied in any,' other 'Gbuntry.;i-Mf'qthe ; t)bjector^T with you - wouldtread Sit" T. i f Mi « Farrex^si little: b"<^k i ' Fr^itra'de -he^sus #aifeadei'| tH^ might leafir soniethihg^sef ul; v if i their minds aTe ;9 open "to facts or to< argximents-on tb,e Freetrade question.; ■~Tfourß, etc.", J '"■ JoWSmghi. '' i