DREAM OF THE FUTURE, 1950.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 136, 8 June 1880, Page 4

DREAM OF THE FUTURE, 1950.

"Under the above heading a contribu tor to the London Trade Journal indulges in a little mild prophecy or •' dream " as to the position which Great Britain and her colonies will occupy seventy years hence, under a free-irade policy. "In 1878 the total number of articles in the English tariff of import duties was 45, ns compared with 1046 in 1840, and tbe revenue derived from Customs and Excise in 1840 was £35 536,467, and in 1878 it amounted to £48,577,222. In 1879 we were elated by tbe receipt of orders for iron and steel rails from the Unite! States, sent us as a sequence of the BpTendid harvest of that year, but our foreign trade was on the deoHop, while our esport trade to the colonies had increased. Tbe Commissioners of Customs stated thst, taking for comparison the years 1872 and 1877, the exports to foreign countries diminished from £195,700,000 to £128,969.000, and that the exports to the British possessions increased from £60,556,000 bo £69,923,000. These figures showed tbe tendency of oar foreign trade, contendmg on the one band against proteotiye, duties, end enoouraged on the other by our own descendants. The year 1750 opens upon tbe old world hemmed in more than ever by ita prejudices and contrivances for dealing with a superabundant population starving in the midst of plenty, but precluded by the abominable laws of protection from, supplying itself in the cheapest market. England only of all tbe European natiens is saved from the curse, thanks to its colonies, hut tbe Continental trade is at an end, and is amply compensated by the exports to the colonies, which have risen to £700,000,000 to supply the wants of 50,000,000 people. The Eastern question has long: since been settled by the abolition of the Turkish rule in Europe, the establishment of Constantinople as a free port, and the retirement of the population to Asia Minor, where, under a mild protectorate, they Dot only support themselves in comfort, but export a considerable quantity of corn, silk, acd other produce, which is brought to the Mediterranean ports by the Euphrates Valley railway. England has abolished the Custom Housejagainst the colonies, and the colonies in return have a differential duty in favor of England which effectually excludes all foreign trade, bo that as the home population, according to Mr Toussaint Lona, doubles itself in seventy-two years, we have, in 1950, 48,000,000 of-English-men dealing with 50,000,000 in the colonies, land England can afford on such terms to he isolated from the Continent. The gross income of England increased from £155 000,000 in 1800 to £571,000,000 in 1875, con-

sequently in 1950 it may reach £1,000,000,000, and as by an improvement in the 'means of ; locomotion Australia can be reached by steamer in fifteen days, there are the same facilities for transport as we enjoy with the United States in the present' day. England and her united colonies, too powerful to attack, peaceably disposed and seonre from war, devote themselves to the highest interests of the civilisation of the twentieth century. Africa, being thoroughly explored and opened up, is the field for the foreign commerce of England; and the Continent, having no vent for its redundant population, ia the scene of perpetual warfare and revolution. lodia ia st length selfsupporting, owing to the railways falling into the hands of the Government, and the possibility of reducing the army by ths abolition of the semiindependent nations, which in 1880 required more or lees supervision. Thus tbe battle of Free-irade versus Proteotion has been fought, and the blessings which the British Empire enjoys may be attributed cot to her superiority over other nations, but to (he perseverance which her statesmen have shown in continuing the policy laid down by the great Sir Robert Peel when he abolished the duty on tbe great necessary of life."