Political and Literary essays, 1908-1913 by Evelyn Baring
page 106 of 355 (29%)
page 106 of 355 (29%)
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animosities. Exclusive trade stimulates and aggravates those
animosities. I do not by any means maintain that this argument is by itself conclusive against the adoption of a policy of Protection, if, on other grounds, the adoption of such a policy is deemed desirable; but it is one aspect of the question which, when the whole issue is under consideration, should not be left out of account. [Footnote 59: Subsequently published in _The Nineteenth Century and After_ for September 1910.] [Footnote 60: _Life of Cobden_, Morley, vol. i. p. 231.] [Footnote 61: Sir Robert Peel, as is well known, did not fall into this error, and even Mr. Cobden appears to have recognised so early as 1849 that his original forecasts on this point were too optimistic. Speaking on January 10, 1849, he said: "At the last stage of the Anti-Corn Law Agitation, our opponents were driven to this position: 'Free Trade is a very good thing, but you cannot have it until other countries adopt it too.' And I used to say: 'If Free Trade be a good thing for us, we will have it; let others take it if it be a good thing for them; if not, let them do without it.'"] [Footnote 62: Hirst, _Life of Friedrich List_, p. 134.] [Footnote 63: Essay on the Influence of Commerce on International Conflicts; F. Greenwood, _Ency. Brit._ (Tenth Edition).] [Footnote 64: In connection with this branch of the question, I wish to draw attention to the fact that Professor Shield Nicholson, in his recent brilliant work, _A Project of Empire_, has conclusively shown |
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