A Very Doubtful "compliment."

Of all the puerile and silly comments on the Chamberlain proposal to revive the infamous corn laws and starve the masses for the benefit of a few landlords and decaying industries the silliest is that which represents it as a tribute to the United States and a "vindication" of "our" protective policy. It hardly needs saying that intelligent protectionists are not guilty of any such childish twaddle. It is well known that stanch American protectionists have fully recognized the economic impossibility of a protective system under the material, climatic, industrial and commercial conditions prevailing in the United Kingdom.

Postmaster General Payne, Senator Depew and other republican statesmen are reported by Mr. Wellman as saying that a country dependent upon another or several other countries for the very staff of life is in no position to make commercial war or to force concessions by means of duties and preferential tariffs. Great Britain, they point out, imports 85 per cent of her breadstuffs and meats. She cannot do without these things, and if she taxes them the consumers must pay the taxes. They cannot pay them, being overtaxed already, unless the workmen secure higher wages and the small traders and business men command higher profits. Can a government raise the rate of wages by restricting the markets of the manufacturers?

in progress, begin with "great britain is and must...."  column 1