After pointing out that for a long series of years
before 1845 we had a complete system of Colonial Preference on a very generous scale, which resulted, however, not in good feeling between us and the Colonies, but the very reverse, Lord Cromer quoted with telling effect a speech made by Mr. Logan, a Member of the Canadian Parliament, to the effect that Canada was not going to sacrifice her industries for the benefit of those of Britain. He also quoted Sir William Lyne's dictum : " If I can make the tariff prohibitive, I shall be glad. Importers are parasites on the trade of the Commonwealth." Lord Cromer ended a notable speech by declaring that Mr. Asquith's Budget was not likely to postpone the Tariff Reform era. It appeared to be conceived with the idea that a Government in sympathy with Free-trade is likely to be in office for ever,—a rather sanguine forecast. Unquestion- ably this is true. Except on the assumption that the Liberal Party can remain permanently in power, the Fiscal policy of the present Cabinet has dealt a damaging blow to the cause of Free-trade.
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