A FREE AND OPEN MARKET.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SER,—Sometimes you have been good enough to allow me to 'say a word in your columns on this subject, and I hope to be sufficiently brief and to the point to receive that favour once more. Though your interesting article of June 3rd professes to be in opposition to my views, I agree entirely with the great principle it lays down, and am delighted to read an opponent who does not misuse the words " Protection " and "retaliation," and refrains from raising false issues about cheapness. We all want " a free and open market in these islands to which all men can send whatever they have to sell, and there sell it freely and without let or hindrance, save only for the necessary demands of the Treasury for Revenue purposes." We all "hold that the maintenance of an open and unhindered market is essential to our welfare." We all claim "the maintenance of an absolutely free market, and of the right of all men to resort here and sell us freely what they have to sell." I thank you for putting our demands into such eloquent and telling language. This is the right we claim, and which Mr. Gladstone first tried to secure for us five-and-thirty years ago, when he entered into the negotiations which resulted in the Convention of 1864. For the same purpose some nine or ten international Con- ferences have been held since then, at which our Government —sometimes Liberal, sometimes Conservative—has been re- presented. One obstacle has always barred the way to pro- gress : the contracting Powers could not agree to abolish their bounties unless they had security that they would not have to compete with bounty-fed sugar from other quarters.
In the meantime, British producers have been in exactly the same position in their own markets as if a tax had been levied on their sugar, while that from bounty-giving countries was admitted free. When bounties have stimulated over- production to such an extent as to force sugar below cost price, the bounty-fed producer gives away a portion of his bounty to the consumer ; and the British producer, if he wishes to continue the competition, is compelled to make the same present to the consumer out of his own pocket. This is not "a free and open market " ; the British producer can no longer sell "without let or hindrance." We ask for your eloquent assistance to give us back what we have a constitu- tional right to claim, a free and open market in our own country.—I am, Sir, &c., GEORGE MARTINEAU. Gomshall, Guildford, June 7th.
[We are always glad as far as possible to open our columns to the other side, but Mr. George Martineau is utterly mistaken if he thinks that the principle we set forth tells in favour of his proposals in regard to countervailing duties. He wants to look the gift-horse in the mouth, and to close our markets to bounty-fed sugar. We desire to ask no questions as to whether commodities are cheap because of virgin soil, industrial skill, chemical discoveries, or the fiscal policy of our neighbours, but to keep a free and open market for all goods. " Let them all come" and sell what and how they will, and at what price they will ; that is the only safe principle upon which this country can act.—ED. Spectator.]
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