[To THE EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR. "] feel, as an old
Colonist, that Mr. Chamberlain's pro- posal to revert to a Protectionist policy will bring the Empire to " the parting of the ways." Up to the present time the ties that have kept all portions of the Empire together have been loyalty and affection. There are no other bonds so strong or so indissoluble. Although Mr. Chamberlain's plan has not been definitely stated, yet it is sufficiently clear that in order to be carried into effect a tax must be imposed on corn and meat coming into this country from foreign parts, whilst Colonial corn and meat will be admitted free of duty. This will be an enormous boon to our chief Colonies. Now Mr. Chamberlain assures us that the higher price which the workman in this country must in future pay for his daily bread and meat will, under his scheme, provide him with a superannuation allowance when sixty years of age ; in other words, the workman, with his wife and children, must go on short commons for the greater part of their lives in order to obtain a prospective benefit when he or they attain the age of sixty years. If this view is brought fairly and squarely before the workman, I doubt if he will see his way to it. It is true that higher wages are hinted at, but higher wages, like ghosts, have a trick of not coming when they are called. Is it not probable that after a few years' trial of the Protection of our• Colonies there will arise a revulsion of feeling in this country, and a desire to return to Free-trade in food P Would there be any difficulty in finding politicians ready to ride into power on such a cry ? But how would our Colonies take a reversal of policy ? They will have been growing rich through our protecting them against the United States, Russia, and the Argentine. In other words, by sub- stituting commercial interests, and political ambition, for
loyalty and affection, we shall have loosened the ties which bind the whole Empire together. How often we may see a family living happily together, yet, by an unexpected bequest of money, turn to disputing and quarrelling over the appropriation of the legacy. So may it happen with that larger family, our great Empire, which has so long flourished, held together by loyalty and affection, which are stronger bonds by far than commercial interests have ever
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