SIR, — We have heard of the French lady who, tired of
Revolution-jargon concerning "liberte, egalite, et fraternite," said : "Si j'avais un frere, je l'appellerais mon cousin" ; but humanity's goal, however distant, is immovable, and though the nations still " rage " against one another, we must believe there will come a time when they "shall not learn war any
more," and when international brotherhood shall be wide as the blue canopy above us. The slow-grinding wheels of history show that this is the intention of the All-Father, and just now especially we can mark horizon signs of lessening estrangements; the very Socialists are looking for evolution rather than for revolution, and, as your issue of November 19th tells, some of our thoughtful clergy are pro- testing against the moral wrongs, corruption, and intensify- ing of rivalries and divisions caused by Protection in other countries. Long ago the "Letters-Missive of Edward VI." gave a prophetic argument unconsciously for future Free- trade principles :—
" The God of Heaven and earth, greatly providing for mankind, would not that all things should be found in one region, to the end that one should have need of another, that by this means friendship might be established among all men, and every one seek to gratify all."
Were we loyal to those ideas, there would be no wars to secure the markets of the world. Cobden never limited his view of
Free-trade to its commercial principles and material interests. He believed— "that the physical gain will be the smallest gain to humanity from the success of this principle. I see in it that which shall act on the moral world as the principle of gravitation in the universe —drawing men together, thrusting aside the antagonism of race and creed, and language, and uniting us in the bonds of eternal
peace In the dim future I believe that the effect of the triumph of this principle will be to change the face of the world that the desire and the motive for large and mighty Empires, for gigantic armies and great navies,—for those materials which are used for the destruction of life and the desolation of the rewards of labour,—will die away; I believe that such things will cease to be necessary, or to be used, when man becomes one family, and freely exchanges the fruits of his labour with his brother man."
This is a noble anticipation, and may England still hold it,
and continue "on the side of the angels."—I am, Sir, &c., Wellington, Somerset. CAROLINE Fox.
[We fear that the hopes of Free-trade putting an end to war are but slight. But even if they are, we are content to know that Free-trade prevents waste, increases the mutual benefits of exchange, and tends to a wider and juster distri- bution of the world's goods. On the other hand, Protection wastes the world's wealth, diminishes the benefits of exchange, corrupts the body politic, and widens the gulf between wealth
and poverty. Under it the poor grow poorer and the rich richer. That is quite enough for us, and we shall not attempt
to look for an impossible millennium from Free-trade.—En. Spectator.] MR. liscIVER AND MR. AUSTIN TAYLOR.
Previous page
