Mr. Reid's speech, however, must be supplemented, as the Westminster
Gazette points out, by his very important contri- bution to the fourth volume of Mr. Louis Creswicke's "Life of Mr. Chamberlain" (Caxton Publishing Company). There, writing under date August 3rd, 1904, Mr. Reid observes :— " To be of any real service in either case the British prefer- ence ' must be given on food imports and raw products, or on both ; obviously, I think, both ; and the Colonial 'reciprocity' must include British manufactures and reduce protective duties to a level enabling the British manufacturer to compete in the Colonial markets with the local manufacturer Will the Colonial Protectionists consent to open the doors widely enough ? I do not think they will." And again :— "The British people thrive best and fight best when freest. This latest fight for privilege and restriction has not even the merit of novelty. It really means a fresh application of un- wholesome nostrums which, within the memory of living man, made the rich richer and the poor poorer.' I cannot believe that Britain will falter in her forward, fearless, generous policy, which has conferred upon her people so many blessings and lies so near the heart of her Imperial strength." Lastly, he asks : "Could there ho a more crushing satire upon this new policy of Mr. Chamberlain than his own Commission ?"
Previous page
