The Daily Express, a consistent and persistent supporter of Mr.
Chamberlain's policy, and of his declarations that the only way to save us from ruin is to adopt the policy of Tariff Reform, published on Wednesday an article entitled "The High Tide of Trade : Record Prosperity All Over the Country," which depicts in most glowing terms the extraordinary com- mercial prosperity which the country is enjoying at the present moment. Its reporters have visited all sorts of London tradesmen, and especially those dealing in the luxuries which rich and poor alike only buy at times when trade is good. From one and all they hear the same tale,—viz., that the signs of good trade and prosperity are most marked. Everybody seems to have a margin to spend. From Lancashire comes, of course, the same story, while in Sheffield it is declared that trade has not been so brisk for many years. The heavy trades there are working at full pressure, and many firms have sufficient orders in hand to keep them employed for six months. That this is true we do not doubt, and the Daily Express deserves credit for laying such stress upon facts which so completely knock the bottom out of the fiscal policy which it supports. While these results can be obtained under Free-trade, we do not believe that the people of England are going out of pure wantonness to return to Protection.
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