Mr. Churchill was pleased to continue that it was well
known that "no Protective effects, or the abuses which creep in behind Protective duties, could possibly follow from such use,"—an allegation which we absolutely deny. Those abuses may creep in, and would creep in, quite as much behind duties imposed for Retaliatory as behind those imposed for Pro- tective reasons. There is one, and only one, path of safety for Free-traders, and hat is to maintain a free market in these islands, and to reject any and every sophistieal argument, however ingenious, for closing it. If you once have resort to Retaliation, you give away the whole Free-trade case. If we are to retaliate on foreign nations in the supposed interests of the home trade, why are we not to retaliate upon our Colonies when they too raise their duties ? If Mr. Winston Churchill replies that his language is perfectly consistent with the principles of action already adapted by the Government in the Sugar Convention, we can only say : "So much the worse for the Government and the Convention." Depend upon it, Free-trade will never be saved by adopting the principles of Protection in miniature.
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