Altruism is certainly not increasing its influence over States. We
never see a paper now without a discussion somewhere in favour of adopting Protection, in order that the native may " defeat " the foreigner—at the expense, as the speakers forget, of their own consumers—Americans in particular publicly declaring that their business is to think of their own interests, and not those of other nations. Perhaps it is ; only when other nations do the like, Americans think it "unfriendly," and pass "laws of retaliation" which actually enable the President to raise and depress Tariffs at will. The French vine-growers say the McKinley tariff will destroy the wine trade with the United States; and though the Americans do not care, yet when France stops the import of Transatlantic bacon, they authorise retalia- tion. The nations, in fact, are behaving like jealous trades- men in a country town, ready to spoil their own trade if only they may ruin rivals ; and then we are told that "individualism is ceasing to be a motive power in an im- proving world." Fortunately, England is unbitten, and sits serene, calmly confident that, if the Union or any other country exports anything, she will want to be paid, and must take her pay either in promises or in goods.
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