[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] SID, —In the
last paragraph of Mr. Massie's letter in the Spectator of December 26th, 1903, lies the crux of the situa- tion. Liberal Free-traders welcome the support of the Unionist Free-fooders, but, unfortunately, the latter have so far declined to give up hope of supporting Mr. Balfour's policy, which in spirit, though not in letter, is identical with Mr. Chamberlain's. It is this blindness to actual facts which impairs confidence in the Unionist Free-fooders. Still, let us give all honour to them for having come nobly forward to fight the Free-food battle, and let us trust that they will go still further to save the country and the Empire by helping to kill outright the Protection craze of the moment. Mr. Baines, in the same issue, says that " fair-minded people have to think out the problem—Is Free-trade good or bad for the country F" Might I suggest to him a solution, which is that he should try a residence in a protected country, where at every turn he would be met by high prices for every article of use or consumption ; and for whose benefit, pray? That of the few, the manufacturers and producers generally, to the detriment of the many, the consumers. Let him realise the waste to this country of an enormous army of Custom House officials, the false declarations, the false quantities, the false packing of goods to save duties, and the general corruption that would ensue. I have been an eyewitness of all this, and know what I am writing about.—I am, Sir, &c.,
X. Y. Z.
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