We have noted before how, though Tariff Reformers are sometimes
willing to express their views plainly and boldly in caucus meetings or at banquets, those views tend to dwindle
almost to nothing when they get face to face with the electors. We can hardly recall an instance in which a Tariff Reform candidate has preached the taxation of food and " Tariff Reform
= Protection" when asking for the votes of a constituency. Sir George Bartley, the Tariff Reform candidate at Hull, was driven to strange straits in his endeavours to shield the inner doctrine of Tariff Reform from the profane gaze of the vulgar. For example, in answer to a question, he appears to have declared himself opposed to the taxation of food, but after- wards explained that what he meant to say was that he was in favour of it. The fact reconciling these apparently contra- dictory statements was his intention to support Mr. Chamber- lain's policy of not increasing the total burden of taxation on the working man ! Taxes would be put on corn and meat, but then an equivalent amount would be taken of tea and tobacco. In fact, not taxing food does not exactly mean not taxing it, but rather taxing it and not taxing something else. We confess that here we reach a metaphysical region quite above the comprehension of a Unionist Free-trader.
Previous page
