80 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



the payment. You have followed this natural law in your 

 foreign policy as long as it would serve you, without regard 

 to the injury it did us ; now you find that a generous policy 

 would be the most profitable policy, you preach reciprocity, 

 and call that a natural law ; but our people say No ! You 

 have had the good you must take the evil. If there s any 

 natural law, it is that by which we claim payment for the 

 good we do you atonement for the injury you have done us. 

 At any rate, you must wait a few years till we have nursed 

 our infant manufactures, not yet able to walk alone ; when 

 they are well established, we will, perhaps, give you the fair 

 field and fair fight you are so fond of. For the fact is, no 

 one expects Protection to be more than a temporary policy 

 with us.&quot; 



&quot; That s fair,&quot; said the coachman ; &quot; heavy weights and 

 light weights can t go into the ring together.&quot; 



&quot; Tisn t heavy weights and light weights, but the cham 

 pion of the world in full feather, calling out a youngster 

 who s never been in training. We acknowledge that you 

 have the advantage of us, in some respects ; but wait a bit, 

 till we get in good trim, and then we will put our ingenuity 

 :ind activity against your experience and muscle.&quot; 



&quot; Meanwhile, you will take all the advantage that you 

 can of your superior agricultural muscle, to undersell our 

 farmers,&quot; said the free-trader. 



&quot; No ; you give it to us, because it is as much to your 

 advantage as to ours.&quot; 



&quot; Yes,&quot; he answered, &quot; we certainly do ; and we advise you 

 to do the same with regard to manufactures, honestly believ 

 ing that it would be as much for your advantage as ours. It 

 is absurd, for the sake of revenge, that you should pay your 

 manufacturers a high price for what ours will furnish you at 

 a lower one. 



