PAUPERISM AS A RESULT OF FREE TRADE 97 



" They [the Government] increased the difficulty by 

 bringing people, in the ordinary phrase, ' back to the 

 land,' because when agriculture went through a period 

 of depression it was inevitable that the people would 

 have to seek other occupations in other places. It was a 

 result of simple and well-known economic causes, which, 

 although of the greatest possible importance in the con- 

 sideration of this subject, was constantly left out of 

 account." 



On the introduction of the BiU into Pariiament on 

 March 20, 1907, Mr Balfour said: 



" I am one of those who always said the abolition of 

 the Com Laws would inevitably cause a great beneficial 

 change in our system. But every one must be conscious 

 that it exposes us to all the difficulties of foreign com- 

 petition. It was intended by its authors to stimulate the 

 growth of a manufacturing population, which I view 

 without regret, because it is the only way in which the 

 population of this country can develop." 



It is very clear from these two quotations from Mr 

 Balfour's recent speeches that that eminent statesman 

 does not regard the deplorable state of labour and the 

 whole question affecting employment and poverty as 

 anomalous, or due to anything else than : 



" A result of simple and well-known causes." 

 while the remedy, he contends, will be found in, 



" The great growth of the manufacturing population 

 — because I recognize it is the only possible mode in 

 which the population of this country can largely in- 

 crease, or its wealth augment." 



7 



