PREVENTION OF NATIONAL WASTE 133 



The thing is either a success or a failure. 



If we judge of it by the only infallible standard by 

 which all mortal affairs are measured — results — the 

 thing is, as we have seen, an unmitigated failure. 



Nevertheless, there are not wanting apologists who 

 will loudly asseverate that this so-called free trade 

 fraud must be a success, because of the enormous trade 

 expansion of the last few years and of the tremendous 

 wealth of the nation. 



But this profoundly important and far-reaching 

 question cannot be measured by such shallow plummets 

 as these, nor must we allow our better judgment to be 

 obfuscated by such specious arguments. 



The accumulated wealth of the nation is individual, 

 and great accumulation of individual wealth only serves 

 to show that the few have benefited — not the whole. 



This is a fitting reply to those who still uphold the 

 theories of free trade. 



In respect to trade expansion if it could be shown that 

 over any group of years during the last decade or two 

 our import and export trade had expanded in a much 

 greater proportion than that of other countries or states 

 which protect themselves by tariffs hostile to us, then 

 something might be said in favour of what is called Free 

 Trade, but it cannot be proved. 



This much, however, is certain, that those who still The System 



that Failed 



profess belief in Free Trade uphold it because it forms 

 part of their political pledge to their constituencies; 

 and they know full well that if Free Trade falls, they 

 must fall with it. Not for a real, heartfelt, honest belief 

 in its efficiency as the best fiscal system for the country 



