CONCLUSION. 145 



we reflect upon llie piedictions oi Mr. Cobdeii 

 when he was asking the agricultural community 

 to adopt his proposals — predictions which have 

 all been falsified by the results of some 60 years' 

 exjierience; and if we reflect upon the decline 

 in our export trade to foreign nations, coupled 

 as it is with a most satisfactory increase in our 

 export trade to our Colonies and daughter States, 

 we say again it is not without some " justifiable 

 impatience" that the average elector regards the 

 character of the great bulk of the opposition to 

 Mr. Chamberlain's proposals. We suggest that 

 this attitude is itself proof that there is a real 

 necessity to at any rate reconsider our present 

 fiscal position ; and we would further suggest 

 that if such is impartially done, we believe that 

 the proposals will in some form or another be 

 adopted. 



The case for " reconsideration " of our fiscal 

 position is immensely strengthened by a know- 

 ledge of the fact that the predictions of Mr. Cobden 

 and his friends have been, as suggested, falsified 

 by the results. The agricultural community were 

 led to adopt his proposals because of the induce- 

 ments he placed before them. The Cobden Club, 

 too, by its patronage of certain publications which 

 have also led the public astray, is morally bound 

 to adopt a different attitude than that with which 

 it is generally credited. We are glad to be able 

 to state that one of the most respected members 

 of that Club, and himself one of the most honest 

 and capable of agricultural writers in this 



