CHAPTER XV 



THE " CHEAP " LOAF CRY PRICE OF BREAD — ENGLAND 



AND OTHER COUNTRIES — HOW THE PEOPLE HAVE 

 BEEN MISLED 



Free-trade should now be put to one or two other sharp tests 

 which the people can easily determine for themselves by their 

 own everyday experience. 



A favourite trick of modern electioneering is to invent 

 some political catchword calculated to tickle public fancy for 

 the time being ; and it is doubtful if, in the history of political 

 contests, a cleverer party catchword was ever uttered than 

 that of the Liberal " Big Loaf" cry at the last general election. 



This catchword was conceived of a subtle brain, and launched 

 on its course with every certainty of success. It gained more 

 votes for the Liberal party than any other single item in their 

 smart electioneering programme, and even to-day it is still 

 believed in by a numl^er of voters. 



So effective, indeed, has it been, that it was even tried again 

 at the Newcastle bye election as late as September of last year, 

 and with some degree of success. 



It is rare in the annals of political warfare that a party 

 catchword endures for so long, and the fact that the " Big Loaf " 

 cry has preserved its potency, is not because it was based upon 

 the principles of indestructiljle truth, but because those whom 

 it has deceived have never taken the trouble to dig down and 

 lay bare its shallow and unstable foundations. 



It is indeed true that so many events are crowded into 

 modern life ; so many dishes are now prepared and served to 

 the body electorate by the various political parties that are 

 ever contending for place and power — each with its own 

 garnishing of sauce 'piqiianU to suit the particular taste of the 

 hour — that the electors hardly ever get down to the real flavour 

 of the thing. 



Neither at the time this meretricious cry was first raised, 

 nor at any previous or subsequent period, was there even the 



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