CHAPTER XVI 



TARIFFS DO NOT AFFECT THE PRICE OF BREAD — THE 

 GERMAN "black" BREAD FALLACY EXPOSED 



Let us now briefly consider the effect that the Protective 

 Tariffs of foreign States have on the price of their bread, and 

 determine the matter in a common-sense way. 



Free-traders maintain that to secure cheap food we must 

 not grow our own corn, but import it, letting it come into our 

 ports duty free. 



Leaving out of consideration the huge fundamental eco- 

 nomical blunder, referred to elsewhere, that underlies this 

 proposition, and which would never be detected by the un- 

 thinking, unreflecting portion of the community, their method 

 would appear to be economically sound, but as this question, 

 like all others, must be determined by the infallible standard 

 of — Eesults, let us put it to that supreme test. 



First we have the Gainsborough Commission giving us its 

 testimony, and as this Commission was composed of working 

 men, and appointed by working men, to make independent 

 inquiry into the state of German labour conditions, and as, 

 moreover, the majority of the Commission consisted of Free- 

 trade working men, their Pteporfc is of especial interest and 

 considerable value. 



What the ''Commission" found in Gekmany 



"We found that Germany raised tariffs against every other 

 country, and that France, America, Russia, South America, Spain, 

 Italy, Austria, and other countries in Europe raised tariffs against 

 her ; but tLiis did not stop the expansion of her trade with other 

 countries. 



'• I went to Germany with an open mind with regard to Tariff- 

 reform, but had not gone far before I found that something would 

 have to be done to protect our industry at home 



" It is reasonable to suppose that when the English people awake 

 to the losses actually incarred by them in consequence of the high 



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