A BRIEF EXAMINATION OF FREE-TRADE PRINCIRLES 305 



the existing system, the educational value of this work will be 

 considerably enhanced. 



What Free-trade Reformers postulated 



The reformers of the early part of the last century laid 

 down the principle that the national interests of Great Britain 

 would be best served by her becoming a great manufacturing 

 nation ; that the capital and energies of tlic people should 

 be directed thereto : and that as outside countries could grow 

 our corn for us cheaper than we could produce it, agriculture 

 should be subordinated to manufacturing industries. 



Let us, at the outset, regard this matter from a purely 

 commercial point of view — a mere everyday matter of Ijusiness 

 — because it is this aspect of the case that will most likely 

 appeal to the public. 



The other aspect — which deals rather with the science of 

 economics than with the utility of the matter — -being of interest 

 only to scientists and students of the cult, we propose to leave 

 severely alone, as a discussion from a " scientific " point of view 

 would serve no purpose but to confound and o1)fuscate those 

 who prefer a plain statement of facts in a plain, understand- 

 able manner, to a learned and abstruse treatise on scientilic 

 economy. 



Now, when a man is asked to give up something he possesses 

 for something which he does not possess, he invariably asks the 

 question — " What do I gain by it ? " 



This question was without doubt raised by every man who 

 in the " hungry forties " was asked to give up the old order for 

 the new. The answer he got satisfied him that, in giving up 

 that which he had, he was getting something of greater value 

 in exchange for it. 



He gave up Agriculture, then, and got in return, 

 Manufactures. 



Let us now count the gain or, rather, reckon the cost. 



"If Canada devoted herself by preference to agriculture, and 

 Great Britaiu to manufacburcs, by free interchange both countries 

 will be wealthier than if each endeavoured to supply its entire wants 

 in both departments of industry." 



This single dictum of the economist, which, it must not be 

 overlooked, is but an abstract theory, opens up, nevertheless, 

 such a vast field for controversy, that only one phase of the 

 question can be dealt with here. 



