A BRIEF EXAMINATION OF FREE-TRADE TRINCIPLES 319 



bucause of our total imports of £007,888,500, food accounts for 

 £172,000,000.^- (See over page.) 



Put in aiKjther way — the destruction of agriculture forces us 

 to buy three-fourths of our food .supplies from forcujn countries, 

 and, this being the case, the incidence of imports per head of 

 population naturally ranges high, mucli higher, indeed, as is 

 bound to be the case, than it can possibly be in those countries 

 which grow their own food supplies, and therefore lind no 

 necessity for importing any. 



In this simple fact lies deep humiliation to the British 

 people, and the eagerness with which Free-traders seize hold of 

 it, to buttress a falling structure, is but evidence of the weak- 

 ness of the cause they are so tenaciously clinging to. 



The following passage is also full of significance : — 



" The most important conclusion, however, to be drawn from the 

 table is, that while a change in the magnitude of the trade is clearly 

 going on. Great Britain retains her leading position." 



From this passage it is clear that the writer of " The Free- 

 trade Movement " takes an optimistic view of the position of 

 liritish trade, and explains to his readers that so long as Great 

 Jjritain rctaina her kadiiifj p>o^itioii, there is really nothing 

 to fear. 



Britain Losing iieu Leading Position 



Kow, when we talk of a " leading " position, the British 

 people are sporting enough to know that it is a relative term 

 which may mean much or little. Dorando held a " leading " 

 position in the Marathon race, but this did not prevent it being 

 wrested from him by a competitor from America. If a horse 

 wins by a score of lengths, we say, "it's no race"; nor is it, 

 because there was no competition worthy the name ; but if the 

 race be won by a "short head," or by a "nose," our excitement 

 becomes intense, and we call it a " close shave." 



Then, if in the couisc of the race, certain " outsiders " creep 

 up length by length till they nearly overhaul the favourite, and 

 come in a short length behind the winner, we call that a 

 "good" race, and we mark those "outsiders" down in our 

 betting books as horses destined to play an important part in 

 future races. As with the turf, so with trade ; real competitors 

 always claim our attention ; the rest are — nowhere. 



Let us now send the competitors down the course just to 

 look at their paces. 



* Cd. 4258. Statistical Abstract for the United Kiugdom, 1903. 



