324 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



anxiety that the nation sliould realise the nature of the competition 

 to which it will in future be subjected, and that it should recognise 

 its own defects." "' 



Whether these " alarms " be " baseless " or not, is best 

 proved by referring to the table above, as also to the more 

 comprehensive tables a page or two back. 



That there arc dangers to British trade, the author of the 

 book quoted from fully admits, but he holds that these should 

 be looked for " nearer home." 



" There are other dangers to our trade and manufacturing supre- 

 macy which originate nearer home. These are the industrial con- 

 flicts that from time to time check production, paralyse industry, 

 and dislocate the export trade, thus giving an opening to foreign 

 competitors." f 



" The dangers from this quarter are only to be averted by the 

 exercise of great forbearance, and by an appeal to the common-sense 

 of those directly concerned. If British industry be made thoroughly 

 efficient, it may hold its ground against the world, but both work- 

 men and employers cannot be too fully impressed with the fact that 

 their skill, ingenuity, and industry are now pitted against those of 

 the most intelligent and progressive nations in the same classes of 

 employment, and that there is no form of Protection which can 

 avail them in the struggle for superiority." X 



Enough has now been said to show the trend of Free-trade 

 thought in connection with the subject under consideration. It 

 is admitted all along the line that although Great Britain held 

 the lead for many years in the world's markets and outstripped 

 her competitors with the greatest ease, other nations are rapidly 

 coming up with her and may pass her in the race before long — 

 "whether these countries will ultimately take the lead in 

 manufactures remains yet to be seen," observes " The Free- 

 trade Movement " ; and while this is a tacit admission of a grave 

 danger, there is, on the other hand, no semblance, even, of 

 the possibility that the gravity of the position may be due to 

 Free-trade itself. 



Free-tuaders Blame Everybody but themselves 



After discussing, at some length, certain well-known causes 



which are said to militate against British trade, among them 



the " sweated labour " question and that conservatism in British 



merchants who adopt with their foreign customers " the take 



it or leave it" attitude, instead of meeting their wishes in 



respect to alteration of patterns, styles, etc., the writer says — 



• " The Free-trade Movement," pp. 220, 221. 



t Ibid., pp. 221, 222. J Ibid., pp. 221, 222. 



