332 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



The other competing countries which came up to the start- 

 ing liue at a later period embarked on a similar career on a 

 — Protective basis. 



PROGRESSIVE TkADE DUE TO NATURAL EXPANSION 



Tluit both have been equally successful proves that this 

 enormous trade expansion is nothing more or less than a natural 

 development resulting from the phenomenal growth of oceanic 

 communication and the extension of a universal railway system, 

 which renders international intercourse and rapid exchange of 

 commodities perfectly easy. Trade, in short, has but responded 

 to the very natural law of demand and supply, and with the 

 evidence before us of how rapidly all the civilised nations of the 

 world have responded to the demand, it is clear that the opera- 

 tion of this law, while remaining practically unaffected by the 

 nature of the fiscal policy adopted by the competing States, is, 

 on the other hand, most powerfully influenced by their pro- 

 ductive capabilities, as also by the cost of their commodities. 

 Germany and Belgium, for example, can put certain commodities 

 made of iron on the world's market cheaper than Great Britain 

 can, and these countries naturally supply the demand, irrespec- 

 tive of whether they adopt the Free-trade or the Protective 

 principle as the basis of their fiscal system. In other words, 

 once you give the peoples of the earth ample facilities for free 

 interchange of commodities, the world's trade is bound to 

 expand, and go on expanding, irrespective of the fact of your 

 calling yourself a Free-trader or a Protectionist. This being 

 but the working of a perfectly natural Law, Great Britain would 

 obviously have had her share in this progressive development, 

 including a higher standard of living, had she maintained her 

 Protective policy of sixty years ago and altered and adapted it 

 to serve the needs of the people, not only in one branch of 

 industry, but in all branches, as other countries have done. 



The nations of the civilised world have long recognised this 

 fact, and it has prevented and probably may prevent, for an 

 indefinite period, most likely for all time, the fulfilment of 

 Cobden's famous prophecy— 



" I believe that if you abolish the Corn Laws honestly and adopt 

 Free-trade in all its simplicity, there will not be a tariff in Europe 

 that will not be changed in less than five years to follow your 

 example." 



