140 A PROPOSAL FOR VOLUNTARY CLASSIFICATION, ETC. 



1. It may be looked upon as a retrogressive movement from the system 

 of free trade, having a tendency to afford those persons whose products 

 might obtain a high degree in the classification a monopoly prejudicial to 

 those manufacturers whose goods might not enjoy so high a rank. To this 

 it may be answered, that free trade does not consist in the mere introduc- 

 tion of inferior articles into the market, and that it certainly cannot injure 

 either seller or consumer to have the superior article officially distinguished 

 from the inferior. 



2. That manufacturers who have already gained notoriety for the quality 

 of their wares would think their own trade or private mark a sufficient 

 guarantee for those qualities without requiring the protection of Govern- 

 ment, or of any other authority, to dispose of their produce. To this. I reply, 

 that, although first class manufacturers may not require such protection, 

 second and third class manufacturers will derive all the greater advantages 

 therefrom, inasmuch as it will place their produce (when of similar quality) 

 on a par with those of the first manufacturers, however well known they 

 may be, and thus destroy instead of causing an unfair monopoly. 



3. That such a measure would have a backward tendency to the now 

 obsolete " corporation system," which has long been discarded as useless 

 and superfluous, most trade corporations having voluntarily relinquished 

 their ancient privileges, and now confining their attention chiefly to works 

 of benevolence and civic banquets. Although glaring abuses may have 

 contributed much towards the abandonment of those privileges, it does not 

 follow that a total overthrow of the system was necessary. In many 

 foreign countries, where the disadvantages of such a complete reform soon 

 became apparent, it was found necessary to re-introduce similar privileges, 

 but under a modified form. It is not now my intention to restore anti- 

 quated customs, but, on the contrary, to introduce a new and better system, 

 entirely voluntary and quite in accordance with the spirit of the times. 

 Looked upon as a financial measure, I firmly believe that it will, in course 

 of time, form such an important addition to the national income as will 

 (without being in any way considered as a tax or burden, but rather as a 

 voluntary contribution) enable Government at least to release the public from 

 that obnoxious and universally condemned impost, the paper-tax. A great 

 item in this revenue will undoubtedly be derived from foreign importations, 

 the collection of which will simply require the addition of a small especial 

 department to the already existing custom-houses. 



I can easily conceive that the introduction of such a measure cannot 



proceed from Government, but that it should rather be proposed by some 



leading representative of a manufacturing district in Parliament ; and for 



this purpose I intend making a tour, either personally or by some competent 



person at my expense, through the various manufacturing districts of 



England, Scotland, and Ireland, in order to sound the feelings of those 



interested persons who in due time will have to address their petitions on 



the subject to the proper department. 



Xylopolist. 



