IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN PRODUCE. 



17 



repeatedly laid before Parliament, and have mostly from vari- 

 ous conflicting causes and interests been nullified. 



The history of the world offers no parallel to the sufferings 

 of the operatives in the manufacturing districts. Nor is the 

 slightest hope of alleviation held out to them, except through 

 the chimerical scheme of Free Trade, than which I fear nothing 

 could more effectually perpetuate their miseries. Chimerical, 

 because the Corn Law and the Tariff have already' greatly 

 reduced the price of provisions, without affording the slightest 

 alleviation to the manufacturing distress. 



It is only reasonable therefore to conclude, that if all re- 

 strictive duties were removed, the evil would be increased 

 rather than lessened. 



Large quantities of foreign agricultural produce have been 

 admitted to the depreciation of our own, without any propor- 

 tionable demand for British goods in return; and it is, indeed, 

 much to be apprehended that a more extensive exportation 

 would not be the means of materially advancing the condition 

 of the operative. For it appears that competition in the 

 foreign markets can only be carried on, with any chance of 

 success, by a low rate of wages in this country. 



Therefore, as foreign trade must be maintained by cheap 

 bread, cheap labour, and oppression ; no doubt can exist that 

 it is the imperative duty of our legislators to promote agri- 

 culture and home commerce, which would flourish under high 

 prices of produce and of labour, and render the state of the 

 poor prosperous.* 



* Since the publication of the above, the large manufacturing districts have 

 assumed an appearance of the greatest prosperity ; but the wages of the opera- 

 tives are still barely sufficient for the common necessaries of life, and entail a 

 state of cruel vassalage that can never be remedied except by the abolition of 

 the Factory System. The term prosperous, therefore, is delusive, because, the 

 servant not being enabled to accumulate in proportion to his master, nor to save 

 the smallest jnttance for old age, must, at the termination of his labours, be cast, 

 not upon his liege lord, as in former times, but upon the Poor Law s for support. 



It is in vain that newspapers expose the wretchedness of the working classes. 

 It is in vain that gentlemen, influenced by a spirit of love to their fellow-men, 

 report the horrors they have witnessed. It is in vain that the interference of 

 Omnipotence is invoked to provide a remedy, so long as the Satanic influence 

 of the " Mule and Iron-man" used in the factories prevails against the repre- 

 sentations of reason and humanity. I could 



C 



