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THE REVIVAL OF PROTECTIONISM
7

realized. Production divides, consumption unites. Hence the appeal of the Protectionist to the nation as a body of producers.

For, when the Protectionist has once succeeded in getting the gain of the producer accepted as the sole test of sound economy, he is enabled to pursue his separatist tactics farther. He can appeal to a nation, not as a corporate union of producers, but as a number of separate producing groups. He can take each particular trade, or each locality, and invite it to consider whether a tariff upon the importation of the articles which this trade or this locality produces would not be beneficial to these producers, whether they be capitalists or workers. This so-called "practical" test of an appeal to local business interests appears at first sight incontrovertible. If Bradford could get high import duties upon woollen goods entering this country, it would have a monopoly of the home market, without losing any foreign market it was able to supply.