Page:The New Protectionism.djvu/47

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DEFENCE AND OPULENCE
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liberate labour for useful services, economize shipping, and strengthen the foreign exchanges, to say nothing of the regulation and restriction of our export trade in order to conserve certain supplies for our own use or to prevent other supplies falling into enemy hands. Except as regards the detailed operation of the restrictions upon imports, Free Traders have fully acquiesced in these emergency measures.

But when they are asked to admit that, after the military warfare is concluded and "peace" is made, it will be desirable to have in being for future "defence" against the power of Germany an elaborate tariff, confirming and continuing the several political and military cleavages which the war has brought about, and that this tariff should be prepared during the war, they ought to apply close tests of reason before giving their assent to such proposals. What is the value of the suggested opposition between "Opulence" and "Defence"? A tariff will certainly reduce Opulence. But will it ini-

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