Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/164

agriculturists from the fertile districts in the neighbourhood, was waiting to give them a welcome. Mr. Fox Maule, afterwards Lord Panmure, being called to the chair, expressed his conviction that agriculture suffered by the corn monopoly. He was followed by Mr. Cobden, who took the same ground at greater length, and exposed the absurdity which would be apparent if manufacturers attempted to fix their price by act of parliament. He added:—You need entertain no alarm, that if the Corn Law is abolished the landowners will permit any other monopoly to exist. Not long ago, I was in Macclesfield, a seat of the silk trade, which I found to be in a very depressed condition, although it enjoys a high 'protection;' and I will tell you an anecdote which will serve to show what will be the fate of all other protections when the most injurious of them all shall have been got rid of. I recently had a conversation with a conservative nobleman, who is a practical Agriculturist, and knows how to buy and sell cattle in the market, This nobleman confessed to me, that, but for his party,he would be for the repeal of the Corn Law. I know, he said, protection to be all a humbug; I am satisfied that the Corn Law must be abolished, and when that event takes place, "won't I have a go at those silk beggars!' (Cheers and laughter.) Then there are the sugar, coffee, and other monopolies, which could not exist a day but for the existence of the Corn Law. The Corn Law is the keystone of all the monopolies that afflict this country, and when once it shall have been knocked down, it will need no help from you, or from us, to bring down the whole structure." Lord Kinnaird, in the course of an able speech, said, "When following the remains of that distinguished nobleman the gallant Lord Lynedoch) to his narrow house in the village of Methven, I was in conversation with a neighbouring proprietor, Mr. Smythe, who informed me that the population of the place had decreased by 300. On inquiring as to the cause of this diminution of the population,