Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/219

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MR. COBDEN
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the last year, and up to the present time, when the price of corn has been rather lower, we have again had a season of the remission of taxation; and if prices continue low, we may possibly get rid of the income tax, and have as good a revenue as before. I want to ask the right hon. baronet, who, I presume, will favour the house with his opinion on this question, where is the difficulty hi carrying out the principle of Free Trade in everything? I wish to state most honestly and emphatically that I stand here as an advocate for Free Trade in everything; and if you will go into committee on the subject of corn, and the rules of the house will permit me to add the repeal of the duties upon every other article that is protected, I will undertake to move its insertion." Mr. Cobden, adverting to protective duties, said that the whole amount of duty on foreign manufactures imported did not exceed £300,000, and that such protection the home manufacturers did not ask for and would rather be without; and after referring to Mr. Deacon Hume's evidence before the Import Duties Committee as to the injury done to the revenue by protecting duties, he concluded an able speech by saying:—

"Now, sir, on the authority of Mr. Deacon Hume, and on the facts which I have stated, I take my stand against all protection. If you cannot make the advantage equal, it is unjust to some portion of the community; and if it is thus oppressive to any portion of the people, that portion never ought, if they have the spirit of Englishmen, to submit quietly to such an injustice. If you can make the system general, then general protection cannot be special protection, and you can do no good to anybody by its adoption. Abandon this system—it is unsound; It cannot be defended upon any principle of justice or sound policy; and therefore I ask you now to give your decision against the principle. You may say, We are strong in power, we have the constituencies with us.' Yes, you have the constituencies. (Cheers from the ministerial benches.) How long will you stand on that pinnacle of power if the foundation of the pedestal on which you are resting gives way?' You must show that you have a just footing before you can hope to maintain your present law. I have never heard one expression—I have never heard the question urged by honourable gentlemen upon any side of