| Show Gladstone Speaks Before Cobtlen Club LONDON May 13 Gladstoqe spoke at the Cobden club tonight Ho said that free traders must recognize with great disappointment dis-appointment how much ground had been lost by their doctrine within the last twentyfive years Militarism which lay like a vampire over Europewas responsible for much of the mischief out not for all because free trade receded in countries where malitarism did not prevail In the United States and in the British Colonies Protection applied now in America not only to goods but to persons as instanced by the treatment of Chinese The great republic re-public never accepted tho doctrines of free trade At one time there had been an unqualified un-qualified progress toward them but this was being checked opinion became actually actu-ally retrogressive Still the growing strenth activity and 1 clearness of conviction con-viction of the free trade American party gave favorable promise of its ultimate triump at the polls On looking over the world the prospects for free trade certainly were not encouraging This state of opinion had emboldened the champions of i protection long lurking in their holes to venture out and renew the struggle under tho name of fair trade Rcnrrinr hmtnlim lnr1tnn 1 1 was 3 movement in 1 direction of pro tection Since the adoption of free trade the wages of workingmen have increased L 50 per cent England was working out a great social and economical problem for the benefit of the world He was confident that free trade though temporarily discredited dis-credited was distincd to become the universal uni-versal charter of trade and obtain general I acceptance with civilized nations |
