There is also a moral question rather un pleasantly introduced in a manner which can only be called a little insular. It is said that the tariff would introduce corruption. I do pot believe it. In economic controversy it is es pecially desirable to clear our minds of cant)! In spite of free imports, gross frauds are per petrated in English finance and a considerable amount of petty dishonesty prevails in business. Human nature is tinctured in the ordinary way, and to revive the old pose of superior virtue is a proceeding which appears to be a little deficient in humor. Corruption in Amer ica, if I judge aright, is due to the concentrated passion of the money-hunt, to the vehemence of the desire to succeed, and the sheer difficulty of bringing public opinion steadily to bear upon any one aspect of this evil amid a hetero geneous society in a, state of violent material development. Corruption rages in every phase of expansion and exploitation. The American habit of making public confession under a sounding board creates an exaggerated impres sion in Europe where the admitted evil is popularly believed to be far worse than it is.
My aim has been to show that the tariff move ment in England depends upon a theory of de velopment, not of restriction; that the politi cal prospects of that movement are good; and that the real strength of the foundation of the free-import system, national unanimity in sup port of it, has irrevocably disappeared.
Bibliography.— 'Reports of the Tariff Com mission' (London); Ashley, 'The Tariff Problem' (London) ; Cunningham, 'The Rise and Decline of the Free Trade Move ment' (London); Garvin, 'The Principles of Constructive Economics' (in 'Compatriots Club Lectures,' London) ; Bying, 'Protection: The Views of a Manufacturer' (London) •, 'The Coming Reaction: A Brief Survey and Criticism of the Vices of Our Economic Sys tem,' by Legislator (London) ; Ryles, Sir John Barnard, 'Sophisms of Free Trade and Popular Political Economy Examined,' a new edition with an introduction and notes by W. S. Lilly and C. S. Devas (London 1904).