Page 192 - clra62_0019-(GIPE)

184 ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIES
Free Trade State within its own domain, and the
growth of population during this century being abso-
lutely without precedent in the world's history.
All this huge consolidation of States and growth of
large communities, each with Free Trade in its own
borders, is virtually a triumph of Free Trade. They
make quite certain that the bulk of the industry of the
world will henceforth be carried on under conditions
assimilated to those of absolute Free Trade. From
this condition of things to the most absolute Free
Trade itself is not a large step.
Without speculating on the future we may also
notice, I think, that very considerable movements in
the 'same direction are now in progress. The Con-
federation of Canada twenty-five years ago was a step
in this direction, the importance of which will appear
more clearly with the great growth of the Canadian
population which is now at hand.
The completion of the Australian Confederation will
be another step of the same kind.
The extension of the South African Customs Union,
which we must all look forward to, will be a third step
of the same kind.
(4) Next, we must claim on behalf of Free Trade all
those scientific inventions of the century-the steam-
engine, the locomotive, the iron and steel ship, the
electric wire, and submarine cable, and many more-
which have facilitated communication between different
parts of the world, or which have diminished the cost
of production.
The true enemy of a Protectionist policy is the man
of science. The man of science makes it possible to
bring a particular commodity to Europe at a half or a
third of the cost at which it could formerly be brought.
When trade is quite free, Europe is so much the richer.
The Protectionist steps in and says, " Nothing of the
kind, Europe must continue to use the old machinery
and old processes, and not be any the r~cher at all."
In this duel between Protectionist politicians and