A Demonstration was held yesterday afternoon at St. Giles's Hall, in
connection with the Imperial Association, for the raising of
Agricultural and other Prices, "to protest still further against the
late unrestricted ability to live on their means enjoyed by the British
Middle Classes," and "to take ulterior measures for rendering it more
impossible." A large number of members of the Association were
assembled, among whom were the Duke of GLUTLAND, the Right Hon. JAMES
MOWTHER, Mr. GRUNTZ, Mr. C. W. BRAY, M.P., and others.
Mr. FLOWERD MISPENT, M.P., said he was proud to take the chair on such
an occasion, and to congratulate the assembly on the immense progress
made in the country of the principles they were met to advocate.
("_Hear, hear!_") Their great object had been, by forcing the Government
to put a prohibitive tax on all foreign imports whatever, to so
stimulate home industries, that while the producer flourished at the
expense of the consumer, the latter, representing four-fifths of the
nation, was driven to the verge of desperation by a general rise of
prices, that he was powerless either to stave off or meet. (_Loud
cheers._) He thought that the great bulk of the Middle Classes of the
country must, if not already hopelessly ruined, at least have got it
pretty hot. (_Laughter._) Take his own case. Owing to the new import
duties levied on foreign wool and silk, the tweed suit in which he stood
up before them on that platform had been charged to him by his tailor at
£37 15s. (_laughter_), while his hat, for the appearance of which he
could not say much, had cost him £5 18_s._ 6_d._ (_Renewed laughter._)
Such prices as these must tell in the long run on the pocket of that
great enemy of national industry, the "Consumer." (_Cheers._)
The Chairman then read letters of apology from the Duke of TWICKENHAM,
Lord STARCH, and Baron DIMOCK, M.P., who declared their readiness to
favour any motion calculated to stimulate a still further rise of
prices. Mr. JOLLIS, M.P., wrote in a similar sense, and in a letter
expressing regret that he was unable to be present, Lord HAPENCE
said:--The brilliant future that is now dawning on the prospects of the
British Agricultural Interests must be patent to all. Only yesterday I
was charged 18_s._ 6_d._ in a local hotel bill for a small _omelette_,
and, on asking for some explanation, was informed by the waiter that
since the importation of French eggs had ceased, the market price of
those procurable from English poultry had risen to 4_s._ 6_d._
(_cheers_), and they were not to be relied on at that. This is as it
should be. Need I say I paid my bill, not only without a murmur, but
with positive satisfaction. (_Loud cheers._)
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Sir EDWARD MULLIGAN, M.P., wrote:--"Your meeting is a very important
one, and has my cordial support. But with British-made ladies' gloves at
£1 3_s._ 6_d._ a pair, British-made chocolate at 17_s._ 6_d._ a pound,
and British-made silver watches at £38 a piece, it cannot be denied that
the absence of foreign competition has favourably affected home prices.
May this encouraging catalogue be continued. I hear, too, that since
prohibitive duty has been imposed on the importation of petroleum the
coarsest kinds of composite candles have been selling at 9_s._ 6_d._ a
pound. Living for the Middle Classes must be getting unendurable. I hail
the prospect as a hopeful sign of the times." (_Cheers._)
Mr. JOYNTER, the Chairman of the Association, then rose to move the
first Resolution:--"That in consideration of the fact that, though the
threepenny halfpenny loaf was now at 3_s._ 9_d._, and that though the
agricultural labourer was paying 4_s._ 7_d._ a pound for bacon, £3
17_s._ for a smock, and £1 15_s._ 6_d._ for a second-hand spade, and
that yet, notwithstanding these fiscal advantages, he did not seem
entirely satisfied with his improved condition, the meeting should urge
upon the State, the necessity of imposing still further prohibitive
duties on foreign imports in the hope of introducing even greater
complications into the vexed question of how to make the British
Consumer entirely support the British Producer."
Mr. WAITLAND seconded the motion. He added, however, that
notwithstanding the undeniably flourishing condition of British trade at
home, he could not regard its prospects as equally satisfactory abroad.
Owing to the retaliatory action of Foreign Governments, our Exports
appeared somehow entirely to have disappeared. (_Laughter._)
Mr. GRUNTZ, said that was so. Still there could be no doubt as to its
healthy progress in our midst, and that reflection ought to quiet the
misgivings and comfort the heart of the ardent Imperial Associationist.
He had in his pocket at that moment a British-made cigar. (_Cheers._) It
hadn't a nice flavour, it wouldn't draw, and it cost him 12s.
6d.--(_laughter_)--still, it was made of British-grown tobacco, and that
was everything. (_Hear, hear!_) Perhaps it was in their wine that people
of his class suffered most. In the old days he used to drink Dry
Monopole; but since a Government duty of £20 a dozen was imposed on all
imported Champagne, he had had to have his from the "British
Home-manufactured Wine Company;" and, though they charged him eleven
guineas a dozen for it, and he believed it frequently made his guests
seriously ill, still he felt he was supporting a "home industry," and
did not scruple to put it freely before them. (_Roars of laughter._)
After the enthusiastic singing of "_Rule Britannia_" by the whole
meeting, a vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings, which
were of a very animated character, to a conclusion.
* * * * *
To the Modern Men of Gotham.
"Fiscal Reform"? A pretty phrase
To mark the old exploded craze;
But, Gothamites, you're surely blind!
Think you to reach "Protection's" goal
By squatting in that leaky bowl,
And whistling for a (Fair Trade) Wind?
* * * * *
NEW WORK BY MR. O'BRIEN.--Under the general heading of _Tullamore
Tales_, we are to expect a good story, entitled, _Reverses on the other
side of the Tweed_.
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