Part 35 (1/2)

”Then it would rather seem that they have no capital now to spare to purchase our goods?”

”Not so,” said Thornberry sharply, ”as I have shown; but were it so, it does not affect my principle. If there were free exchange, we should find employment and compensation in other countries, even if the States were logged, which I don't believe thirty millions of people with boundless territory ever can be.”

”But after all,” said Endymion, ”America is as little in favour of free exchange as we are. She may send us her bread-stuffs; but her laws will not admit our goods, except on the payment of enormous duties.”

”Pis.h.!.+” said Thornberry; ”I do not care this for their enormous duties.

Let me have free imports, and I will soon settle their duties.”

”To fight hostile tariffs with free imports,” said Endymion; ”is not that fighting against odds?”

”Not a bit. This country has nothing to do but to consider its imports.

Foreigners will not give us their products for nothing; but as for their tariffs, if we were wise men, and looked to our real interests, their hostile tariffs, as you call them, would soon be falling down like an old wall.”

”Well, I confess,” said Endymion, ”I have for some time thought the principle of free exchange was a sound one; but its application in a country like this would be very difficult, and require, I should think, great prudence and moderation.”

”By prudence and moderation you mean ignorance and timidity,” said Thornberry scornfully.

”Not exactly that, I hope,” said Endymion; ”but you cannot deny that the home market is a most important element in the consideration of our public wealth, and it mainly rests upon the agriculture of the country.”

”Then it rests upon a very poor foundation,” said Thornberry.

”But if any persons should be more tempted than others by free exchange, it should be the great body of the consumers of this land, who pay unjust and excessive prices for every article they require. No, my dear Mr. Ferrars; the question is a very simple one, and we may talk for ever, and we shall never alter it. The laws of this country are made by the proprietors of land, and they make them for their own benefit. A man with a large estate is said to have a great stake in the country because some hundreds of people or so are more or less dependent on him. How has he a greater interest in the country than a manufacturer who has sunk 100,000 pounds in machinery, and has a thousand people, as I had, receiving from him weekly wages? No home market, indeed! Pah! it is an affair of rent, and nothing more or less. And England is to be ruined to keep up rents. Are you going? Well, I am glad we have met. Perhaps we shall have another talk together some day. I shall not return to the works. There is little doing there, and I must think now of other things. The subscriptions to the League begin to come in apace. Say what they like in the House of Commons and the vile London press, the thing is stirring.”

Wis.h.i.+ng to turn the conversation a little, Endymion asked Mrs.

Thornberry whether she occasionally went to London.

”Never was there,” she said, in a sharp, clear voice; ”but I hope to go soon.”

”You will have a great deal to see.”

”All I want to see, and hear, is the Rev. Servetus Frost,” replied the lady. ”My idea of perfect happiness is to hear him every Sunday. He comes here sometimes, for his sister is settled here; a very big mill.

He preached here a month ago. Should not I have liked the bishop to have heard him, that's all! But he would not dare to go; he could not answer a point.”

”My wife is of the Unitarian persuasion,” said Thornberry. ”I am not. I was born in our Church, and I keep to it; but I often go to chapel with my wife. As for religion generally, if a man believes in his Maker and does his duty to his neighbours, in my mind that is sufficient.”

Endymion bade them good-bye, and strolled musingly towards his hotel.

Just as he reached the works again, he encountered Enoch Craggs, who was walking into Manchester.

”I am going to our inst.i.tute,” said Enoch. ”I do not know why, but they have put me on the committee.”

”And, I doubt not, they did very wisely,” said Endymion.

”Master Thornberry was glad to see you?” said Enoch.

”And I was glad to see him.”

”He has got the gift of speech,” said Enoch.