Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book records the ten years' history of an agitation - the most highly organized, the most lavishly financed, the most loudly advertised, of this time. When the "Missionary of Empire" in 1903 recanted his former fiscal faith, he caused many of his countrymen to examine afresh the foundations of their economic belief, and Free Traders have no reason to regret the revival of the study of the principles upon which British commercial supremacy is based. And since the Unionist Party made "Tariff Reform" the first constructive plank in its platform, the output of printed matter on the subject has been so enormous that it might well have been supposed that the whole field of controversy and criticism was covered. Every quotation is verified; every extract can be traced. Tariff Reformers can desire no less. Free Traders can want no more.