Protection and Industry

First published in 1904, this volume emerged during a split within the Liberal Unionist Party over Joseph Chamberlain’s advocacy of Protectionism through Tariff Reform. Having originally broken with the Liberal Party over Home Rule in 1885, 1904 saw some Liberal Unionists return to the Liberal fold. The authors here constitute those departing Liberal Unionists in a multifaceted rallying call for Free Trade in the face of Protectionism. Their articles, on subjects such as Shipping, Agriculture and Engineering, assess the implications of Free Trade with a focus on each author’s specialist industry. The authors unanimously declare in favour of the system under which, they maintain, Great Britain developed unparalleled prosperity and taught other nations her industrial success. In the process, they demonstrate that trade cannot improve whilst fettered and focus on the potential for real improvements through Free Trade.