The Harris-Ingram Experiment | Page 9

man had nothing to fear or lose, but much to
gain; that to multiply woman's colleges everywhere, was to furnish the
twentieth century, or "Woman's Century" as Victor Hugo called it, with
a dynamic force, that would beget more blessings for humanity than all
previous centuries.
Gertrude thanked Mr. Searles for what he had said, and the party
withdrew to the Winter Garden Café, pretty with palms, where Lucille,
Leo, and Alfonso talked of society matters, of art and music.
Gertrude read to her mother, while Hugh Searles and Colonel Harris
stepped outside into the gentlemen's café for a smoke, as both were
fond of a cigar. There the conversation naturally drifted upon the tariff
question.
Mr. Searles asserted that he favored free trade, and that he was sorry
America was not as far advanced and willing as Great Britain to
recognize the universal and fundamental principle of the brotherhood of
mankind, and the inborn right of everybody to trade as he liked in the
world's cheapest markets. He added that he sometimes felt that
Americans were too selfish, too much in love with the vulgar dollar.
Colonel Harris, wounded in his patriotism, now showed that he was a
little disturbed. He thanked Searles for his deep interest in Americans,
adding, "We are glad you have come to study Americans and
America." Then looking the Englishman full in the face he said, "Mr.
Searles, you will find human nature much the same wherever you travel.
Nations usually strive to legislate, each for its own interest. You say,
'Americans work for the almighty dollar.' So they do, and earnestly too,

but our kith and kin across the sea worship with equal enthusiasm the
golden sovereign. Look at the monuments to protection in your own
city."
"What monuments?" asked Searles.
"Monuments to protection on all your streets, built under British tariff
laws. Every stone in costly St. Paul's Church, or cathedral, was laid by
a duty of a shilling a ton on all coal coming into London. A shilling a
ton profit on coal, mined in America, would create for us fabulous
fortunes. Selfishness, Mr. Searles, and not brotherly love, drove your
country to adopt free trade."
"I do not agree with you," said Mr. Searles.
"'Tis true, and I can prove it," answered Harris. By this time several
patrons of the hotel stood about enjoying the tilt between tariff and free
trade.
"Give us the proof then," replied Searles.
"To begin with," said Harris, "I must reply to your first assertion, for I
deem your first statement a false doctrine that 'everybody has a right to
trade in the world's cheapest markets.' Nobody has a right to trade in
the world's cheapest markets, unless the necessary and just laws of his
own country, or the country he dwells in, permits it. Now as to the
much abused 'brotherhood argument' let me assert that, like England,
any nation may adopt free trade, when it can command at least four
important things: cheap labor, cheap capital, and cheap raw material.
Now Mr. Searles, what is the fourth requisite?"
Searles did not answer. Clearly, he was interested in Harris's novel line
of argument for free trade.
"Well," said Harris, "England is inhabited by a virile people, who
evidently believe in God's command to 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and
replenish the earth, and subdue it.' England, with her centuries of rising
civilization, her charm of landscape, and her command of the world's

affairs, offers at home magnificent attractions for her sons and
daughters, that make them loyal and law-abiding citizens.
"It is true that annually many thousands seek fame and fortune in new
countries, but most of her citizens prefer poverty even, and, if need be,
poverty in the gutters of her thriving cities, to a home of promise in
distant lands. Hence, a rapidly increasing and dense population obtains
in all the British Isles, and labor becomes abundant and cheap, and
often a drug in the market. The repeal of the Corn Laws first became a
necessity, then a fact, and the cheaper food made cheaper labor possible.
Lynx-eyed capital, in the financial metropolis of the world, was quick
to discover surplus labor.
"Already English inventors had made valuable inventions in machinery
for the manufacture of iron, cotton, woolen and other goods, which
further cheapened labor and the product of labor.
"England with cheap capital and cheap labor, now had two of the four
things needed to enable her to go forward to larger trade with the world.
The third requisite, cheap and abundant raw material, she also secured.
Material, not furnished from her own mines and soils, was brought in
plentiful supply at nominal freights, or as ballast, by her vessels, whose
sails are spread on every sea.
"For three centuries Great Britain has vigorously