And this has been a regular, gradiia". process ; in 1883 the declared

values of exports were 24c millions, but on the prices of 1873 they

would be 295 millions, and in 1893 329 miilions, and as I have

pj_jj^ said, in 1903, 418 millions. You see, these are illustra-

iUnstrations tions. They are not arguments. No, I quite agree.
not Ti'-ey are not arguments, but if the iiiustraticns Lappjen

arguments, jq be fallacious, that does not strengthen the argument.
93

The argument here is a matter of simple fact. Either trade was

decreasing or increasing. Either it was rising or falling, and, given the

same condition, there was an enormous increase between these two

years. No, if the values of our imports and exports for the year

1902, which is the year whose results so startled and appalled

^Ir. Chamberlain, were taken at the values of 1873, '^e total trade of

1902, exports and imports, would have represented 1,215 millions

against 626 millions. I can see myself no indication of any falling-off

in our trade.
