Remember also this is not like leaving things alone. It is making things
far worse than they were, because it is introducing, as between the
component members of this great partnership, the British Empire, a
new and perpetual source of heart burning, rivalry, jealousy and discord.
I do not envy the body — I do not know what body it will be — if
Mr. Chamberlain's scheme ever comes into effect, which will have the
duty of concluding separate conventions between this country and
every one of its Colonies so franied that one shall not be preferred to
anothei; and that equal justice.' shall be done to all. The thing is an
impossibility.
Difference Finally, my only other general criticism upon this

between part of the scheme shall be this. Never forget the

revenue difference between a revenue tax upon food and a

and.^otective protectionist tax. The taxes which Mr. Chamberlain

says he is going to remit on tea and sugar are revenue

taxes. The taxes which he is going to impose on wheat and meat are



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protective taxes. What is the difference ? A moment's reflection will
tell you. In a je venue tax the increased cost to the consumer is
substantially the amount of the gain to the Exchequer. Everything
that is taken for the tea and sugar duties goes into the Exchequer and
is added to the national resources. But in the case of a protective
duty, the cost to the consumer is very much in excess of what goes into
the Treasury, because he pays a toll to the favoured class of the
community in whose interests the protective tax is imposed. I see it
computed to-day on very good authority that whereas under Mr.
