TEADE. 51
preventing them from getting tMngs than by preventing them from sending things away. Trade does not require force. Free trade consists simply in letting people buy and sell as they want to buy and sell. It is protection that requires force, for it consists in preventing people from doing what they want to do. Protective tariffs are as much applications of force as are blockading squadrons, and their object is the same— to prevent trade. The difference between the two is that blockading squadrons are a means whereby nations seek to prevent their enemies from trading ; protective tariffs are a means whereby nations attempt to prevent their own people from trading. "What protection teaches us, is to do to ourselves in time of peace what enemies seek to do to us in time of war.
Can there be any greater misuse of language than to apply to commerce terms suggesting strife, and to talk of one nation invading, deluging, overwhelming or inundating another with goods ? Goods ! what are they but good things—things we are all glad to get ? Is it not preposterous to talk of one nation forcing its good things upon another nation ? Who individually would wish to be preserved from such invasion ? Who would object to being inundated with all the dress goods his wife and daughters could want; deluged with a horse and buggy; overwhelmed with clothing, with groceries, with good cigars, fine pictures, or anything else that has value ? And who would take it kindly if any one should assume to protect him by driving off those who wanted to bring him such things ?
In point of fact, however, not only is it impossible for one nation to sell to another, unless that other wants to buy, but international trade does not consist in send-