Page:Thoughts on the Corn laws, addressed to the working classes of the county of Gloucester.djvu/25

21 would derive permanent advantage from the change would be the master who employs labourers; he would get more work done for his money.

What do the master manufacturers say? They say that the reduction in the price will enable the manufacturers of this country to compete better with the manufacturers of foreign countries. They say that they are not placed upon equal terms with their rivals on the continent. While the Englishman's food is taxed, their rivals live upon cheap bread. But take off the duties upon corn, and English manufacturers will fear no competition: and they say, moreover, that the artisan ought not to be forced to pay a high price for bread to keep up the rents of the aristocracy of landowners. They are for prosperity in manufactures and cheap bread.

Mr. Clay, addressing his constituents in the Tower Hamlets the other day, said, "The question is between big loaves and small loaves—I am a big-loafian."

All which means, that if the corn laws were repealed, manufactures would flourish, and the labourer be able to buy a larger loaf. Let us look at this a little closer. How will a repeal of the corn laws enable us to manufacture cheaper? There is but one way in which it can affect our manufactures, which is, by enabling the working classes to do upon less wages. But if wages are reduced as the price of corn falls, what becomes of the big loaf? It is perfectly true that the same