COBDEN AS PROPHET.
[To TEE EDITOR OP THE '"SPECTATOR."] SIE,—I have been reading the volume of extracts recently made by Mr. Hirst from the speeches of the Free-trade orators- It seems to me that Cobden in his speech where he anticipates the universal adoption of Free-trade makes it contingent on 'the abolition of war: if disputes were settled by arbitration, there would be no huge war bills to be met by taxation, and hence no need of tariffs. Could 'he come to life to-day and see that the nations have not ceased to vie one with another in equipping costly and impoverishing armaments—that, the Hague Tribunal notwithstanding, the world is full of wars and rumours of wars—he would assuredly not be surprised that his prophecy was unfulfilled. Criticism, therefore, of Cobden as being a false prophet would seem to be wide of the mark. He made no unconditional pledges : he commandeered no future: such interference with the laws of Nature he left to Mr. Chamberlain.—As a- Liberal usually in agreement with the opinions of the Spectator, I am, Sir, &c.,
• 9 Church Walk. Hendon, N.W. JOHN V. THOMPSON.
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