Free trade and Irish manufactures

Abstract

The movement which is at present on foot for the encouragement of native manufacturing industry in Ireland has been condemned by many economists as opposed to what are called free trade principles. It has been said that any attempt to divert industry from its natural course must be fruitless as an attempt to interfere with fundamental laws of nature, which are as certain and invariable in the economical as in the physical field?that the movement is nothing but protection in disguise, and, as such, condemned by all the great writers on political economy.