The British Bourgeoisie and the Abandonment of Free Trade

The british bourgeoisie could no longer stand the competition of foreign ring and badly needed protective tariffs. A measure that benefits one branch or enterprise may be detrimental to other branches or enterprise. What counts for a business man is only a limited number of customs items. And with regard to these items, the interests of various branches and firms are mostly antagonistic. The interests of every branch or firm can be favored by all kinds of privileges granted to it by the government. But if privileges are granted to the same extent to the other branches and firms, every business man loses as much as he profits.