This book is a collection of essays and speeches delivered by the members of the Cobden Club, a 19th-century organization dedicated to promoting free trade. The authors argue that unrestricted trade between nations promotes economic growth and cultural exchange, and that tariffs and protectionism lead to poverty and conflict. The book includes an introduction that provides historical and political context for the debate surrounding free trade. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.