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Today, the world’s stronger economies are more Cobden than Corn Law—all because of abolition of an English grain tariff.

The businessman and philanthropist claimed he was a “classical liberal” and said he considered William Gladstone, the 19th century British politician who was against Corn Law trade tariffs and political patronage, as a political hero.

That the lordly Corn Laws, the bulwark of the landed interest, the prop of agriculture, that had withstood all attacks for two generations, and maintained themselves alike against high prices and the Corn Law League--that these should go down because a vulgar root like the potato had failed in Ireland--it was a thing passing belief.

A few dreamt of a new England in which gentle and simple were to mix on new-old terms; and a multitude, shrewd and hard-headed, believed in the Corn Law League, whose speakers travelled from Manchester to carry the claims of cheap bread to butter crosses and market towns, and there bearded the very landlord's agent.

In 1774, when Mr. Burke's corn law was enacted, the estimated number was 240,000 in England proper.