著者

熊谷 次郎

出版者

桃山学院大学総合研究所

雑誌

桃山学院大学経済経営論集 (ISSN:02869721)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.60, no.4, pp.67-119, 2019-02

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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate features and significance ofRichard Cobden's liberal radicalism based on the voluminous Letters ofRichard Cobden (4 vols, eds. by Anthony Howe and Simon Morgan, OxfordUniversity Press, 2007-2015). There might be no noticeable difference inhis thought and activities between his writings, speeches and his letters.But letters, as often said, incline to disclose underlying thoughts and feelingof a person in a candidate form. In the case of Cobden, therefore,individualities must to be expressed naturally and plainly in his letters.From this point of view, this paper aims to depict his liberal radicalism inhis unreserved opinions seen in his letters.Cobden's radicalism rooted fundamentally in his unforgiving criticism toaristocracy. According to his view, ever since the Glorious Revolution, theBritish government had been monopolized by aristocracy, and their sonswho were not entitled to inherit the right of primogeniture had occupiedthe upper ranks of the army and navy. As it is their benefits to intervenein domestic policies of foreign countries and in conflicts among nationsacross the world with armed forces, armament expenditures necessarilyincreased and consequently oppressed the well-being of the people with itsburden. Then, Cobden focused his vital concern on the arms reduction inthe national finance, and provided the people with the 'peace dividend'created by the reduction in armament expenditures.From this perspective, Cobden made a frontal attack upon Palmerstonwho deployed the intervention policy and gunboat diplomacy in the East.In his letters, Cobden's remarks on Palmerston and Peel, who resolutelycarried out the abolition of the Corn Law, formed a striking contrast: theformer was an 'impostor' and the latter, 'Adam Smith wrote, Peelpracticed.'(To be continued)