They only ask that our doctrine, which they acknowledge to be true, should be confined to books; and that their principles, which they allow to be false, should be established in practice.

If we will give up to them the regulation of our tariffs, they will leave us triumphant in the domain of theory.
"Assuredly," said Mr.Gauthier de Roumilly, lately, "assuredly no one wishes to call up from their graves the defunct theories of the balance of trade." And yet Mr.Gauthier, after giving this passing blow to error, goes on immediately afterwards, and for two hours consecutively, to reason as though this error were a truth.
Give me Mr.Lestiboudois.Here we have a consistent reasoner! a logical arguer! There is nothing in his conclusions which cannot be found in his premises.

He asks nothing in practice which he does not justify in theory.

His principles may perchance be false, and this is the point in question.

But he has a principle.