“Mr. Searles, whenever America can command, as Great Britain does to-day, cheap capital, cheap labor, and cheap raw materials, she too may vociferously advocate free trade, and that other nations shall open wide their markets for the sale of American products.

“Don’t you see, Mr. Searles, that protection and free trade are equally selfish and not philanthropic principles?”

“Mr. Harris you are right,” shouted several of the by-standers.

But Hugh Searles did not reply.  Possibly because it was late or, it may be, he did not wish to further antagonize Colonel Harris with whom he hoped in the morning to drive a good bargain, and it may be that he hoped some time in America to operate mills himself and make money under a protective tariff.

Both Searles and Harris retired for the night with an agreement to meet at nine o’clock in the morning and talk over business.  Searles rose with the sun, and after eggs, bacon, and tea, he walked to the Battery and back, before nine, the appointed hour for his first business conference with Reuben Harris.

A good sleep had refreshed Colonel Harris and at breakfast he appeared in a joking mood.  While he smoked, he glanced at the Tribune and again examined Searles’s letter of introduction from Messrs. Guerney & Barring.  At nine o’clock promptly, Mr. Searles came and Colonel Harris exhibited to him a brief statement of the business of the Harrisville Iron & Steel Co., extending over the last ten years, and showing the company’s annual profits.

“A very good business your company did, and you made large profits, Colonel Harris,” said Searles.  “And am I to understand that you have made in your statement a proper allowance for depreciation of values in buildings and machinery, also for all losses and cost of insurance, and that after these deductions are made the company’s net profits annually amounted to an average of over one hundred thousand pounds, or a half million dollars?”

“Yes,” replied the colonel.

And Mr. Searles remarked, “Colonel Harris, if your arguments last evening did not fully convert me to the decided advantage which Americans gain by protection, this statement of the Harrisville Iron & Steel Co. does.  A year ago, some Americans in London called our attention to your profitable plant, hence our first letter of inquiries.  Your replies confirmed the report and so we cabled for this initial meeting between us.

“Messrs. Guerney & Barring have been most successful in financiering some of the largest business interests in the world, and thus they have achieved a splendid reputation.  It was their wish that I should secure for them your most favorable terms with an option of purchase of your plant, the same to hold good for two months, or for a sufficient length of time to allow them to organize a syndicate, and float necessary debentures to buy the stock, or a controlling interest in your company, and so continue the business.”