Protectionism as a radical ideology

Abstract

The Chartists are famous in history for advocating free trade and carrying it out in practice, appearing submissively allied to Great Britain against tariffs. The «Setembristas», on the other hand, are intrepide adherents to protectionism, firm defenders of national autonomy and independence. We may say, however, without exaggeration, that the opposite did occur. The falsification had already been operated at the time. Whoever reads the periodicals run by the «Setembristas» will believe that the left had always had to fight against a wide and permanent conspiracy of the Chartists and to denounce it, in order to pursue its sinister purpose of abolishing tariffs and acting out a new 1810. The «Setembrismo» took tariffs into control and made them the pedestal of independence and the symbol of nationality. Later on, contemporary historigraphy has ratified this historical mistake. It is the aim of this article to explain how and why such a mistake was born.