New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-22
CORDENISM RENOWNED.
,NBERLAIN'S MANIFESTO IN FA-
yoR OF AN IMPERIAL CUSTOMS
UNION BASED UPON PROTECTION.


London. June 10
chouberlain's interest in British Zoll-
80, ,s growing steadily. year ago he cleo
,..s tho colonies with proposal FOR develop
UNI" .,o neglected estates of the Empire with
'e 90 from the Exchequer Nothing has been
e., ~ the lines Of this recommendation The
'.,,os have not needed railways cable facili-
s,.amship lines and local improvements. for
~ .h Grants from the Imperial Treasury might
"" ,. heen available. What they have wanted
,ban anything else was market for their
,o,s This would render their industries re-
native and tend to attract immigration and
''' -...ore their prosperity This market cannot
cured by Treasury grants from London. 1t
DC ~ obtained by tariff Determinations in their
"a which will give them an advantage over
,o trade. Mr. Chamberlain idea Is to
.1,, ,he operation of free trade to the Empire
- levy duties In England upon food prod
GU uool and other articles Of large consump-
49,. which come from foreign countries. He
,s This proposal. not as a Protectionist. but
- an Imperialist. who considers that Zoll-
.,,or would be the strongest bond Of union for
.Aa British race throughout the world" This
the burden OF his speech a few weeks ago
. ,hs Canada banquet, and 1t was lis message
,'u..rAi Yesterday TO the Colonies at the third
ISIS Of Chambers of Commerce Of the En-
pe .,,.,. J.. .,.o~,.o.o. - .,o
,-.,-,ance Of this second address by the Secre-
law far the Colonies. 1t is virtually formal
.,.,rcation Of free trade by one of the most
.rerf,l leaders of public thought IN England.
>, {, true that Mr.. Chamberlain has recourse TO
'..c,al pleading and atfirms that his proposal
'..,,or5s itself 10 orthodox Cobdenites since
~. establishment Of an Imperial Zollverein
II, he rho greatest advance that Free Trade
~, made IN half a century. But this does not
,,sok the force OF his reputation OF the essen
,,sl principles of Cobden's economic gospel
rhsrs would be free trade in an Empire with
,orulation of 3OJ. 900 Of the human race just
ss there is free trade among the States or the
American Union or among the kingdoms ana pl1n-
,lnaltes Of the German Empire This is undo
r,able bu; Mr.. Chamberlain will hardly venture
10 assert that free trade among either the Ameri-
ran mr. the German States, with protective tar
~ against foreign countries, has promoted the
general cause Of Cobdenism: nor can it be as
,rrsd that the establishment Of a British Zoll-
v,rein based upon tariffs against the world lying
on,siae the Empire would be triumph for Free
Trade II Mr. Chamberlain's proposals are car
,isd out. the free trade flag Will be furled In
r,r,and Corn laws will be re-enacted and Cob
dsn,sm will De betrayed and abandoned in its
last stronghold.
AN INVITATION TO THE ATTACK.
Mr.. Chamberlain having baen convinced that
Imperial Federation cannot be brought about so
long as England retains the present system or
unrestricted importation from every quarter OF
the globe has invited the Colonies through their
representative Congress Of Chambers OF Com
merce 10 submit plan for a Zoveren based
UPON dferential tariff. Il only want ne re-
marks ITO impress upon you my personal convic-
ton that If proposal Of this kind came TO us
from the Colonies backed by any considerable
support on their part It would not meet with
blank refusal BY the people Of this country.
Those words spoken by powerful Minister. who
has demonstrated throughout his career his ca
pacity for forecastirg and discerning the forces
Of English opinion will echo and re. echo from
end u end of the British Empire. 1t Is an au-
horitative invitation issued by a statesman. VINO
NAY one day be Prime Minister for combined
Colonial assault upon English Free Trade.
Whatever may be the form OF the resolution
adopted by this conference on the subjec, or
commercial union. Mr.. Chamberlain's address
can hardly fail to produce profound impression
AZ home and abroad. 1t delivered in his
finest debating style, and was luminous win
the logic o: common sense. How coud CUM
rercial union. which must precede Imperial red
erati,n. be brought about? Not by universal free
trade FOR which England had been waiting Tor
fifty years without encouragement That was
counsel Of perfection which had not influenced
the Colonies Besides, 1t was form OF cOsino-
politan union that would offer no advantage TO
the trade OF the Empire. II the Colonies wou.d
not adopt the fiscal system Of the mother couh-
Try so also there was not the slightest chahce
that England would make revolutionary change
In It's revenue tariff for the sake Of small prefer
eace in the trade of Its dependencies. was
there any middle ground between an Impossible
free trade system and an equally linpractcap'e
Imperial tariff scheme, with slight dlscriHhha-
lions in favor Of British traders? MI ChamDer-
lain commended that there was room FOR COM
promise on give-and-take principles Free trade
could be established throughout the Empire ana
the Colonies be left at liberty 10 order their
tariffs on foreign goods England must
make some concession 10 the Colonies, II they
opened their markets 10 British manufactures
without reserve. 1t must consent 70 replace
moderate duties upon corn, meat, WOOL sugar
and other articles OF enormous consumption
which the Colonies produced In competition with
foreign countries. This policy would open for the
Colonies almost unlimited market for their
agricultural products and promote their material
interests; and II would lead inevitably to I'm
pens Federation. This Is a rough summary OF
on intensely practical and logical address. In
"neh Mr. Chamberlain accepted the Toronto
proposal as a basis for a British ZOlvereln.
FREE TRADE SACRIFICE
Inc debate which followed the opening speech
disclosed Immediate recognition. on the part on
'he iree-traders Of the English Chambers OF COM
MERGE OF the sacrifice which they were called
upon TO make There were loud protests from
manchester and Liverpool against the abandon
meht OF free trade. Even II the sacred cause OF
modernism were not making progress anywhere