The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-19
ENCLAND'S NEW POLICY.
Proposed Government Aid to West
India Sugar Producers.
OTHER RELIEF CONTEMPLATED.

Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary
of state For the Colonies, Proposes
a plan which II London Paper De-
clares "Savors OF Protection"
Liverpool, Jan. 19.-The Liverpool
chamber of commerce gave a banquet
last night to Right Hon. Joseph Cham
berlain, secretary of state for the col
onies. Lord Strathcona and Mount
royal was also present. Mr.. Chamber
lain was greeted with an ovation, and a
special cheer was given for Mrs. Cham
berlain, who was with him.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in the course of a
vigorous and important speech, refer
red to the great changes in commerce
during the last 20 years. He said:
"Since the great powers We're bitten
with the megalomania, with which the
Germans are accustomed to taunt us
as if it were our exclusive popularity,
the German empire has increased six
fold and the French fourfold, while
England" he said, has only added
modest third to her colonial empire"
Answering the argument that it is use
less to colonize barren wastes, he point
ed to the magnificent enterprise of the
Canadian Pacific railway, that had
opened up a vast country Of the great
est wheat fields and was about to open
what were perhaps the greatest fields
In the world.
Looking to the certainty" he said
that we are likely to be excluded by
hostile tariffs from any country where
the British flag does not float, our pres
ent policy is to take a very firm atti-
tude and to maintain free markets.
| What the foresight of our ancestors has
done for us in building a great empire
we must continue to do for our sue
cessors. This is not the policy of ag-
gression or lawlessness. We have a
threefold duty First, to keep what
rightly belongs to us; second, in Lord
Roseberys admirable words, to peg
out claims for posterity, and third, if
any one tries to rush those claims,
gently to prevent them"
Referring to the fact that our sac
| ritice of territory and our general for
| bearance and Difference to the sensi-
bilities of our allies have only resulted
| in our being told that we are best hated
nation in Europe" he repeated Lord
| Salisbury's warning, There is a limit
/ to this forbearance." After a repiti-
tion of the old zollverein aspirations,
which he described as less absurd
than some have supposed" Mr.. Cham
berlain said, I'VE must seek in our own
family the strength and support we
shall never find from foreign nations
and with this view we must be ready
to respond to any colonial overtures
without seeking pecuniary recompense
but looking to the wider interests of
the future"
Then came the weightiest portion of
the speech. Mr.. Chamberlain reviewed
at length the West India question and
the report of the royal commission
thereon, and emphasized the great in
jury of the bounty system, which, while
running the West Indies, brings a gaiI
estimated at e2,OOO,OOO yearly to Grea
Britain" The government, ne said, be
lieved the country generous and jus
enough to remedy this crying injus
tice" He was glad that Belgium haC
anticipated Great Britain in calling {
conference on the subject, and hoped
this might succeed better than former
! conferences.
There were many objections he con.
tinued, to countervailing duties, whicf
would "mvolve us in commercial treaty
difficulties with foreign nations" bu
trade they wished to save amounted t,
260, 900 tons, Great Britains own suga
imports amounted to 100000 tons
seemed unscientfic to benefit the for
mer by injuring the latter.
Therefore" he said, the govern
ment has decided to exhaust every al
tentative before having recourse L
such a drastic measure, and feelinj
that the recommendations of the com
missioners, though good, would no
work quickly enough the chancellor o
the eXchequer has consented to propos
to parliament very large grant in ali
to the West Indies. The grant will no
be so large as the incidental gain Grea
Britain derives from the bounty sys
TEN, but 1t will be large enough to en-
able the industry and the population t
tide over crisis until continental ma
tions recognize the impolicy of tn
bounty system"
Mr.. Chamberlain expressed his con
viction that the immediate relief meas
ures to be proposed in addition whic
he said he could not as yet explain i
detail would stimulate the sugar in
industry and enable all we'll manage
estates to hold their own, while tend
ing to the ultimate prosperity of tn
colony"
Newspapers in all sections of tn
country are commenting on Mr. Cham
berlain's West India scheme. The Lon
, don Times says: I'VE are not greatI
enamored of the system of doles t
which by some fatality the preset
government has resorted with unusus
J, frequency" The London Standar
" warns Mr.. Chamberlain that his pre-
=, posal "savors Of projections" and tha
, he must be prepared to deal with crit
cism. The Daily News asks whethe
Mr.. Chamberlain has forgotten the We
3 hement Language in which he condemn
ed the late government for voting
!. small grant to New Foundland.