New-York tribune., 1903-06-27
A UNION OF UNI0NISTS.
TWO LEADERS, IN ACCORD.
Balf0ur and Chamberlain to Wage
Contest for Higher Tariff.

Especial 20 The New-Yorlk Tribune by French Caeeo
Copyright: 1908: BY The Tribune Association
London, June 26-The political situation, like
the weather. has suddenly cleared, with tne
prospect of the access of prolonged heat the
gathering of Unionists the Constitutional
Club to-day was more significant than the royal
birthday celebration and honors, since 1t
brought together the two leaders and enabled
them to commit themselves to joint action on
the tariff question The address presented to
Mr.. Chamberlain in recognition of the services
rendered to the empire in the Colonial Office
was a perfunctory expression of the feeling OF
appreciation which shared by all English
men. The speeches delivered by MIR. Balfour and
Mr. Chamberlain were not of this nature, but
related to their close association in the
new cause of fiscal reform. Each leader was
cheered heartily as the other. and when they
had finished their Unionist followers were con-
WINGED that both committed without res
ervation to the same policy and would stand
together. Mr. Balfour spoke with an air OF
conviction which gripped his auditors. His
striking comparison of free trade to balloon
and the EngliShman in the to the aeronaut
who had thrown the last sandbag amused
them; but they appauded with great heartlness
when he added. we must reconsider onr po-
stion' Mr.. Balfour restated Mr.. Chamber
lain's Birmingham argument respecting colonial
preferential trade and foreign interference with
It, and also made full use of Lord Lansdownes
plea that England now has no means of nego-
tiating with foreign powers and thereby in
creasing her freedom of trade but what was
more significant in his speech was the cordial
ity with which he identified himself with Mr..
Chamberlain's movement.
Mr.. Chamberlain also restated his Birming-
ham argument, and cautiously refralned from
committing himself TO definite proposals for
closer fiscal union with the colonies and consoli-
dation of the empire. The really important SEN
tences in the speech were those in which he
referred to his personal relations with Mr.. Bal
four, and these delivered with deep fer
vor and we're loudly applauded He described
Mr.. Bafour the only possible leader of the
Unionist party and laughed at the idea that
they were rivals or that there any serious
difference between them Nothing can divide
US" he exclaimed with masterful gesture,
while the Unonists shouted for joy. The car
toon makers and Liberal tacticians will find it
difficult after to-day's speeches to convince the
country that Mr.. Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain
are not hand in hand in bringing forward the
tariff question and cooperating as cordially as
Mr. Golden and Mr.. Bright in the struggle
for the abolition of the Corn laws. Mr.. Cham
berlain. like Mr.. Balfour followed Lord Lans-
downe's phrasng and substituted negotiation
of having something to give when bargaining
was attempted
There is a practical reversion to the principles
of Lord Sasburys famous Hastings speech as
a. base of opera tions for the tariff cam
paign. The unconditional free traders in the
Cabinet like the Duke of Devonshire, Mr.
Ritche and Lord Balfour of Burleigh cannot
unite even with negotiators like the Lansdowne
and Salisbury type, when higher tariff is an
indispensable condition of the negotiation They
Will leave the Cabinet soon or late. There is
much talk among well informed politicians about
a Cabinet seat for Lord Miner when reOrgani-
zation is attempted. He would be hearty
supporter of Mr.. Chamberlains colonial poll
cies and would have expert knowledge Of fiscal
and revenue matters. qualifying him to succeed
Mr. Ritchie at the Treasury. Lord Selborne,
Mir. Brodrick, Mr.. Wyndham and the majority
of the Cabinet likely to remain as long as
Mr. Balfour is Prime Minister. 1. N F.