The San Francisco call., 1903-09-17
BALFOUR TO THE BRITONS.

n
K toward the tariff question in Great Britain
IL contributes to the discussion bright and IL
Eliminating phrase After pointing out that the free
trade policy leaves the British market open to the
foreigner, and the British Government poweress to
obtain trade concessions in foreign markets, he
The only alternative is to do to foreign countries
what they always do to each other and instead OF ap
pealing TO economic theories in which they wholly
disbelieve 10 use fiscal inducements which they thor
oughly understand"
In that sentence Balfour sums up the substance
OF his tariff policy 1t is not the attitude OF true
protectonst for yet Balfour has fully learned
the lesson that has been taught by experience
has he grasped the fundamental principle that under
lies the issue between free trade and protection He
looks at the issue confronting Great Britain
strictly from the standpoint OF expediency. He as
that he Is in principle and IN doctrine free
trader and that he advocates the establishment Of
protective duties imports Great Britain solely
that he may them OF bartering and
trading In the arrangement OF treaties that will pro-
cure favors for British goods in foreign markets
The position thus taken differs materially from that
OF Chamberlain, but not sufficiently prevent the
two from working together against the ultra free
traders who viii oppose any alteration in the estab
lished policy OF the kingdom OF course when the
for determining the schedules of the tariff there
viii arise conflict between the two. Chamberlain
desires customs duty on foodstufs and other goods
OF the kind produced in the colonies order that he
may grant preferential trade within the empire, and
that would imply policy quite different from that
outlined by Balfour. The arrangement OF schedules
and the preparation OF definite bill on the subject
however, are as yet far off For time at least the
two leaders act allies, making combined at
tack upon the free traders who are the common foe
Of both.
The fight promises to be the biggest political
campaign OF the time in the domestic politics of any
country. In measure It is world politics" and the
contest will be watched with interest both in the
United States and in Continental Europe for the
trade or all nations is concerned in the outcome. In
some respects the undertaking of the Ministry to
bring abour change in the fiscal policy Of the king
dom appears like forlorn hope, for the British
public is conservative, and it is going to be
easy to convince men who have been brought up to
believe in free trade article of faith that they
have been wrong all the time and that protection,
which they have derided as relic OF barbarism is
after I'll the most enlightened OF fiscal policies Still
the forces that are supporting the movement are
strong The resistess logic of facts is the side of
the Ministry, and, furthermore, a strong body of
son taught by facts will enter actively into the con-
test and prove powerful allies.
The halfway position taken by Balfour in his
pamphlet while weak from the standpoint OF logic will
doubtless be much more persuasive to the British
public than a more radical and advanced position
would be- He viii not ask the voters to make the
whcle distance from Cobdenism to protection one
journey. He appeals to them first a free trader
asking for permission to propagate free trade through
reciprocity treaties. He says to them: "It cannot
be right for country with free trade ideals to
into competition with protectionist rivals self de-
prved OF the only instrument whereby their policy
can ooncevably be modified. The most essential
object Of our national efforts should be to get rid
Of the bonds with which have gratuitously en-
tangled ourselves"
Presented in that way the policy Of protection will
not be so startling to conservatism and accordingly
il is by no certain that when the issue comes
before the people the free traders will obtain a
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