New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-30
CORN Law POLITICS.
Vhy a PuShfI Statesman Is Not an
q Hurry.
LONDON. Mav %.

.~S
rence Of views il MI. Balfours and Mr. Cham
hsrlsfas recent speeches; but this is because
,s.v have no knowledge Of what went on behind
~ scenes. These statesmen, who were not rivals
- Marty leadership. but loyal friends. happened
.o have important political engagements for the
sarae day-one for response to large body of
oa,eetors 10 the repeal Of the grain registration
auties. and the other for an address TO his home
constituency at Birmingham. Nothing could
ssve been more natural than consultation, at
,rn4eh each would tell the other what he thought
n saying There was q conference of this kind
as ! happen to know. and each spoke after COM
-s-ins notes with the other. The two speeches
were not in conflict. One went further than the
nfhsr and was Complementary 10 it. Mr.. Bal
fur was addressing Conservative protection
ssts fair traders and irnperialists who were in
revolt against the repeal of the grain registra-
non duties. Re justified the repeal the
rround tha; the tax had been grossly misrep-
resented by political opponents. and that it was
o rr!Aing duty upon food imports and OF no
account unless II formed part Of a general sys-
Ten q fiscal reform bearing upon the relations
bstween the mother country and the colonies
NJ Chamberlain did not raise any objection to
the repeal CT the corn duties, but enlarged upon
fhA advantages Of fiscal union within the empire
and OF the resumption Of the resources Of nego-
tatioa and retaliation in defence Of business
interests Of the colonies. The TWO speeches bore
internal evidence Of Encouragement and con-
sultatior-
Nothing could be more Illogical than the in
serenceS drawn by Liberal writers and German
journalists that the two statesmen were at odds,
end that one was heading agitation against
the other an6 intriguing for the leadership.
They were heartily in accord in expressing sym
patlly with fiscal union as a means Of promot-
ing imperial federation. and each declared that
tbs time had not come FOR settling the question:
Mr. Chamberlain has Influenced Mr.. Balfour,
without doubt; but Lord Beaconsfeld was an
fuaperialst before either Of them got fairly out
u irsular politics. and not only the Conservative
marty, bit the country as well. has been moving
slowly IL the direction Of q new hscai poIcy Ss-
sept.ally different from Cobdenisu. Mr.. Balfour
IS prepared TO welcome that policy when It
-oraes and Nj Chamberlain. while he is not IN
-,oaue haste is willing 10 discuss ii as an issue
mach greater IN its consequences than any OF
the local questions about education ana temper
snce. There is no evidence that Mr.. Champer-
lain aspires 10 lead the Unionists or to form
new irnperialist party He remains in the COLO
riaJ once. preoccupied with the details Of the
south African settlement, and more fascinated
,han ever by the comprehensive interests OF
-o-1a-zs5e ernuire but he is loyal to mis- leader.
and is the same practical politician who was
once Afavor Of birmingham and introduced the
-,-nrrAssive municipal policies Of the provincial
towns.
NJ chamberlain's Birmingham speech in
stead Of containing q startling proclamation o4
iuoperial disunion, as some OF the haolca-
5o1I-nals affect to believe. reamrms with dirlin-
1shed emphasis policies advocated by MN "Ileh
he first entered the Colonial Once. His career
.. . colonial administrator was opened with
,-o-ossls for developing the neglected estates
~ the empire with grants from the ezchequeI'
ana mt long afterward. in an ADDRESS before
tbs Canada Club he took up imperial feoera-
Inn on the business side and recommended ten
+a+i,,elv 2 zoIverein, with free trade Irsioe ana
ravenue Duties outside. against all countries mol
r-5-fsb He was prepared 10 recast the COD
denite commercial policy and 70 impose duties
On hreadstufs. sugar. wool and other prooocIs
coming from countries outside the empire; anu
With 2 tariff for revenue in place Of unrestrlet-
81 importation from every quarter OF the world
he predicted that imperial federation coulo De
brought about The views which Nj ChanlOef-
lain expressed seven years ago were more oel-
fnite and advanced than those OF his Burning
ham speech He has attended two conferences
RI colonial Preriers and knows how ditncuIt II
* 10 arrange working basis for preferential
trade much less for an imperial zollverein for
the rossessious Of the British crown The zeal
fa- tr1perial unity remains, but 1t is kept IN
der closer regulation and control Mr.. ChaIh-
berlatn still cites M Cobden's treaty with
z--a,ce IS a preoedent for tariff negotiation, on
the basis Of quid pro quo, as he did seven years
sgo and he also Jauntily discriTlinates between
The academic pedantry Of the original Aanches-
-ar school and practical adaptation OF the
rrircfrle Of unrestricted import trade TO 'he
sI-e-zd conditions Of foreign competition and to
ne urgent requirements Of imperial defence.
His presentation Of the question, however IS less
definite than it was at the Canada Club IN
s-aas NJ foracast.ng the operation of zoll-
1,s-etn or Of preferential tariffs. he suggests
rac-ic.l method Of forcing fiscal revision upon
public attention, first, through an appeal 20
a.ti-Gern1an feeling now prevailing in England
and secondly through persistent discussion OF
imperial interests and the relations OF tne
mother State and its loyal colonies
wr Chamberlain being a master of political
5islec-icg. states the case most adroitly- cana
IA has been granting preference Of 80 per
cent 10 British goods and would make even bet
Ter terms e compromising privileges were or
fsred South Africa is prepared TO conceoe
-inllar preference, and the force OF example
would be likely 10 influence Australia ana olheF
colonies Canada. however, has been exposed
10 rep-isals from Germany for granting special
favors 70 the mother country, and South Africa
and other colonies are liable TO similar punish
rnent from protection States Great Britain
with fiscal system which opens its markets
On terms Of absolute equality TO foreigners ana
colonials alike can neither discriminate in favor
of loyal children or of fair traders nor retaliate
against Germany which deliberately penalties
the trade Of Canada. Mr.. Chamberlain still pro-
claims himself a free trader principle but
he considers these conditions intolerable- AS an
Irnperialist. he considers that the United KING
dom ought 70 protect loyal colonies against re-