The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-16
Chamberlain's Strong Hints.

OF course, of all the speeches called
forth by the budget OF the British chan
cellor OF the exchequer since he intro
duced it on April %, that Of Colonial Secre-
,tary Chamberlain, yesterday, is the most
important
He is the strongest member Of the cabi-
net. the real promoter of the costly Boer
war, and an imperialist Of the extreme
kind. In his speech yesterday, he cham
pioned qualified free trade in no mistake
able terms, and made direct reference. in
speaking of the necessity Of maintaining
the trade of the colonies, to the offer Of
exceptional advantages made by Canada,
which Great Britain dared not accept
because of the narrow Interpretation OF
the doctrine of free trade" when the
country should not hesitate to resort to-
criminate against Great Britain and re-
sort to treaties of preference and reci-
procity with the colonies.
This Is pretty plain talk. Canada desires
Great Britain to remit the duties on grain
and flour for her benefit while retaining
them as against outside nations. The
chancellor has proposed the remission of
the grain duty Of 3 pence per hundred
weight and the pence per hundredweight
duty on flour for all who do business with
Britain. Mr.. Chamberlain insisted that it.
was national duty not to be bound by
any purely technical definition of free
trade. When he was in the liberal party
ba would t,o va thn1,o,hf en,oh q rnsition her.
etical to the principles of sound political
economy. He has abandoned the rain
bow illusions of Richard Golden, who
really thought that England would for
ever be the workshop Of the world and
monOpolize the manufacturing industries,
while she would get all her foodstuffs by
exchange Of products and grow rich be-
You'd compute by free trade.
! Mr.. Chamberlain's conversion to the
fair trade" movement Is symptomatic.
Twenty years ago delegates were thrust
out Of the trades union congress in Lon-
don because they were suspected Of being
fair traders. To-day the leading states
man and most influential member Of the
cabinet commits himself to the fair trade
principle.
! A few years ago the proposition was
made in the British commons to impose
a duty of 10 per cent on all articles of
. foreign production except raw materials
used in manufacture, and to admit all the
productions Of the colonies free, so as to
break down the hostile tariffs Of other
countries. This proposition embodies the
scheme for one great free trade empire
which was discussed at the meeting and
conference Of the colonial premiers last
year. It was not rapturously received by
the premiers, who distinctly affirmed that
in their view, the colonies were not de-
Tendencies of the mother country, anG
they took very practical business view
4 of the relations existing. They wanted
1 revenue and would get it even if they haG
to include the mother country in the get
ting. Mr.. Chamberlain admits that thu
4 empire cannot be consolidated and main
A tanned except relations of interest are re
1 garded as well as relations OF sentiment
He also recognized the fact that such con
solidation as he desires Is very much il
the interest of the mother country. sTh
preference in trade with the colonie
which he thinks is necessary would breet
retaliation upon Britain by foreign coun
tries. The self-contained empire is some
thing Of an iridescent dream.
If Secretary Chamberlain's speech ia
voring colonial preference and the mulct
: ing of outside trade brings on a, prolonge
81 debate in the commons, it will be inter
: esting to note the strength of fair trad
! and take the measure Of the influence Q
the cabinet minister who has gained tn
reputation in Britain of the man VIII
does things