Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-22

RAISING 1t in any way, can best promote
the cause have mt heart from outside,
and caannot but hope that in a perfectly
independent position my arguments may
be received with less prejudice than would
attach to those of n party leader.
Accordingly, ! would suggest that you
| limit the present policy of the government
to an assertion of our freedom in the case
of all commercial relations with foreign
/ countries. and that they should agree to
my rendering my resignation of my pres
ent office to his majesty and devotins my
self to the work of explaining and popu-
arizing those principles of imperial union
which experience has convinced me are
essential to our future welfare and pros
| perity. Joseph Chamberlain
Premier Balfour's Reply. II, !,
| Mr.. Balfour in a letter to Mr.. Chamber
| lain; dated September 49, says: i4 S1t31
Agreeing ass do, with YOU that the
time has come when Il change should be
made in the fiscal caR6ns by which we
bound ourselves in our commercial deal
! ings with other governments, 1t seems
| paradoxicDl, indeed. that you should leave
the cabinet at the same time that others
of my colleagues are leaving 1t who dis
agree on the point with us both.
| Yet I cannot but admit that there Is
some force il your arguments in support
of that course, based they are upon
your special and personal relation with
| that portion of the controversy which
| deals with colonial preference You have
| done more than any man living or dead to
bring home to the citizens of the empire
/ the consciousness of imperial obligation
land neutrality-suspicious. between the various
| fragments into which the empire is geo
graphically divided.
| .'It believe you to be right in holding
| that this interdependence should find ex-
/ preston in our commercial as well as in
| our political and military relations. l be.
1 lieye with you that closer fiscal union
4 between the mother country and the colo.
i that If such closer union could be estab
1 lished on fitting terma its advantage to
4 both parties would increase with years
4 and as the colonies grew in wealth and
population.
Differ as to Methods.
IF there has ever been any difference
between us In connection with this matter
1t has only been with regard to the prac
4 ticability of the proposal, which woult
1 seem to require on the part of the colonies
\ a limitation in the all round development,
of a protective policy and on the part o.
this country she establishment of a pref
erence in = Sor of important colonial pro
duets.
i ION ne first of these requirements / say
nothing but if the second involves, as i
most certainly does, taxation, howeve
a light upon foodstuffs, i am convinced
with you that public opinion is not We
/ ripe for such an arrangement. The rea
sons may easily be found in past poltica
battles and present political misreprescn
tations.
.If. then this branch of fiscal reform il
not at present within the limits of practi
cal politics. you are surely right In you
. advice not to treat it as indissolubly con
nected with that other branch of fiscal re
: form to which we both attach importanc
and which we believe the country is pre-
pared to consider without prejudice.
Resignation Is Accepted.
81 feel. however, deeply concerned tina
| you should regard this conclusion. howey
err well founded, as one making 1t Difficult
, in your special circumstances for you t
remain a member of the government. Ye
l do not venture In matter 80 strictl
personal to raise any objection If you thin
you can hest serve the interests of impera
unity. for which you have done so niue
by pressing your views on colonial prefer
| enee with the freedom which is possible /
Ian Independent position, but hardly con
patlble with Office.
3 How can criticise yOur determination
2 The loss TO the government Is great ii
deed, but the gain to the cause you hav
: Int heart may be greater still. If SO, wha
/ can l do but acqulesce.
A. j. BALFOUR.
, .P. s.May say with what gratifes
e tion, both on personal and public grounds
Z learn that Austen Chamberlain is read
I to remain member of the government
: There could be no more conclusive evidenc
: that in your Judgment, as in mine, the e,
: clusion of the taxation of food from tn
party program is in the existing circun
r stances a course best fitted practically 1
: lfurther the canseSof fiscal REFORM