The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-18

party leader. Accordingly. I would sug- gest that you limit the present policy of the government to an assertion of our freedom in the case of all commercial re- iauons with foreign countries and that you should agree to my rendering my res- ignation of my present office to His Ma 9esty and devoting myself to the work of explaining and popularizing these princi- pies or imperial union which experience nas convinced me are essential to our flu. ture wenare and prosperity.
 Yours very sincerely,
 Joseph Chamberlain"
 The first portion of this letter refers to MT. Chamberlafn's first speech on the sub Ject at Birmingham and MT. Balfour's re- ply to the corn tax deputation. MT. Chamberlafn says that neither of them was intended to provoke a purely partv controversy. He points out the unyieldinp opposition of the Liberal party which secuted the idea that a system generally accepted In 1886 could possibly require modification in 1908. Meanwhile. the edA vocates of the reconsideration were at a great disadvantage owing to the admitted olnerence sof opinion inside the party. The political organization of the party was paralyized.
 Mr. Chamberlain declares that an un- scruplous use has been made of fine ola cry Of the dear loaf'' and that serions prejudice has been created. In the rest or the letter he goes briefly over the same ground regarding protection as did MT. Balfour in his statement.
 Merely Q Summary.
 MT. Balfour in letter to Mir. cbanober- lain dated September 16 explains that he aid not reply earlier because he knew he would have soon an opportunity of talk Ing over the important issues with which the letter deals. Therefore this renlv rather embodies the results of our con, versations than adds anything new to them."
 MT, Balfour continues: Agreeing as I do with you that the time has come when change should be made in the f,scaI canons by which we bound ourselves fin our commercial dealings with other gov ernments. 1t seems paradoxical, indeed that you should leave the cabinet at the same time that others of my colleagues are leaving 1t, who disagree on the very point with us both. Yet I cannot but ad- init that there is some force in your ar guments in support of that course, based as they are upon your special and per- sonal relation with that portion of the controversy which deals with colomal preference. You have done more than any man living oc dead to bring home to the citizens of the empire the conscious ness of imperial obligation and interde- pendence between the various fragments into which the empire is geographically divided.
 II believe you to be right in holding that this interdependence should find ex- presston in our commercial as well as in our political and military relations. I believe with you that 8 closer fiscal union between the mother country and the colonies would benefit the trade of both and that if such closer union could be establish in fitting terms its advantage to both parties would increase with yew,rs and as the colonies grew in wealth and population.
 If there has ever been any difference between us in connection with this matter 1t has only been with regard to the practicability of your proposal which would seem to require on the part of the colonies limitation in the all round de- velopment of a protective policy and on the part of this country the establishment of preference in favor of important colonial products. On the first of these requirements I say nothing; but If the second involves, as 1t most certainly does. taxation, however light, upon food stuffs, l am convinced with you that public opinion is not ripe for such an arrangement The reasons may easily be found in past political battles and present political mfsrepresentatlons If. then, this branch of fiscal reform is not at present within the limits of practical politics, you are surely right in your ad- vice not to treat it as indissolubly con- | nected with that other branch of fiscal reform to which we both attach import ance and which we blieve the country is prepared to consider without prejudice.
 How cah I criticize your determina- tion? The loss to the government is great indeed, but the gain to the cause you have at heart may be greater still. If so, what can I do but acquiesce? Yours very sincerely, | "A. J. Balfour."
 'P. S.-May I say with what gratihca- ton both on personal and public grounds I learn that Austen Chamberlain Is ready to remain a member of the government? If there could be no more conclusive evidence that in your judgment as in mine. the exclusion of the taxation of foodstuffs from the party program is fin the existing circumstances, a course best fitted practically to further the cause of | fiscal reform
 COMMENT OF THE STAR.