The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-10


berlain's views<sBeth the pronounce
ment and the PREMIER were absent
from the debate. because, according to
report, Mr.. Balfour was spending the
evening endeavoring to persuade the
colonial secretary to remain in the
cabinet, Notwithstanding his differ
ences with his colleagues.
The debate VAS adjourned at mid
night. when. amidst a sensation.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Richie
said he hoped Mr.. Balfour would be
able to give the house on Wednesday
a definite statement on behalf of the
entire cabinet, though he could not
promise it.
1t Is Up 70 Ralfour.
Upon the resumption of the debate
Mr.. Chaplin's amendment to the bud
get bill, which is the cause of this SEN
cational political crisis, will be taken
up. Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
mas mod1ned ms position, probably
as result of today's proceedings. and
will demand the right of the Liberals
to know the premiers attitude toward
free trade before they support him in
the repeal of the corn tax Mr.. Balfour
will reply, and Mr.. Chamberlain is also
expected TO speak.
There are many members Woh be-
ieve tonight that Premier BaIfour will
also resign, and that a dissolution of
the house is involved. but these rumors
lack confirmation, the best opinion
being that a colution of the crisis will
be arrived at by Mr.. Chamberlain's
resignation or by an open declara-
ton that he is willing to drop for the
present his preferential tariff propo-
sails.
Hicks-Reach Starts Revolt.
Mr.. Chaplin's amendment was
scarcely made today before it became
a secondary consideration; it's defeat
is assured. Until midnight the fight,
If so undefended struggle could be
described So ragged around Mr. Cham
berlain. "Oif and vitriol' is the only
adequate description of Sir Michael
Hfcks-Beach's- speech, which started
the revolt. Amid intense silence this
famous Tory eX-minister extoIled the
colonial secretarys virtues and damned
his programme.
Black Michael" as he is Familiarity
called, was never seen to better ad-
vantage. The ministers sat with
troubled faces, Mr.. Balfour looking es-
pecially detected. Mr.. Chamberlain.
deserving his usual place, paIer even
than usual, stretched himself non
chalantly at the end Of the treasury
bench. Throughout the afternoon he
never exchanged a word with his COL
leagues. After. Mr. Richie had re-
nounced the COLONEL secretary's ideas.
Mr.. Chamberlain stalked out of the
chamber without even nod to Mr..
Balfour.
Attitude of the Unionists.
Member after member rose from the
Unionist ranks. Some who supported
Mr.. Chaplin, refused to 'eat their
words" with which they had previous
ly supported the government when the
corn tax was originally brought in
Others 1auded Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer Richie for his refusal to
pander to the spirit of protection All
demanded that Mr.. Balfour enlighten
them regarding the governments
view as a whole
Sir Henry Fowler GiberaD, in an
exceptionally able speech, dweft on
Premier Balfour's duty to the nation
to ascertain in the opinion Of his col
leagues and let the house and the peo-
pie know the cabinets decision re-
garding question which was so vital
to the empire.
After the dinner recess the excite
ment was heightened by the absence
of both the colonial Secretary and the
premier. A bitter attack on any tam
perlng with free trade was made by
Sir John Gorst Conservative, who
declared that great portion of the
rising generation in the United King
dom was already SO degenerate and
poverty-stricken that anything tend
ing toincrease the price of food would
threaten a national disaster.
Bryce Refers to America.
James Bryce OiberaD followed, de-
claring that the reference to the
United States made by Mr.. Chamber
lain and of haF Ixa, in,
the protectionist argument was quite
erroneous, as American prosperity was
due greatly to the cheapness of food
under a system by which free trade
prevailed between all the great states
composing the American nation. The
colonial secretary's idea, said the
speaker, would disintegrate the en-
plre and produce network Of pro-
tective tariffs such as that in which
America was now -enmeshed.
Then came another sensation when
the Hon. Arthur Elliot, the financial
secretary of the treasury, replying on
behalf of the government to Mr.
Bryce's inquiry, made a bitter attack
on protection1sts and preferential tar
IFS. He declared that the financial
policy Of the government was clearly
exhibited by it's decision to revoke the
corn tax. which saYored Of protection.
Severer Than Richie.
Il ask the house seriously to con-
slider what this country has to gain by
giving up it's position of being q
country of cheap imports" said the
speaker. L am. sure that the more
the people inquire into the subject the
more they VIII find it is essential to
the prosperity of the country that this
country should remain a cheap coun-
try, and that they will be convinced
that the basis on which our financial
and commercial system has been con-
Quoted since the days of Sir Robert
Peel should not lightly be dismissed as
of no account
Now the Ball Opens.
Mr.. Richie having formally moved
the second reading of the budget bill.
Mr.. Chaplin arose to move his amend
ment and proceeded warmly to attack
the chancellor of the excheouer. to
whose inaptitude, he said, they owed
their present remarkable position.
In repeating the grain duty, Mr. Chap
lin said, Mr.. Ritchie had made an ir-
retrievable mistake and had precipi-
tated a movement for which neither
his party nor the country was pre-
pared. For the moment he appeared
to have prevailed over Mr.. Chamber
lain, but his triumph would be short
lived. Mr.. Chaplin blamed the gov
eminent for yielding to Mr.. Richie,
saying the ministers had thrown away
a weapon which would have helped
them to carry out the new fiscal poll
icy to which Mr.. rBalfour and Mr..
Chamberlain were committed.
Mr.. Chaplin referred to the ex-
traordinary position in which the fol-
lowers of the government had been
placed by the INDIGESTION of the minis
tiers. 1t was useless, he added, to seek
ia