The Irish standard., 1903-06-06
cHAmBERLAlN's NEW POLICY.

IS not new, but to the present genera
ton may seem so. Protection or free
trade promises to become an issue in
English politics. Mr.. Chamberlain
knows that the issues of the Boer war
have not sufticed to win the bye-elec-
tons which have taken place in the
last three years. The present cabinet
has found it's strength constantly
weakening and had it not been for the
support of the Irish Nationalist it is
probable that there would have been
a dissolution of parliament ere this
Just how the crafty colonial secre-
tary hopes to win on his new platform
of preferential tariffs does not appear
He evidently thinks that the idea Of
imperial unity is so strong that Eng
lishmen will consent to tax them
selves in order to cement the empire in
closer unity.
His proposition is that tariff
should be imposed on food products
imported into England from foreign
countries but that no tax should be
levied on these products coming from
British colonies. This would Of course
create Il preference in favor Of Can
adam and Australian food products
over those imported from the Unit,
States. 1t is hoped in this way to
bind the colonies to England in Il
sort Of a trade fund or zollverein, and
thus to strengthen the empire. 1t is
admitted that such Il policy would in
crease the cost of food in Great
Britain, but it is assumed by Mr. Bal
four and Mr. Chamberlain that the
English workngman is willing to pay
something for Imperialism. Mr.. Cham
berlain slrewdly suggests that the
major portion of the revenue derived
from such tariff could be devoted to
providing pensions for the aged poor.
He knows that the workingman will
not consent to having the price Of
what he eats raised without getting
something in return. But it hardly
seems probable that the English work.
ingman can be captured on such a
plan. For unless the Englishman is
different from the American he does
not expect or intend to be among the
aged poor, and he will not consent to
have himself taxed in order that the
idler and spendthrift may be sup
ported in his old age. Mr.. Chamber
lain's proposition is our blessed Ameri-
can tariff idea carried to an extreme
in at least one respect. The American
workingman has been told over and
over again that lie is taxed i'm order
that he might enrich himself. That
is, it is admitted that tariffs increase
the cost OF living. but it is alleged
that it also raises the pay of labor to
Il greater extent. And strange as it
appears the American wOrkingman
has to large extent believed in that
in the cost of living is certain and
fixed while the increase in wages is
always contingent and seldom realiz-
ed. Mr.. Chamberlain can not use
this sOphistry to the English labOrer
engaged in manufacturing industries,
so he carries the idea of enrichment
by self taxation to the extreme end
by proposing that the English work
| ingman should tax himself poor SO
| that. when he becomes so poor he
cannot support himself. he may he
provided with Il pension. This is the
idea of the Republican party in this
country carried to its conclusion. Gre
ate by taxing people on what they eat
and wear. But no Republican states
man has yet had the temerity to tell
the workingman in this country that
after he had been taxed into poverty
and old age he would be pensiOned
We notice that the Republican pa
pers are opposed to the new PROPOSE
ton of the English government. Why
should they object to the application
Of the principle of our sacred tariff
system to Great Britain? IL our pro
tective tariff is such Il good thing why
not pass it along and allow the Eng
fish and Irish colonies the benefits OF
Il system which it is caimed has dOnt
so much 10" the labOrerS of this cOlln
try? The difficulty is that the APP
plcatiI:l of the principle will differen
tiatc against our trade with Grea
Britain and in favor of Canada. II
might prevent us from trading will
England and force us into establish
ing free trade relations with Other
countries. We almost wish that Mr.
Chamberlain may succeed in his plan
if the result would be to strike {:
death blow ut our monStrOuS system
have English workingmen taxed be
yOnd their measure. if it would result
in freeing the American lahorcr and
releasing the consumer from the
merciless nav OF the trusts. Wei
may the ministerial press of England
say as the Daily Telegraph does: '1t
America retaliates she will fly in the
face of her own principles as we'll as
British interests. What Chamberlain
proposes is mild form Of preventive
incubation with American principles