New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04
THE DAY OF GOLDEN PAST
CH4MBERL4IN'S POLICY.
Leaders Formal Statement of HIS
Retaliatory Proposals.

written manifesto forcibly enunciatng the
carcinal features Of his fiscal policy. AS the
document will not be published in the United
Kingdom until Monday morning. the effect on
the public and the press can only be estimated.
II is certain, however. that the aggressive at
titude which Mr.. Chamberlain adopts will add
bitterness to a controversy that already RACES
with vigor almost unequalled' In the history
of English politics.
Mr.. Chamberlain now not only reiterates his
belief that the federation Of the empire depends
upon fiscal retaliation. with Its consequent
taxes upon Engand's food, but openly classes
| the out-snd-out Cobdenites with the Little
! Englanders," whom he derIdes with all the force
| of ridicule and argument of which he is such
! a master.
Mr.. Chamberlain's four and one-half pages Of
preface to the shilling pamphlet in which c. a.
Vince, secretary to Mr. Chamberlains tariff or
| ganization summarizes the former Colonial Sec
retary's policy. is almost equally divided be-
| tween a fervent plea on behalf of preferential
trade, which is to federate the empire, and
striking dissection of what he holds to be the
ANTICIPATED doctrine of Cobdensm. OF Mr. Bal
tours middle road policy. which asks only the
power TO retaliate without taxing food. he makes
no mention but the whole manifesto and
pamphlet teens with evidence of his final con-
viction that nothing short of what he advocates
can keep the empire together and restore it's
trade prestige to the United Kingdom. Only
one slight reference is made to his former coll
leagues in the Cabinet
1 have already said" he writes, that the
| Little Highlander free traders care nothing for
the colonies. but bound to the imperlalist
free traders when they declare that the inter-
ests and union OF the empire are as dear to
them as to US. But if this be so what answer
are they going to return when our colonies ask
hem in nj mat
tiers little better than the foreigner. and when
they promise reciprocal advantages in return?"
lhls quite refutes the rumors that Mr..
chamberlain contemplated a compromise in
order to bring his programme more into line
with that Of the Premier. Not only does he
adhere to his taxes on wheat and meat. but
through the medium Of Mr.. Vince justifes
thefn, and declares that they will not add a
farthing % the workingman's family budget
The statement that every other nation and ALL
our own self-governing colonies have refused TO
accept the gospel of Cobden and yet although
they ought, according to its dogmas, to be in
the last stage Of depression and decline they
have grown during the last twenty years in
wealth population and trade, and in everything
that goes to make up the grea tness of a ma
ton is the keynote of the manifesto.
Mr.. Chamberlain does not rnnce matters
With characteristic aggression he carries the
tain" he writes, ''in a spirit of blind obscur-
antism. the absolute inspiration Of an antiquat-
ed doctrine will have much to explain" His
remarks are addressed to men of all political
opinions. since the questions now raised are not
necessarily matters Of party politics. nor indeed
is 1t likely that the issues will pe ultimately
decided on strictly party lines" He begins by
saying:
1t is difficult TO believe that the results Of the
investigation will not convince every impartial
man of the necessity for some reconstruction of
the system which has remained stationary and
| unaltered for more than half a century. while
every other policy has been modified and adapt
&c TO meet modern requirements
Mr. Chamberlain points out that the prosper
ity of working classes has increased in
greater proportion in the protected countries
than in the United Kingdom, and says:
Free trade, II IT had ever existed, might have
secured for US all that its promoters promised,
but free imports without free trade have brought
US face TO face with problems which never
entered into Cobden's calculations We know
that the idea of united empire did not appeal
to him. and that he regarded the colonies as an
eEcumbrance to he got rid of as soon as possible.
The little Englanders who follow his lead are
not likely TO be moved by any consideration
arising out of our new found pride and faith in
our distant kinsmen-
But what would Golden have said II he had
foreseen that the trade unions. whose existence
he deprecated would be successful in protecting
Ia Dor in a score of ways tending 20 increase
the rate of wages and to raise the Standard Of
| living? Would Golden, as the representative
Of the manufacturing class. have still main
tanned that while the manufacturer aTt-
fcially prevented from obtaining labor at the
lowest rate he ought TO rest content when the
products OF foreign labor untrammeled by any
regulations and legislation, to which he has to
submit, undersei' him in his own ~ arket? Coo
den's sChene at least consistent. II was
free Ia Dor as we'll as free imports but free i'm
ports combined with protected labor is neither
consistent nor profitable 70 any Of the parties
concerned.
Mr. Chamberlain holds that the consoling
theory that other countries running them
selves by bourties and import duties hardly CO.
incides with the fact that British exports have
been practically stationary for twelve years,
while those Of other countries have increased so
rapidly that 'lf the relative progress continues
for few years longer they will have left Us far
behind"
Dealing with the colonies desire for better
commercial treatment, Mr.. Chamberlain says:
II is no answer to offer them an irnperial
council, which they have already refused. If
we reject their proposals for reciprocity we shall
! be in great danger of losing our present trade
with them. well as the prospects Of its future
extension. II is entirely owing to the growth
! Of our colonial trade that the actual and heavy
decline in our exports TO foreign protected
countries has been concealed in or general re-
/ turns Do the stern advocates Of unrestricted
| imports consider il satisfactory that we should
have nothing to bargain with and continue to be
grateful for such crumbs fall from the rich
| mans table. in the shape, at the best, Of the
! most favored nction clause which only gives
! us the benefits of arrangements previously made
with sole reference to the interests of other per-
| sons and in respect whereto had never been
consulted? Is IT not chill fish to ignore the fact
| that by bargaining equal terms other nations
have been able TO promote their special interests.
| and that If we also had in our hands weapons
/ Of retaliation should probably be able 10
| bring the world mucn nearer n universal free
trade system than 1t has ever been since Cob
| denis time?