The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-24

would prove impossible without Irish
Nationalist support. We believe that
this will turn out to be the case. no mat
ter whether general election shall pres
emily take place or whether Mr.. BALFoUR
tries to avert for year or more an
appeal to the constituencies.
1t will be remembered that during the
last session of Parliament, although Mr..
BALFoUR had at his back nominal ma
jority of 40, that majority was so dis
organized and Enthusiastically that on at
least one occasion the Premier would
have been beaten had he not been res
cued by the votes of the Irish Nationalist
party. How can he hope to pass sue
cessfully through the coming session
without similar aid? The once colossal
unionist coalition has been cleft into
three sections, according to the diverse
attitudes of its members toward the
project of Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.
One section Ia composed of those who
heartily concur with the ex-Secretary for
the Colonies in favoring the immediate
adoption of a tariff which shall enable the
United Kingdom by levying duties on
food products imported from foreign
countries to give preference to like
articles shipped from the Colonies. 1t
does not appear that this section will have
any avowed representative in the re-
constructed Cabinet except Mr.. AUSTEN
CHAMBERLAIN.
The second section, headed by the
Premier himself, and comprising almost
all the members of the Cabinet, as recon-
structed-the Duke of DEvoNsHIRR is
believed to be still an answering free
trader-consists partly Of those who con-
slider Mr.. CHAMBERLA1N's plan sound
in principle but inopportune and partly
OF those who do not want a preferential
tariff, but are ready at once to accept
such measures as would enable the Gov
eminent to negotiate reciprocity treaties
or to infict retaliation on foreign coun-
tries that persistently shut out British
goods. This second section would have
the support Of the first at any critical
conjuncture, and the two sections to-
gether may possibly control nearly half
the members Of the lower house.
The third section is made up Of those
who decline to sanction any departure
from Englands traditional free trade
policy. Their spokesman in the House
of Commons will include, besides such
e1-Mnisters as Mr. c. T. RrTCHIE, Sir
MICHAEL HIcKs-BEACH Lord GEORGE
HAMILTON and Mr.. ARTHUR ELLIOTT.
number of younger men who have
lately made mark in debate. The vot-
ing strength Of the uncompromising
Unionist free traders il variously COM
puted, but nobody has put 1t much lower
than about fourscore, total which
would be increased should the Duke of
DRvoNsHIRE leave the Cabinet.
Now, it is obvious that a transfer OF
some eighty votes, formerly Unionist.
to the Opposition would more than wipe
out Mr. BALFoURs majority, unless he
could reckon on the eighty-one National
list votes, in which event he would be
ostensibly as strong as ever, however
grievously he may have been weakened
in public opinion.
How can he secure the Nationalist
votes2 He and his colleague Mr.. WYNp-
HAM can claim the credit of the Land
Purchase act; but political parties at
grave crises are not apt to show them
selves sentimental and are less likely to
be influenced by past favors than by
~, rIhara ,s, ,,I~
the Premier and the Chief Secretary for
Ireland would cheerfully agree to estab-
lish at Dublin great Catholic university
which should exercise teaching as well
as examining functions. The time, how
ever, has gone by when such q con-
cession would suffice 1t might concili-
ate the Irish Catholic hierarchy, but
it would not satisfy the great body Of
tenant farmers who are about to be con-
verified into peasant proprietors We
have no doubt, also, that Mr. WYNDHAM,
if maintained in Office by Nationalist
votes, would carry out the promise made
at the last session to introduce bill for
the relief of agricultural laborers The
two concessions combined, however,
would be outweighed immeasurably by
the offer Of Home Rule which undoubt-
eddy would be forthcoming from the
Liberal Opposition.
1t will probably be needful therefore,
for Mr.. BALFoUR, if he desires to retain
Office for some time under the existing
circumstances, to grant so large an ex-
tension Of local self-government to Ire
land as, while disavowing the name OF
Home Rule, might be accepted as large
installment of the fact. The difference
between such an offer on the part Of Mr..
BALFoUR and that which is certain to be
made by the Liberals is that the former
could in all likelihood be made good,
owing to the Premier's influence in the
House of Lords; whereas the fulfilment
of the Liberal promise Of Home Rule
would encounter vehement opposition
in that body.