Evening journal., 1903-10-02
BALFOUR TALKS FOR
TARIFF REFORM
The Premier Makes the Open
ing Speech in the British
Campaign
no NEW ARGUMENTS ADVANCED

London, Oct. Addressing a mass
meeting at Sheffield in connection
with the conference of the National
Union of Conservative Associations,
Premier Balfour delivered the speech
which has been long heralded as the
irst heavy gun to be fired in the fiscal
reform campaign, which is absorbing
the attention of the United Kingdom,
her colonies and. indeed. the whole
world, and which has caused the pres.
ent British cabinet CRISIS, the result
Of which it is impossible to foretell.
MIR. Balfour, in the course Of his
speech did not even hint at the sue
cessors in the cabinet to Mr.. Chamber
lain, Lord George Hamilton and Mr..
Ritchie. The premier confined himself
strictly to the tariff question, and his
speech was to a large extent a repe-
tition of the arguments contained in
his secret pamphlet.
What is It." the premier asked,
that has brought this topic into ex-
ceptional prominence? There are
those who would attribute the i'm
portance it has attained to that great
speech delivered by great man, Mr..
Chamberlain. in May last, but some
thing more is required to account for
a phenomenon unparalleled in the ex-
perience Of any man I am now ad-
dressing"
Mr.. Balfour attributed this promi-
nence to the fact that the country was
in closer touch with the colonies as
result of the late war, and that the
representatives Of the ministers in the
colonies had brought before the en-
pire the question Of tariff reform.
The premier paid a tribute to Cob
den, who. he said. had an ideal, but
he did not foresee the developments
of the last half century, which had
made free trade an empty name and
e vain force. For so years England
without making a sign had watched
the wall of hostile tariffs growing up
and dividing nation from nation. After
describing the treaty the premier
said:
Free trade is, indeed. an empty
name and a vain farce, if it is a
fact that foreign nations are setting
themselves to divert our industries,
exclude our manufactures and limit
the international policy Of supply and
demand. There has been a develop
ment of which Golden and IBIS con
temporaries never dreamed-the de
velopment of the trust system under
protection. The phenomenon is 80 new
| that / dare scarce venture to prophesy
what developments it is likely to take
but you may be be absolutely SURE
that in the alliance of trusts and tar
IFS there is a danger to the capita
and enterprise of this country, which
acts and reacts not mainly upon the
capitalist, for he is at liberty to go t
those regions where his industry will
be looked after but It will fall will
its heaviest weight upon the artisan
and the labor classes. which are in
capable of protecting their interests
against such a calamity.
Nov, If / have rightly described
the dangers and evils we suffer yol
are entitled to ask me whether l know
of cure. My answer will be disap
pointing. l know of no cure, but l d'
know Of a palliation. The Ill hai
gone too far. You will not get th'
great commercial nations of the worl,
to abandon protection. fear that yol
will not get the great self-governinl
colonies to retrace the steps whicl
we without remonstrance permitted
them to take. It is common sense tina
we, the greatest commercial nation
should come forward and say: wv
want to arrange treaties with you
but we have nothing to give you, moth
ing to withhold from you. We throw
ourselves upon your mercy and con
sideration. Please remember how goos
we are to your commerce, how WI
throw no impediment in its way, anC
how we do all we can for you, ant
please don't forget us when you err
making your next treaty." daughter
Concerning the question as Il
whether II was intended to revers'
the verdict of the great case Of Free
Trade VS.. Protection Of 1916, his an
swer was that the controversy Of 1S4l
was of no interest to the present gen
Grafton. and was utterly inappropriate
to 1903. He said;
"Our grandfathers fought the battle
in view of the actual situation. asl
the nation today TO follow their ex
ample and not be misled by musty de
bates. The second question is: 'D'
you desire to reverse and alter th'
fundamental fiscal tradition which hai
prevailed for two generationsT M,
answer is, Yes, do" loud cheers