The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-02
regions where his industry will be looked

weight on the artisan and the labor classes which are incapable Of protecting their interests against such calamity.
 Now if l have rightly described the dangeds and evils We suffer, you are en- titled to ask me whether I know of a cure. My answer will be disappointing I know of no cure, but l do know of a palliation. The ill has gone too far You will not get the great commercial nations of the world to abandon protection. l fear that you will not get the great self governing colonies to retrace the steps which we without remonstrance permitted them to take. am here therefore to recommend a palliation which I believe to be still possible.
 "Cobden hoped and believed in free trade throughout the world. What in fact We have to deal with is a world where international commercial relations are regulated entirely by treaty. It is common sense that we, the greatest com- mercial nation, should come forward and say We want to arrange treaties with you, but We have nothing to give you, nothing to withhold from you? We throw ourselves on your mercy and consldega- ton. Please remember how good we are pediment in its way and how we do all We can for you, and please do not forget us when you are making your next treaty.
 Fair Exchange Necessary.
 Are the negotiations between nations which deal with duties on manufactur- ed goods different from other negotiations carr1ed on for other purposes? Did any man ever hear of successful negotiations without nation which having something to give. in case of necessity, might with hold 1t?
 My fundamental and essential request to you tonight to which the rest of my speech is subsidiary and incidental is, that the people of the country should give to its government that freedom of nego- ttation of which we have been deprived, not by force of circumstances or by the pressure of foreign powers, but by some- thing I can describe only as our own pedantry and sef-concedt."
 Proceeding to deal with the question of now the freedom he desired was to be used, MT. Balfour thought that the ques- tton was rather unreasonable No minister could say how the navy was to be used few years hence. One could say only that 1t was necessary to have great navy in case of need
 '1n my judgment" continued the Pre- mier. Tt Is equally necessary that this country should have it's command of those instruments of negotiations for which I ann pleading. The German States illustrate how a fiscal union pre- ceded and strengthened a political union, put as Tar as our colonies are concerned we have been content to see fiscal dlyis ions growing up which no man of eober Judgment can contemplate without dis quiet"
 4 Difficult Branch,
 This was an important and difficult brancn of the problem, though the sneak CT believed that the evils of the taxation or food had been exaggerated beyond what reason and logic justified Still he thought that public opinion was not yet ripe for the taxation of food. Therefore as an adviser of a great party he was bound to tell them plainly that it was outside the limits of practical politics. He was not anticipating a general tartff war but he thought I've might inform any foreign country that we thought was treating us with outrageous unfairness that unless they modified their policy we should take certain steps with regard to certain articles exported by them"
 He proposed to ask the country to re- verse. to annul and altogether to delete from its maxims of public conduct the constructive rule that it must never im- pose taxation except for revenue. In his tude-ner' the country ought never to have stood self deprived of that liberty and it should publicly resume in the face oi Europe and the world the liberty of which 1t deprived itself. the liberty which every other country in the world pos- sesses and that no country would deprive itself of the liberty of negotiating an.i having something with which to neeo tiate.
 Mitigate Injury.
 To the next question, why they should want to resume this liberty. seeing ho 4 well the country had prospered withou. it. he would reply:
 My object is to mitigate to the utmost the injury done us by hostile tariffs. The proposed remedy will not be complete. even if tried in its integrity because I believe that the country will not tolerate tax on food. but undoubtedly 1t will be useful
 "A leader, however unworthy of his par ty, must lead it, and so long as he held that position he meant to lead. He had given the great question his earnest con- sideration and he was firmly convinced that the policy which he now recommend ed was not only in harmony with Eng lands best tradition, and not only found a precedent in the statements of her greatest leaders. but was also the best which the country. dependent solely as 1t was. on its commercial and manufactur- ing position. could adopt. Tn that faith and in that belief he recommended 1t to their favorable consideration MT. Balfour sat down amid loud and prolonged cheering. vote of confidence in the ministry was adopted unanimously.
 The Premier afterwards addressed the overflow meeting