The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-05
ROSEBERY STRONG
FOR FREE TRADE
THE FORMER LIBERAL LEADER
MAKES A SPEECH IN WHICH lie
SCORES CHAMBERLAIN.

Lord Rosebery, at Sheffield, declared
in characteristic speech of brilliant
rhetorical denunciation of protection
interspersed with clever and caustic al
lusions to Chamberlain and the predi-
cament in which he had placed the
Government. The Earl said he doubted
if there had ever been any fiscal in
quiry. The Ministry mad probably in
vestigated not the nations commerce,
but the constituencies. He deprecated
policy of retaliation, which woulu
land the empire in a contest with
every nation in the civilized world
He held that free trade had not failed
but had been a great success. TIL,
new policy. instead of solidifying,
would tend to dislocate and probably
dissolve the empire
Lord Rosebery warned his hearers
that they could not try new DO cy
and drop it if it failed. Protection,
once established, could not be up
rooted, and would bring in it's train
trusts, monopolies and probably cor
ruption. If the country wanted to
better itself, he continued, let 1t Guilt
vate scientific spirit and better edu-
cation, and above all keep the universe
for reservoir of food and raw ma
terial. He ridiculed the idea that the
colonies would consent not to estab-
lish. new industries for the benefit OF
the United. Kingdom. A fair and
practical imperial tariff could not be
devised, and heaven protect them
from the bad blood and jealousies that
such an attempt would engender.
He was very doubtful about the
proposition that a fiscal should pre-
cede a political union In any event,
what Chamberlain's friends ignored
was that everything in the empire had
been strong and successful because
1t was free and spontaneous. Lord
Rosebery quoted Sir Wilfrid Laurier
to the effect that, not restricted trade,
but only the most absolute freedom,
political and commercial, would sue
coed in building up the empire.
In conclusion. Lord Rosebery said
that he dOuld not forget the long
agony through which the nation had
passed from the protective system,
which had brought 1t to the verge of
famine and ruin into the better and
freer conditions now prevailing. They
could not risk this splendid result on
hazard of the political die. They
could not leave the brilliant known un.,
der any guidance or prophetship for
the dark unknown.
A storm of cheers greeted the Earl's
closing remarks. 80,
Lord Rosebery made no attempt to
refute Chamberlain's contentious by
argument statistics or a detailed ex-
animation of his proposals. He con-
fined himself to congratulations. He
evoked applause by describing Cham
berlain as the real head of the pres
ent Government.
In reference to Balfour's attempts
to gag Parliamentary discussion of
the fiscal problems, he said: You can
not prevent a storm by sitting on the
barometer"
Lord Rosebery was loudly cheered
when he declared that the prospect OF
worse relations with the United States,
Germany, Russia and France was not
alluring to him.
The Earl of Roseberys strong free
trade speech is a great disappointment
to the supporters of Chamberlain, who
had apparently hoped, basing this hope
on the ambiguous speech his lordship
made at Burnley some time ago. that
he might be. found on the side of the
fair" traders. This disappointment is |
increased by a hint given by Lord
Rosebery in his speech that he is will