Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-10-14
IN OPPOSITION.
Rosebery Speaks Against
Chamber|ain's Fiscal Policy.
Immense Audience at Sheffield, En-
thusiastic to the Extreme.
Mr.. Chamberlain Is III at Home With
the Gout.

London, Oct. 13.-Lord Rosebery
spoke, tonight, at Sheffield, whittier he
went In order to definitely record his
opposition to Mr.. Chamberlain's fiscal
policy. He was greeted with the utmost
enthusiasm by an immense audience
ana delivered characteristic speech
OF Dflillant rhetorical denunciatlOn of
protection interspersed with clever and
caustlc illusions to Mr.. Chamberlain
and his predicament in which he had
placed the government.
He doubted. he said. if there had ever
been any fiscal inquiry The ministry
had probably Investigated not the ma
TONS commerce but the constituencies.
He deprecated a policy Of retaliation
Which would land the empire in a con-
test with every nation in the civilized
world. contest to which Armageddon
would be a friendly Joust. He held that
free trade had not failed, but had been
a great success. The new policy in
stead of solidifying would tend to dis
locate and probably dissolve the en-
pire. His lordship warned his hearers
that they could not try new policy
and drop it if it failed. Protection once
established could not be uprooted and
would bring i'll its train trusts, monop-
olies and probably corruption.
If the country wanted to better itself
he continued, let it cultivate a scienti-
lic spirit and better education and
above all keep the universe for a res
ervoir of food and raw material. He
ridicued the idea that the colonies
would consent not to establish new in
dustries for the benefit of the United
Kingdom. A fair and practical impe-
rial tariff could not be devised and
Heaven protect them. from the bad
blood and jealous that such an attempt
would endanger.
He was very doubtful about the pre-
paration that fiscal should precede a
political union. In any event, what Mr.
Chamberlain friends ignored was that
everything in the empire had been
strong and successful because it was
free and spontaneous. Lord Rosebury
quoted Sir Wilfred Laurier to the effect
that not restricted trade but only the
most absolute freedom. political and
commercial, would succeed in building
up the empire. a
In conclusion Lord Rosebery said that
he could not forget the long agony with
which the nation had passed from the
protective system. which had brought it
to the verge of famine and ruin, into the
better and freer conditions now prevail
ing They could not risk this splendid re-
suit on a hazard of the political dice
They could not leave the brilliant known
under any guidance or prophetship for
the dark unknown.
storm of cheers greeted his closing re-
marks. Lord Rosebery made no attempt
to refute Mr. Chamberlain's contention by
argument statistics or a detailed exam
ination of his proposals. He confined
himself to genera lizations. lie evoked APP
plause by describing Mr.. Chamberlain as
the real head of the present government
In reference to Mr.. Balfours attempts
to gag parliamentary discussion of the
fiscal problem. he said: You cannot pre-
vent Il storm by sitting on the barome-
ter.
He was loudly cheercd when he de-
clarcd that the prospect of worse rela-
tons with the United States. Germany.
Russia and France was not allurng to
him
Colonial Secretary Lyttleton issued an
election address to his constituents at
warwick and bennington. ms morning.
III which he says he is in entire agreement
with the fiscal change which Mr.. BaIfour
and Mr.. Chamberlain together advocate
Mr.. Lytteton holds that the government
SHollG pc en3Dled 10 mitigate the 1nequdl-
ltV of foreign competition and to nego-
tate effectively for a reduction of foreign
tariffs on British goods by having the
power to impose taxation on foreign man
ufactureS.. The colonial secretary is con-
WINGED the empire should be further knit
ted together by strengthening the com
mercial ties of its various parts by pref
erential tariffs. TO secure closer ties with
the colonies involved a reimbursement of
the taxes on food particularly affecting
the poorer classes. who should have a full |
opportunity to infinitely and deliberately |
consider the matter. 1t should, therefore, !
be distinctly understood that there is no
proposal to impose preferential tariffs for
the colonies without further reference to |
the electorate
at Highbury. his residence at Birmng- |
ham. by sharp attack of his old enemy, |
govt. He hopes. however. to have suffi- |
GENTLY recovered to keep his New Castle |
engagement, Oct. 20.
London. Oct 1.-THE idea that Lord |
Rosebery was bidding for the leadership |
Of the Liberal party in his speech at Shelf |
field finds no support in the editorials |
published by the Liberal papers, TINS
ton that he has no longer left his atti-
tude doubtful. as he did by his Burnley !
speech. last May, when he said that he |
did not regard free trade as a part of the
sermon on the mount, but there IS no
attempt to hail him as the leader of the
party.
The Conservative organs in their com
ments endeavor to minimize the import
ance of Lord Roseberys free trade dec.
laratonS by representing as sun OF
an undecided character. ana contenulns
that there is nothing to show that he VIII
remain in the same mind tor long. me
earl of Dunraven has written letter
strongly supporting Mr.. Chamberlain's