New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-17
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Mr. Balfom and Mr. Chamberlain
C0ntrasted an Speeches.

Especial 70 The New-York Tribune by French cabie)
Copyright: 1903; BY The Tribune Association)
London. May 16-The two front benches Of
The House of Commons are not far apart yet
are not near enough at present to play cross
purposes. and even colleagues hobnobbing To-
sether officially do not seem 10 know what will
happen overnight. Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-
herman. seeking to provide diversion for the
dull session of the National Liberal Federation,
made UP an amusing series of syllogisms on the
corn tax. setting Mr. Chamberlain and the two
Chancellors of the Exchequer at odds. and rep
resenting the Prime Minister reasoning that
the tax could not do any harm to any body, aho'
consequently, must be taken OF immeolateIS.
Meanwhile Mr. Balfour himself was feebly an
sWering Mr.. Chapfns structures Of vacillation
unworthy the credit of an historic party. and de-
tending Mr.. Ritchie's repeal Of the corn duty on
the ground that protection could not be intro
duced silently by instalments without a man
date from the country, and that registration
duties could not have been used to promote
fiscal union with the colonies. Within few
hours OF the delivery of this cold, irresoiute
speech to a large body Of government support
ers Mr. Chamberlain making an inpas-
stoned appeal al Birmingham in favor OF pref
erential tariffs with the colonies, especially
Canada and justifying on imperial grounds the
resumption Of the powers Of negotiation, ana II
necessary. retaliation. when Germany was Pc
ralizins the trade Of British colonies
Conservative leader writers sorely de-
-7,oralized after night of such political topsy-
4r,rrevdorn and utterly unable % fHd thelr
t,ea-Irzs The Inference drawn by the Liberals
that Mir. Balfour and Mr.. Chamberlain are at
variance and cannot work together is not justi-
fed by the text Of the two speeches These
sneeches can he recopciled. Mr- Balfour spoke
ev-rnpat theticaIly Of closer union between the
mother country and the colonies, and was aole
Il forecast q period when altered condltlohs
would NOT allow England TO remain a passive
target for the tariff systems of other countries
MI Chamberlain cd not offer any objections
10 the repeal of the grain registration 9utles'
but discussed preferential tariffs with the colo
mics as an imperial question OF the near future
which might he forced by German reprlsals
and pressing offers from the colonial govern
rnents for genuine reciprocity Mr. Chamberlain
was neither bolder nor more outspoken al BIZ
r77jnzbarn than he was seven years ago, when he
advocated an imperial zollverein as pracucai
method Of working out imperial federation IN
= husinessIike way nor was there any evidence
in the new speech that he abandoning MI
E8alfour or heading q new movement IN opposl-
tion 10 the Cabinet
The personalities Of the two statesmen were
strongly contrasted in these speeches MI Bal
four was arniable but weak as political TRIM
rse- discussing the fiscal policy from the narrow
-,oin+ of view Of opportunism in counteractlng
r-,7,osstiou tactics and carrying the by-elec-
sions Mr.. Chamberlain was strong, master1uI
and farsighted IN forecasting the trend or I'M
reriaI tendencies, and in appealing earnestly 10
the country 10 reflect soberly upon the true
hearings OF free trade The contrast between
the two speeches is SO markedly unfaVoraOie
IN Mr. Balfour that the discontented Unionlsts
Nv ha
r,lv effective party leader. The relations or the
4vro statesmen are, however, most cordial, ana
No conflict over leadership is propapie- MI
Chamberlain is too practical pohtlciah j"
,sco,,nnend the immediate adoption of prefer
tiaJ tariffs and the abandonment OF lhe iee
trade system. To do this would be to haho Over
she Government of the country TO The Lioeral
party before South African affairs are set'ieu
and the general electorate is prepared Tor mo
,oentous changes in the tariff policy he Is
content as a great imperialist, to set the peo-
1le thinking on great subjects. The opportunity
for rea5iustrnent Of direct and indirect taAaIoh
WAS lost when the Boer War was feeDly nhahceu
fv Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. and the "ofhlilS
classes cannot be asked to make great sacil-
fees for the development Of the colonies anu
the promotion Of imperial unity without showing
resentment and returning the LiOeraiS " '
etrongholds Of power
Apart from this series Of corn law and pref
srentsai tariff speeches, domestic politlcs are
stagnant- The government amendments 10 'ie
Iondon Education bill give the County Couhcii
a ma sority but, as the borough councls sun
Central The appointment OF teachers and the
selection of school sites, more unkering VIII oe
requisite The promotion Of Lord OnsioW TO the
Cabinet brings large land owner into the De
rartr1en. OF Agriculture. The royal functiohs
are much more interesting than the sluggish
movement of party tacticans ehecting coil-
-or,,..s ty which the educa tional system VIII
he transferred from The experienced scnooi
boards to the unpractised agents OF Bunpieooih'
The royal progress in Scotland has been man
erea with an exceptional degree OF stateiihess
and has been accompanied by unmistahap'e
exsdznce of popular enthusiasm, both In hohi-
fureb and Glasgow. The court at Hoiyrooo
mas ,a exclusively Scotch function, and bar
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