The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-08
Not Easy Sailing.

Evidently it is not to be all easy sail
inf for Premier Balfour and Colonial Sec
rotary Chamberlain in their attempt to
undo Britain's economic policy, introduced
thru hard struggle with obstinate doc
trinaires nearly sixty years ago by Peel
and Golden.
A London cable notes a lack of enthusi-
asm among the conservatives, an absence
Of unity upon the subject Of the proposed
opening wedge Of protection. The report
that the Australian commonwealth and
the individual states Of the federation
were heartily in favor Of the preferential
proposition Is characterized as premature,
as there is a disposition to stand for
higher duties against foreign countries,
without reducing duties in favor Of Great
Britain Mr.. Chamberlain has written a
letter to a British worlkingman, who cited
the denunciation Of his proposition by
the trades union leaders as a rather for
nidable obstacle, saying that the work
ingmen would think and act for them
selves in this matter and reject dictation.
If they do, it will be the first time that
they have done so, but Chamberlain goes
on to argue that the proposed bread tax.
as it is called in England, while raising
the price of food, will surely raise the
rate of wages which will be compensation
for the workingmen. The government,
with grain, meat and flour tariff sched-
ule, would be In a condition to bargain
with foreign nations on equal terms. He
"a hf,o1r hot II, mo
lands Industrial vitality will be restored,
but it is manifest that, as Americans
have successfully fought Englsuds ad-
vantages Of unrestricted free trade, the
boast of Englishmen for SO long, by their
superior genius for reducing cost of man
ufacture by mechanical improvements
which have astonished the civilized world
: bodies of experts here to study the prin-
ciples of economic production, so will
they continue to hold the industrial pri.
macy as to England The British govern.
ment has reached the period predicted by
Napoleon, during one of his interesting
English now manufacture for the world
but the time will come when the worlc
will manufacture for itself. And wha
will you do then?'' This is the question
which is to-day bothering the British gov
eminent.
The Balfour regime has been denounced
as a failure by both parties as the per
sonifcation of inefficiency and stupidity
one member of it, the colonial secretary
being excepted always by the ministry
critics. Mr.. Chamberlain Is regarded b.
the majority of his party as the only NAL
who can govern wisely and pull his part,
out Of the muddle. While he was ii
South Africa, the cabinet blundered il
the Venezuelan business and in army re
organization. There seems strong prob
ability that some question may arise Of
which the government may be defeate
and the conservative party would eithe
try it's chances in a general election, o
Chamberlain might undertake to recon
struct the ministry and assume the pre-
n1iership.
If the question Of preferential tariff
brought up at an early date, the lack {
mature discussion on the subject woul
probably bring about the ministry's de
feat, but it is evident that it would nc
be expedient for the ministry to wait yer
long. The pressing question Of closer re
lations with the colonies and keepin
British trade in British hands is upper
most In Chamberlain's mind. More tina
year ago he made it the central though
of great speech at Birmingham, and h
laid down the principle that the only wa
in which trade union could be brougt
about between England and her colonie
was on the basis Of free trade, meanin
that unless England had such free acces
lit would be impossible for her to impos
duties on merchandise coming from fol
eign countries into English ports The,
is no evidence that the colonies are unite
in support Of the Indispensable conditio
specified by Chamberlain. He now wee,
to preferential trade. Neither Canada n,
Australia would accept the former propt
sition. Meantime some Of Mr.. Chambe
lain's admirers insist that he has the ba
at his foot If he has the will to kick II
Between floods in the southwest ar
southeast and drouth in the east. II
80 fIryryn e% {eS oh L