New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-30
CHAMBERIAIN'S PROGRESS
anomalies an British PoLitics-1n
Impossible Referendum.
Lonion. Novernter n

r. y "a
play that they are foxes. and the real fox IN tia
bushes is waiting to catch them Leaders On
not lead and followers are elinging desperately
to the fence. There IS a single question =.
paramount Importance in public life. yet two a,
the veterans agree hat 1t ought not To IA
dragged into party politics. One Is Mr. Cham
berlain. who asserts that the fiscal policy a,
the empire ought not TO be discussed as a par.y
question. but in a strictly non-partisan sp,r,t
The other is Sir William Harcourt who cor.
tends that free trade has been accept.s h.,
both political parties for two generations. ana
ought TO have remained eleses question. rba
Prime Minister and his Cabinet having halted
halfway. when they are convinced that thsv
must go the whole distance. are silent becaus.
their is illogical and cannot be either az.
claimed or defended The forces IN opposition
are arrayed. not against the government. with
It's futile compromise Of retaliation. which Is
clearly impracticable without food taxation and
preferences for colonies. but against an indepsn-
dent leader who has ordered an unofficial pro-
gramme upon his own responsibility Neither
that programme nor the governments artificial
compromise binds any follower IN Parliament
and no obligations are recognized until a gen.
eral election can be held. and that is 20 be de-
ferred as long as possible. These anomalies ara
without precedent in the political history OF thu
United Kingdom.
Mr.. Chamberlain adds another to this tumble
of anomalies when he suggests that the fiscal
question should be converted into referendum
TO be submitted directly TO the electorate. He
does not say which fiscal question. for the gov
eminent has one and he himself has another
but he probably has in mind his own policy OF
a tariff of 10 PEI cent on manufactured imports
moderate duties on imported food and prefer
he al h.
separate from the ordinary issues Of public lie
and ask for a direct Judgment upon II after the
manner Of the Swiss referendum. The DAILY
Mali has organized a special canvass OF ia
own for the purpose OF securing as large poll
as possible on three lines OF public policy and
consequently Mr., Chamberlain's proposal serves
to advertise its enterprise. The newspaper ref
erendun will not be decisive. whereas the Swiss
plan would secure an official verdict, saturated
with the moral force Of public opinion. It
would relieve a feeble Prime Minister and
Cabinet of all the Mediocrities from the obIigs-
ton OF having any convictions upon the most
important question Of the day. 1t would enable
the electorate to pass judgment upon an alb
stract matter Of imperial finance without being
influenced by the Education act the War Com
missions report. the Irish land policy or the
general record of the Unionist administration.
When the vote on the referendum was recorded
the Ministry could carry out the public WILL and
there would be no necessity for change Of gov
eminent. whether Free Trade or Protection was
sanctioned.
An instrument OF this kind would be Of in.sti.
mable value TO Prime Minister with an aver
sion for leadership and to a Cabinet Incapable
of abandoning the fence. over which futters q
tattered neutral flag. 1t would relieve dis
credited government from the reproach Of tri-
fling with public patience and neglecting the
Of Office. 1t would also have been
a great convenience when stronger govern
ment than the present Ministry was in power
and the country was divided over Mr. Glad
stones home rule scheme for Ireland II a direc.
had been answered favorably a
Prime Minister who never lacked either courage
or moral conviction would have triumphed n
the closing and most arduous labor OF great
career. Mr.. Chamberlain would not have IA
vored the Swiss referendum when he was oppos-
Ing strenuously the CRAM Old Mans policy Of
reconciliation with Ireland. He reverts to Il
when he himself has great cause the Mis-
sioner of the Empire. and ardently desires to
separate it from the ordinary issues Of party
politics He would like TO dignity II moral
question of such vital Importance 20 the destinies
Of the English speaking race that every other
consideration must be put aside and the voters
free trade and fiscal reform by direct and plain
spoken yes or no.
1t is doubtful. however whether Mr.. Chamber
lain himself would accept the results Of pre-
mature referendum IN the only form IN which
Mr.. Balfour could place the fiscal question before
the country. He would be compelled by his own
record and by the resolutions OF the Sheffield
conference to submit to the nation retaliation
and preferential tariffs. with the taxation Of
food as separate proposals. with free trade as
the alternative Of either. The ultimate result,
If the general elections can be postponed for two
years. may be IN doubt. but II there were
premature appeal to the country on the thres
abstract propositions the. bulk OF the Unioniss
vote would be cast for the Official policy OF re-
taIiation. Otherwise the Unionist rank and hls
would be voting against the government IN pre-
ferring the unofficial programme, which the
great Missioner has been advocating with lucid
ity and eloquence and II by any chance tns1
programme were TO receive the sanction OF pup
lie opinion the business OF the country wouid
have TO be iquidated. a political was sA-
presses It, by the firm Of J. Chamberlain q
Son. The referendum would not be SATISFACTORY
to Mr.. Chamberlain if ii brought IN lhs OlA04o'
policy, would it be practicable for' n sIeS
sary as caution and elaboration may De- II In9
Unionist party is 70 be kept together ana sEaU-
ually converted to protectionisnl' reuaia''OH 60
not be separated from colonial preference anu
the taxation Of imported food Mr.. Balfour mas
ra,,ar axnlained how he intends 70 enforce re-
taliation against the United States He could
not render the policy effective unless ne taxed
food and gave Canada the benefit OF a prefer
ence. and this would be the Chamberlain Plan
The referendum would deprive BRUSH voter
Of the privilege of having the most iHlpOr'h.s
question Of the day discussed In every Oo'O~s
end district in the general election AOSu@o,