New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-02
ENGLAND'S SAD PLIGHT.
EVILS OF FREE TRADE.
BaIfow Pleads for Tariff. as G
"Pdlliation.


csr-paien. The speech viii be Of interest not
only 10 the United Kingdom and her ooiohieS'
but also 70 the whole world.
~ r.1four in the course Of his speech did not
even hint At The successors in the Caolnet 10
NJ Chamberlain. Lord George Hamilton anu
NJ Richie He did not even mention the minis
-e-,sr -e=irnstions ard ignored altogether that
rhase Of the situation on which II was expected
7ha- he would make some declaration. The Pre-
-,;ar confined himself strictly TO the tariff CUES
zion and his speech was 10 a large extent a
renerirjon Of the arguments contained in his re-
cent pamphlet
The meeting tonight held in the Artillery
Drill Hall. the largest auditorium available
FULLY FIVE thousand persons gathered in the hall
long before the hour at which Mr.. Balfour was
announced 10 speak, and many more who
were unable 10 gain admittance attended an
overflow meeting in Albert Hall. Other thou
sands who could rot be accommodated at either
meeting stood outside in the rain joining those
inside the halls in patriotic songs and cheering
the names Of the party leaders
Prominent MEN PRESENT.
NJ. Bafour was accompanied by a number Of
prominent men. including the Duke OF Marlbor-
ough. Lord Hugh Cecil Winston Churchill NJ.
P. Viscount Goschen and F. W. Lowe NJ. P.
and Chairman Of the Council Of the Union. He
was given enthusiastic reception. The Earl
Of Derby presided in the absence OF the Duke
q Norfolk. who is slightly III. The earl intro
duced Mr.. Balfour in a brief speech.
When he arose TO speak the Premier was
greeted with repeated rounds Of cheers. He
first made the statement that because he knew
the audience wanted to hear his views on fiscal
reform he would. therefore deal with that sub
ject alone. He said:
What is it that has brought this topic into
would attribute the Importance il has attained
- that great speech delivered bv a great man,
Mr.. Chamberlain. last MAY. but something more
IS required 10 account for phenomenon IN
paralleled in the experience Of any man / am
NOW addressing
Mr. Ralfour attributed the prominence Of the
subject 10 the fact that the country in
closer touch with the colonies as result Of the
recent war in South Africa. and that the repre-
rentatives Of the ministers in the colonies had
brought before the empire the question Of tariff
reform. Another reason was that for long
time prior 10 the Development Of the present
controversy there had been great uneasiness
among all parties and classes 70 the cond-
zion a British trade in relation 10 the trade Of
the world Mr.. Chauberlain's speech would not
have had the effect it did. he said. II il had not
fallen on prepared ground. and if Canada's ef
fort 70 give preference 10 the mother country
had not brought ont threats from least
foreign country Of retaliation. This had brought
hor - many minds the helplessness Of Great
Britain under such circumstances 70 meet
situation So unexpected and so dangerous.
FREE TRADE AN EMPTY NAME.
Tho las, sixty years. he continued. had been
filed with refutations Of the prophecies made by
the ereat tariff refoTmers. He believed that the
reforms of 1876 we're necessary at that time,
hu; every year Of the last thirty had contra
dicted the prophecies Of the reforners. The
Premier paid a tribute TO Golden. who had an
fdesl. he said. but who did not foresee the de-
Neloprents Of the last half century. which had
'7ade free trade an empty name and = vain
torce. For fifty years. without making sign.
England had watched the wall Of hostile tariffs
growing W and dividing nation from nation.
he then added
And our colonies. our own flesh and blood.
sre building up system after another Of
protection which when il reaches its logical
conclusion. viii make il as hard to export to
them as 10 America or the other protective
countries. and during the whole lifetime Of
those am now addressing we have done moth
ING WhafeFeI 10 hinder a state OF things so an
soufelT inconsistent with free trade as Golden
understood IL. / ought TO make one exception.
one great and successful effort was made by
Golden himself when he negotiated a CONNER
rial treaty wiki France in 1888. When /
slider that treaty ] ask myself whether Golden
was indeed Cobdenite.
Detailing the history Of this treaty. Nj Bal
negotiating il intended to offer a remission Of
taxation ir return for which protectionist
France was 10 make certain trading concessions.
and failing those concessions the taxes were TO
b. retained. Here he continued by saying.
AMERICAS MARVELLOUS GROWTH
consider that there is absolutely no differ
e7ce between retaining for diplomatic
purposes which you would otherwise repeal and
r. " OF he v-fea ,Cr
impose for carrying out The same object I con-
less thar when 7 hear criticisms upon American
ana German policy which caused those great
industrial nations 10 accompany their marvellous
Nofnfnercial exp nSiou with protective duties
Nh1ch must have thrown most heavy burden
upon the consumer. 7 feel that they have q re-
III. 70 which T. 81 least have no reply. They
80 80 vel say that although protectionist they
- tstab lshed permanent free trade within
.bF- IHl-l,s Of theiI own country, where every
,be 3,.-r ..l,n can hamper production or limit
.hCs t'-Iease Of wealth has been abolished by
,..i fau''llsn and foresight. and they NAV
- esh Us whether we in the british Fnlrira
,.sr.i..5' - ~ q slnlla' picture. nd whether
v~--a-----l'-e trade includes those great self
- ~ - eiphleS which we proudly boast
future ieSseS 81 our empire IN me
~ e or, 1Lsae is indeed an empty name and
s~e se--ivc ~ IS tact that foreign nations
$4,000 -. .LeIlseNes 10 divert our industries
fRciuae our manufactures ana III, - ;,,.-
49,, "a 80 - - supply and demand There has
- . 800 iilent q which Tob5or snS re
contsfr poTaIles never dresrDe5 r. i-1 ills s
81 me trust system under r,ro.ao... -
- &c = - n" mat dare scarce vent
Dre 10 prorhesy what DEVELOPMENT - % a., -,
take, but YOU may be ahs6lrtsi.- 20 M! -
ne alliance of trusts and tariffs tbers :; 'i - "a
ger 70 The capital and enterprise ~ tbts 90.
Try which acts and reacts not r,ai,,1, @
reTif8liSt. Tor b. is 2 liberty "a - .ioli nc
[+tlo.s W6e.e ms inaGsiry viii be looked after
Dur u VIII felt with is heaviest weight me-,
the artisan and the labor classes vrhicb uPoh
capable Of protecting their Interests sge,, III
such calamity.