The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-02
PREDICAMENT OF ENGLAND
Golden Alone F0reSaW Effect
 of His Policy.
Unler Present Conditions, Says Premier, the Colonies and the Mother Country are Work
 ing at Cross Purposes.

London, Oct 1.-Addressing mass meeting at Sheffield tonight in connec- ton with the conference of the National Union of Conservative Associations. Pre- mier Balfour delivered the speech which has been long heralded as the first heavy gun to be fired in the fiscal reform cam paign which Is absorbing the attention of the United Kingdom. her colonies and, indeed, the whole world. and which has caused the present British cabinet crisis, the result of which 1t is impossible to foretell.
 MT. Balfour did not even hint at the successors in the cabinet to MT. Cham berlain, Lord George Hamilton ana MT Ritchie. He did not mention the minis terial resignations. ignoring altogether that phase of the situation. The premier confined himself strictly to the tarln question and his speech was to a large extent a repetition of the arguments contained in his recent pamphlet
 Crowd Tremendous.
 To-night's meeting was held in the Ar tillery Drill Hall. Fully 6OOO person gathered in the hall and as many more who were unable to get in attended an overflow meeting in Albert Hall. Thou sands who could not have been accom- modated at either meeting stood outside in the rain joining those inside the halls in patriotic songs and cheering the party leaders.
 MT. Balfour received an enthusiastic re- ception. He began with the statement that since he knew that the audience wanted to hear his views on fiscal re- form he would deal with that subject alone
 What is it?" the premier asked, that has brought this topic into exceptional prominence? There are those who would
 
 to that great speech delivered by a great man, MT. Chamberlain in May last; but something more is required to account for phenomeftof. unparalleled in the experience of any man am now address ing.' MT. Balfour Attributed this prominence Co the fact that the country was in closer touch with the colonies as a result of the South African war. Also because That for a long time prior to the develop ment of the present controversy there had been great uneasipess among all parties as to the condition of British trade in relation to the trade Of the world. MT. Chamberlains speech would not have had the effect it did if 1t had not fallen on prepared ground and if lanada's effort to give preference to the mother country had not brought out threats from at least one foreign coun- try in retaliation. This had brought home %o many minds the helplessness of Great Britain under such circumstances to meet situation so dangerous.
 The last sixty years, continued MT. Bal four. had been filled with refultations ot the prophecies made by the great tarln reformers He believed that the reforms of 1S46 were necessary at that time, but avery year of the last thirty years had contradicted the prophecies of the refor- mers.
 Tribute to Golden.
 The Premier paid tribute to Golden who he said had an ideal, but he did not foresee the developments of the last half century which had made free trade an empty name and vain force. Fol fifty years England. without making 8 sign, had watched the wall of hostile tar ifs growing up and dividing nation from nation.
 "And our own colonies, our own flesh and blood. the very sinewS of the grow ing Empire" proceeded MT. Balfour, "are building Up one system Of vested inter ests after another on protection, which when 1t reaches its logical conclusion VII make 1t as hard to export to them as tc America or the other protective countries And during the whole lifetime of those lam now addressing, we have done notn- ing whatever to hinder a state of things absolutely inconsistent with free trade as Cobden understood 1t.
 "I ought to make one exception. One great and successful effort was made by Golden himself when he negotiated a commercial treaty with France in 1858 When I consider that treaty I ask my self whether Golden was indeed a Cob denite."
 America and Germany.
 He continued: 1T consider that there Is absolutely no difference between re- taining a tax for diplomatic purposes which you would otherwise repeal, and Imposing a tax which you would other wise not impose. for carrying out the famc object. I confess that when I hear criticisms on American and German policy which caused those great indus 6ial nations to accompany their mar velous commercial expansion with pro- Sective duties, which must have thrown heavy burden on the consumer, l feel hat they have a retort to which al least have no reply.
 They may well say that although pro- ,ectionist they have established perma- 1ent free trade within the limits of their own country where everything which can hamper production or limit the increase of wealth has been abolished by their patriotism and foresight, and they may well ask us whether we in the British empire can point to a similar picture and whether our vaunted free trade includes those great self-governIng colonies which ve proudly boast are to be the great but hesses of our empire in the future.
 Free trade is indeed an empty name and A vain farce If it is a fact that for aen nations are settling themselves tc avert our industries. exclude our manu- factures and limit the international play ! Of supply and demand. There has been a developnent of which Golden and his c7ntemporaries never dreamed the de- ,eiopment of the trust system under pro- lection.
 Will Fall on Laborer.
 The phenomenon is so new I dare not venture to prophecy what development Il i, likely to take. but you may be abso- 1IteIv sure that in the alliance of trusts and tariffs there is a danger to the capi- tsl and enterprise of this country which sets and reacts not merely on the cap!- tallst. for he Is at liberty to go to those