The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-18
ChambeTIain's Retirement.
How Are the Interests of the United
States Affected by It?

States Affected by 1t?
Whether or not Mr. Chamberlain's
resignation will hasten the downfall
Of the Balfour cabinet; whether or
not it foreshadows the return to pow
er of the Liberal party; whether or
not it sounds the death knell of i'm
perial federation on purely CONNER
cial lines; whether or not it Will wreck
the fortunes of this or that politician;
whether or not It will compel a re-
alignment of parties on issues forced
to the front by the elamor of new
school of statesmen; whether or not,
III a word, Mr.. Chamberlain erred in
throwing the apple of discord into the
political arena at TINS moment, we
have no means of knowing They are
matters which concern England and
Englishmen primarily. From our
point of view-from the point of view
Of the interests of the United States
as affected by Mr.. Chamberlain pro-
posal to cement the disjointed mem
bers of the British empire by a system
OF preferential tariffs-we are COM
PEELED to regard his retirement from
Office with nndisguised satisfaction
What did the Chamberlain policy
meant What did it seek to accom-
plish? 1t meant taxing the prime ne
cessities of life-the foodstuffs cor
sumed by the masses-and sought by
so doing to create in England mar.
ket for Canadian wheat and Austral-
ian beef. to the practical exclusion of
our wheat and our beef. In return
English manufacturers were expected
t. send their goods into Canada and
Australia on terms which would have
made il difficult, to say the least, fOi
Us to compete with them. Or, to ex
press it differently. Mr.. Chamberlain
proposed to tax the poor man in orde
that the English manufacturer nigh
thrive, and IT was upon the shoulder
of the poor man that he proposed t
place the burden of the task involves
IN realizing his dream Of an imperia
federation
Now. it may be perfectly imma
tcrial to as whether foodstuffs con
sumed by the English masses are dea
or not. 1t cannot be immaterial to rs
however. If the high price of thes
foodstulfs IS the result of a polio
which diseriminates against us and
favor of Our neighbor to the north.
may be argued, Of course, that II
crease IN trade with the mother com
Try will also increase Canada's pun
chasing power, and that, therefor
she will IN future be even more Of
desirable customer than she Is nov
That may be so; but IT Is, we thinI
mere conjecture. Without bein
welded To what has always appeare
L. MS to be the rather puerile cry {
standing pat" we Yet are forced
admit the trnth of the homely sayir
shat zone bird in the hand Is wort
two IN the bush" And it would
manifest folly. in our opinion, to loo
with eomposure upon schemes sEhl'
must. if carried into effect, leopard
our present trade with England al
send MS hunting so shadowy and el
sive a project as trade with Canat
based upon her future development
trade with 100000 people in e
change for one with 40.0O0.O00. II
only necessary TO make this simI
statement, we think, in order TO den
onstrate on which side IN the prese
struggle Of political parties IN En-
lend American sympathies should
enlisted. We can have 40 serious J
gret for Mr.. Chamberlain's retil
ment. We cannot bat rejoice that
policy has received a check.
Whether that check will pro
merely temporary one remains 10