The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-27
CHAMBERLAIN
IN LIME LIGHT
Colonial Secretary Entertained
BY Constitutional Club.
SPEECH OF PREMIER BALFOUR
TARIFF QUESTION TOUCHED
UPON GINGERLY.
SPEECH OF PREMIER BALFOUR

London. June 26.-The Constitutional
club today entertained Colonial Secre-
tary Chamberlain at luncheon and pre-
scented him with an address enclosed in
a casket, in recognition Of his services
TO the nation. Premier Balfour made
the presentation speech. Referring TO
Mr.. Chamberlain fiscal proposals, ne
said il would be absolute folly for me
conservative uniOnist party 10 make
opinions on economic questions a test
of party loyalty The present eConorn-
ic position Of the country demanded
The most careful consideration me
country was now in the position or
an aerOnaut who kept his balloon IN the
air by throwing cut sand bags That
was a very proper course 50 long as ne
had a sufdciency Of sand bags, but
vixen these were exhausted it was time
to reconsider the position. It must not
be supposed because self-government
had been given to the colonies they
could be regarded as separate political
entities On the contrary, they were
integral portions Of the British en-
pire. The question at issue was not
new. but Mr.. Chamberlain. more than
any man dead or living. had given life
TO the expression Of the idea OF i'm
perial unity.
Ovation to Judas"
Mr.. Chamberlain received a remark
able ovation when he rose to reply.
His hosts sang For He's a Jolly Good
Fellow" and then Cheered Mrs. Cham
berlain, who was among the spec
tatOrs. The secretary opened his re-
marks with repudiating the sugges-
tons OF personal competition between
himself and Mr.. Balfour. remaTking
that he could not conceive Of any oc-
currcnce that could shake the political
friendship existing between them. He
desired on the eve Of a great cOntro-
Versy to publicly state that he be-
lieved that the leadership Of Mr., Bal =
four was essential to the success OF
the uniOnist party. If the unionisC
alliance was dissolved and weakened
the home rule snake was only
scOtched and not killed" and would
come to the front again.
Turning 20 the problem occupying
the center Of the political field, Mr.
Chamberlain declared that the com
merciaI union Of the colonies would be
far more profitable than their political
union. 1t was not true that he hao
raised the cry Of preferential tariffs
Cor the benefit Of himself or the party
but IL was because there was no other
alternative to a man holding his po-
sition. and he believed that only there
by could the empire be held together.
Spoke Only For Himself.
On the inquiry about to occur, he
continued. all questions should be re-
garded on their merits. A policy OF
retaliation could be better described
as a policy of negotiation. The min
listers would endeavor to break down
the existing wall Of hostile tariffs. and
if they failed in these negotiations
theY would endeavor to retain for their
own country the vast possibilities toS
production and opportunity for en-
plOyment. the lack Of which was now
driving British subjects to foreign
lands. Great Britain wanted some
thing to bargain with During a long
business and political career he mad
never been able to make q satisfdc-
tory deal until he had something 20
give as well as to receive. The time
was surely drawing near when a de-
cisiOn must be reached on this ques-
ton. but he was now speaking Tor
himself alone. and he did not ask any
one 10 commit himself 10 the accept
anCe Of his views.