The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-16
FREE TRADE ISSUE.
Will It Come Up Again for Eng
lish Voters to Pass
Upon.
Significant Speech Made by Mr..
Chamberlain at Birmingham
Yesterday.

London, May 16.-Addressing his con-
stituents at Birmingham, Colonial Secre-
tary Chamberlain made a. speech which
seems to foreshadoW the direct raising
OF the question of free trade versus pro-
lection at the next general election
For him, Mr.. Chamberlain said, local
questions were comparatively unimpor-
tant beside the great imperialist policy
upon which the fate of the empire de-
pended. namely, whether we stand to-
gether one free nation, against all the
world, or whether we shall fall into sep
arate states, selfshly seeking their own
interests and losing the advantage that
unity alone can give" ssS Z
In passing reference to home rule
Chamberlain said that if separation began
with home rule the empire would dissolve
into its component atoms, buff he could
believe that the opposition party frankly
had abandoned home rule he would be the
first to sing, ..Nunc sDftnitti tbs. ''sas #S1
. The colonial secretary proceeded strong
ly to urge the necessity in order to pre-
serve the great empire, that the trade
Of the colonies should be secured Canada
had offered exceptional advantages, he
said, which Great Britain did not dare ac-
cept because Of the narrow Interpretation
of the doctrine of free trade, the policy
Of dictation, and interference by foreign
powers. Mr.. Chamberlain said he was
justified by the belief that Great Britain
could not defend its colonies. This was
a position not intended by the pioneers
of free trade who, If they were alive to-
day, would agree to a treaty of prefer
ence and reciprocity with the empires
children. 81 ss4 -1ssst1
The speaker said he believed that an
entirely wrong Interpretation had been
placed upon the doctrine of free trade,
but that the country ought not to be
bound by this, and it should not hesitate
to resort to retaliation, { If necessary,
wherever the interests between the colo
MES and the home country We're threat
ened.
Mr.. Chamberlain avowed himself a free
trader, but he objected to the artificial
and narrow Interpretation of free trade.
He pointed out that Golden had made,
and that Bright had approved, a prefer
entail treaty with France, and added:
There are two alternatives before you:
First, to maintain the free trade policy in
all its severity, altho it is repudiated by
every other nation, and your colonies;
second, to insist that we be not bound by
any purely technical definition of free
trade. While we seek the one chief OBJ
ject, the free exchange of commerce be-
tween ourselves and all the nations OF
tile world, we will nevertheless recover
our freedom, resume the power Of nego-
tiating, and. If necessary, of retaliation
In conclusion, the colonial secretary
said he desired that the discussion OF TINS
subject should be open. 1t was an issue
graver in its consequences than mere
local disputes. A mistake in legislation
could be corrected. he said, but a mistake
in the imperial policy was irretrievable.
The Standard, a ministerial organ, al
tho it does not indorse Chamberlain's
views, declares significantly that the
speech will be remembered hereafter as
the starting point Of a new development
IN party relations. S
The Tory Morning Post says that
Chamberlain has started on path In
which, so long as he leads, he will not lack
followers, for the spirit in which he leads
is the right one.
The Daily Mail predicts that the effect
Of the speech will be more far-reachfng
than any of its hearers could at the mo-
ment realize