New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-31
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
The Imperial Economic Issne-In-
sures R0oseUelfs Reelection.
lspeclal 70 The New-York TELbune BY Ereneh cablel

NtAoi~|
Copyright: 1903: BY The Tribune Association)
London May 30.-The Unionist party mas been
heading blindly toward a general election with
out any new issue of paramount Importance. Ap-
parently II was doomed to defeat, since the edu-
cational bills were unpopular, military reorgani
zation schemes costly shaIns and Irish policies
burdensonne TO British taxpayers. Mr.. Chamber
lain who may be untutored economist, but is
certainly a good politician. perceived the neces-
sity for raising a new issue which would silence
the discussion of stale and unpopular questions
He has been completely successful in this re-
spect His policy Of fiscal revision, based
taxation Of iTlported food, holds the field, and
all other questions Of domestic politics have
fallen iu.1 ,fa background The daily and the
weekly press uisceIns GEAR the momentous
consequences Of the imperial economic issue
which has been forced upon the United Kingdom
and the British Empire. The majority of the
Unonist members have put themselves into
communication with local constituencies TO as
certain the trend of public opinion.
The Liberals united at last in opposition TO
Mr.. ChamberIains proposals and jubilant in an
ticiDation Of a return 10 power the single is
sue of defence of free trade. The whole country
is perpiexed and confused but is settling down
to the conviction that the fiscal system to which
all business interests and individual enterprises
have been adapted for a half century must he
reconsidered by the general electorate. Mr
Chamberlain who has been confronted for eigh-
teen wears with the ghost Of his former radical
self is now viruenty attacked as an in
+rfe,,er against the Prime Minister, renegade
free trader, a COnspirat tor bent upon break
in- I'D the Unionist party and demagogue
seeking to bribe workingme- with iIIusive prom
ices of old age pensions and better wages. Part-
san defamation begs the question when his sin
ceritv is challenged in this matter. He has been
reconsidering for the last eight years his own
views respecting British free trade and has
gradually convinced himself that the unity OF
the empire and the defence Of the colonies can
not be brought about long as home markets
are raided by foreigners and the United King
dom remains without weapons or armor for pro-
tecting her own industries. and ne has carried
Mr Balfour with him.
The apparent point of divergence between the
speeches of the two statesmen on Friday nlghl
respecting the taxation of imported food IS MN
irTlized when the full text is critically examined
He is not dsloyal to Mr.. Bafour. but has failed
10 convince the Duke Of Levonshire. MI Ritchle
and his other associates in the Cabinet and has
probably divided the Uniontst party hopeless
" al the Liberal party wa rent asunder by AR
Gladstone's Home Rule policy. Mr.. Chamberlain
Man in a hurry" as Mr. Gladstone was lam
pooned by Lord Randolp' Churchill He stipu-
Iates for a prolonged campaign of education be
fore the country is asked for the mandate
Events are likely to march more rapidly than ne
desires The Cabinet will inevitably be reorgan-
ized at the close Of the present session and con-
verted into homogeneous body respecting the
s,prene issue of fiscal revision Devoted friends
as Mr. Chamberlain and Mr.. Balfour are, there
can be only one leader. When the reorganized
ministry appears before the country for the
sanction of the reversal of fiscal policies prevail
ing for two generations Mr.. Balfour will prob
ably retire to the upper house and leave Mr.
Chamberlain in supreme command of the shat
tered government forces before the general cleo
t1ons come on. The elections are likely 10 occur
more speedily than generally anticipated. Even
the overwhelming Unionist majority. reinforced
nv the Irish Nationalsts, is not safe after the
tremendous shaking UP of me-h5nored beliefs
and policies Of the last fortnight
Forecasts of the ultimate effects of Mr.. Cham
heria,n's abandonment of free trade in the in
+rast of the EN- aire are premature. Naturally he
90 cres with him all the protectionist old Tories
and Conservative members of the agricult-
,,rsI districts The waverers among the Union
ist members of the House of Commons represent
.,,a Industrial boroughs. where the working pop
uIation is already frightened by the menace Of
tear food. He is also deserted at the outset by
he convinced free ira 1ers. like Sir Michael
Continued fourth page.