New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-28
ENGLISH TARIFF REFORM
Moral Support from america
Weapons from Cobdenite Armories
London. November 10.

ref,
in England If the American people had shown
any lack of faith in the policies which the D.
/ publican party represented. the Free Trader,
| would have been overjoyed and Liberal spaa,.a-,
| would have pointed the moral that Fnzland
| must stand by CObdenism with unfi ne hing low
! atty. As there Is no evidence that either Amer
lea Germany or France or the colonies ara
prepared 20 sacrifice the interests OF their work
ing people by lowering their tariffs the reform,
ers here are returning to their attack upon Free
( Trade with increased ardor. Slr. Bonar Law
who is the most logical and consistent OF NJ
Chamberlains supporters in the Ministry. has
promptly warned Free Traders that they ara
begging the question when they assert that tia
weight of authority is on their side Mr. Nor
ley. for example. may hold the opinion that
great as the prosperity of the United States has
been under protective tariffs Il would not have
been less under Free Trade, but the burden of
proof rests with him. since the most closely rea-
sOned conjecture is less convincing than p-ac-
teal experience. What Germany rrfghr havs
done If it had gone on under Free Trade is p
matter Of speculation. What Germany has do7a
since the rejection Of Free Trade is matter OF
fact, and practical differences are to be drawn
by the English from it, If the most energeti,
nation Of mercantile competitors Is thoroughly
satisfied with the operation OF its tariff system
The argument from the unprecedented major
tiles President Roosevelt IS equally CCnVi-C-
ing. Mr. Bonar Law sums ID the case for
tariff reform in these pointed questions: Are
the opinion and experience OF the rest OF the
world in this matter. and also Of many OF our
own countrymen who have gone abroad 70
count for nOthing?" why should We stand
! naked and defenceless. dealing with men all
armed to the teeth"
The cumulative force Of the worlds experience
is needed when the inertia Of British conserva-
tism is to be overcome. Mr.. Chamberlain. when
he raised the standard OF revolt against Free
Trade told his friends that he would win II he
could live seven years. He anticipated defeat
/ in the first general election and success In q
second struggle after the overthrow OF the Lib
eraI government. The effect OF his earliest
speeches exceeded his expectations. but he did
not share the hopes OF his more sanguine sup
porters that the first general election could bs
carried for tariff reform. He was not disheart-
ened when there were signs in the by-elections
of a sharp, decisive reaction against his cause.
He concentrated his efforts upon the conversion
of the Unionist party TO his principles, SO that
the Liberals when they returned to power.
would be confronted with an opposition united
on the questions OF retaliation against foreign
tariffs and preference for colonies While his
enemies have been haunting him with the evil
dence that the country was still in favor OF Fres
Trade and unconvinced by his oratory. the Lib
eraI Unionist organization has been Transformed
into a tariff reform party and the local associa-
tons OF the Conservative party have been Gun
verted TO his views When the annual meeting
OF the Tariff Reform League was held last sum
r7er he could announce that over Two hundred
members Of Parliament had accepted the Unau-
thorized programme. and thai the party press
with a single notable exception, heartily advo-
Gated it. As time has gone on, the activities or
the tariff reformers have been multiplied me
party organization has passed completely under
their control. as was shown at the southampton
conference. At least tvO-thirds OF the PaTha-
r,entarv trimmers. who took refuge in the half
way house of retaliation. have struggled to the
front line. Uncompromisins Free Traders like
Lord George Hamilton. Ar Richie and Lord
Hugh Cecil have been warned by their local as
social 9ns that they cannot be supported as can
didates at the next general election The press
ure Of the party machinery has been oroushr
70 hear in all districts where the candidates have
not been sympathetic with tariff reform ana
unity of action has been secured
What is now evident to all Keen observers
and well informed men is that the Conservative
and Liberal Uuionist parties. after the general
election. viii be fully committed 10 the unau-
thorized programme. The party VII be n o.
r-sf+io7 hut II will be united on the tariff ques-
lion with not more than a dozen Free FOOD
,drocates and faint hearts The candidates on
the Conservative side at by-elections are 81
ready tariff reformers with few exceptions ana
sreeches like Mr.. Bonar Laws, with arguments
grounded upon the experience OF foreign Id
tons. especially America and Germany are rol-
lowed by the adoption of resolutions IN taVor
of the protection of the home market II MI
Ralfour at Edinburgh. and Mr.. Chamberlain az
Luton have repudiated the name Of PrOtectlon-
ist and have even offered homage 70 the ao-
stract principles Of Free Trade. the conversion
OF the Conservative party TO the new policies
has not been interrupted. PrOtectioniSts lneS
are not either in the old English or IN the new
American sense; but they have ceased to looN
,,non the industries Of the kingdom and the m
+eres-z OF the en1pire as safe under the existing
fiscal system Between them they have keF'
the party together and directed opinion Wilhi1
II and when they md themselves on the OppO-
sition benches they viii be surrounded oy en-
thustastfc tariff reformers, convinced that ul7
defence Of the home market BY a revenue taEN-
will proruote the interests of manufacturers anu
workfn, people and fuse the dependencies o.
the Grown into a homogeneous empire. OH0
gloss or another may be put upon the Pr'i'
Minister'S speech at Edinburgh; but every n~
in the Conservative organization knows tli@
Mr. Austen Chamberlain would not remain ~
the Treasury II there were serious differences
Of opfnion between the two leaders From the
outset they have had two aims: The preserva-
ton OF the Conservative party working or
canizat!on and its Gradual conversion to new
IDEAS of national finances and imperial policy
and between them they have placed Free Trad
ers on their defence all along the line. What Is
now the unauthorized programme. so far as
MI BaIfour ia concerned. viii be forced upon
p VII tba~ r1rv mo a