New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-19
free to make money rapidly. When MI Soooel
began his operations against the Corn laws ne

would have been more than satisfied IT. he couIo
have scaled down the taxes on bread ana meat
TO the low level which Mr.. chamberlain no" mas
In mind
II must have been plain to the dullest lis
tener at Welbeck Abbey that Mr.. chamberlain
was halfhearted in his appeals TO the farmers
and laborers. He was striving TO recohche
them TO policy which he considered necessary
for the welfare of the empire. and he was Wen
aware that they could not hope by nan iieas-
ures 10 rival the prosperity which the American
agricultural classes had secured through sys-
temaeic and symmetrical development OF the
protective system. More profits for the farmer
more employment for the laborer and cheaper
food for his family That is Mr. chamberlain
summary Of his policy; but Il does not conFince
odtime Protectonists that 1t involves adequate
means for the defence Of the home market ana
for promoting increase of production me
relief of decadent English agriculture is, with
him, an afterthought, and he is not deeply con-
cerned with the ways and means. He is benz
upon consolidating and uniting the empire. and
he knows that he must begin with Canada, and
that there cannot be a preferential policy with
out taxation of food. 1t is not until he reaches
the peroration OF his speeches, and is at liberty
to refer proudly to fiscal reform as an imperial
policy addressed not to the pockets OF farmers
and manufacturers. but to their patriotism, that
he rises to the full stature of greatness and
Grand Old Man.
Mr.. Chamberlain is too sagacious politician
to be the victim OF illusions respecting the pres
ent trend of public opinion. He knows that the
country is not with him and that the Free Trad
ers will carry the next elections unless his own
cause can be taken up by the colonies and advo-
Gated at an imperial conference. For this rea-
he has appealed to the Prime Minister to
summon conference and has welcomed Lord
Rosebery's support OF his proposal while he has
rejected the conditions viii IN the rival imperial
list leader has sought to impose. ITO suggest n
conference preference" remarks Mr.. Cham
berlain. while rigidly excluding all reference 20
taxes on food would be in tbs present circum-
osition.' He knows that Canada would not be
drawn into imperial conference if the food
supply were exempted from taxation. and that
without the leadership of the Dominion no def
mite results could be accomplished Mr.. Balfour
cannot summon conference without arranging
a basis for discussion OF the question OF prefer
entail tariffs and If he does this he must aban-
don the retaliation half house, where he has
halted as a prudent opportunis., and march on
with Mr.. Chamberlain's followers. There is no
sign that he is prepared to substitute practical
cooperation for silent sympathy until he is con-
vinced by Mr., Chamberlain's second campaign
that tariff reform is indeed the winning cause.
While the Prime Minister halts the imperialist
leader is placed at disadvantage OF arguing
his case before audiences which may be enthu-
siastic, but are convinced that the country wiz
be against him on the first appeal I. y. F.