New-York tribune., 1905-01-26
ENGLISH POLITICS.
The Sscing Of the PendaIatra-Lord
Spencer at the Front.

,,.rster has been frank enough this week IN
.s,,it that the government cannot hone n
airy the country with them and he has tried
j. console Conservatives with the reflection
.,.. while defeat is inevitable. II cannot 90
-,,b harm. and that IL VIII not be long before
.aev can return 10 power with more definite DO
,,,s,al issues and undininished authority The
s..-s.ary for War. who has met with much re-
...,ce within the Cabinet in carrying out his
- for military reorganization is evidently
.,s- for holiday sport IN opposition. where he
= bsrsss his successor. but he does not want
=, long a vacation. He warns Conservatives
-. ,hev must make 8 fierce fight so that the
,r..rai majority viii be small as possible
- +,c minority in opposition powerful well
: ,,-,ted- The same cue has been received from
=. C-ssmberlain and the party whips. There is
=. to,p.r any talk about the enactment of a
-,.sss+-sbution bill and the reduction of the
- contingent by about thirty members. The
- nalitioians now protest against Tory legis-
- ,,- the beneft OF the next Liberal gov
-, and entertain the hope that the Irish
A,-s Mill control the situation after the
- election and viii insist upon the revival
!, re Home Rule bill. They assume that no
-,r--,ent can last long. II Il be dependent
..,on the good VIII and charity OF Mr.. Redmond's
gs,,,,rs-s and viii be well pleased II the gen
- sisctions are fairly close and the Liberals
.+,-nsa with q majority under fifty. Another
,th.-,I srlt over Home Rule is what they have
!, ,r,nd with g Radical Ministry committed TO
~ cladstones Dublin Parliament and Lord
,,,,,be-v's followers Indifferent to its fate. The
.,.su,yn, viii then ;urn about and swing in the
opposite direction.
1,s tariff -eforrers. indeed. are now impressed
sch ,be fact that both MI. Eslfour and Mr.
rb,rrberiain iii he more effective in opposi-
- ,ban they now ere in Downing Street end
=. .be platforrn. Accordingly, they are exert
.,~ considerable pressure upon the government
/, .syor a a dissolution after the Budget speech
They are predicting an unexpected stroke. which
u.fg convince both parties that the Prime MIN
,s.er is & mastery tactician. This, according 10
-..r,op r,,rnor. viii he q practical demonstrs-
,i,r thai the country needs new sources OF
-.vsuue Il il is 70 strengthen the meets proNlue
the army with new guns and meet the 4argey
increased outlay FOR educational purposes II
-. ppsget speech contains evidence that the
resources Of Free Trade finance, with the N
am. tax az a shilling. with tea. wines, tobacco
spiri,s and sugar taxed heavily. and with the
dead hand pressing renorselessly upon private
ssfstes are unequal 10 the requirements OF I'M
rs-isI defence and the education Of the masses,
here VIII be a strong argument in favor OF a
-srfr for rev aue. Having shown now the
money can be obtained without any increase OF
direct taxation. the Prime Minister VIII De IN
a position 10 appeal 10 the electorate Tor au-
-hor1tv 70 levy a tariff OF either D or 10 per
cent on manufactured goods for revenue pur-
noses and also 10 convoke q colonial CONFER
s,cs sor an interchange Of views respecting fiscal
policy The Liberals, II restored 10 power Win
he swing of the pendulum. viii be under obii-
g,+fo,s 70 show how national expenditures can
10 reduced without impairing the fighting pow
~ ~ rbe two great services or impernling the
interests Of The schools ana 10 prove, moreover,
-hs. the times are SO prosperous and the con-
ditions Of trade SO good that budgets can easily
he made I'd OF the old fashioned lines without
BARGAINING with the colonies or adding another
penny 10 the income TAX. The tariff reforlners
rub their hands in delight when they try to
forecast the embarrassment OF & Liberal gov
eminent in facing this situation and the har-
assing warfare which can be conducted from
Opposition benches under the leadership OF MI
Bslfour ana 3fr. Chamberlain.
What Is true. even if tariff reformers are re
luctant 10 admit it, Is that Mr.. Chamberlain's
speeches do not produce so much effect as Tor
,nerly. The arguments have lost their novelty
and are met with counter statements from Mr.
Asoufth zud other Free Trade advocates; and
hc is persistently assailed Protectionist OF
the old Tory school when he IS merely propos-
arming the country with weapons Of home de-
fence and resources for promoting closer rela-
lions with the colonies. one OF his strongest
pleas for change OF hsca! policy is based upon
the necessity for providing the working people
with continuous. trustworthy and renunerative
employment: and at Preston he presented his
case with his usual lucidity and practical skill.
He was addressing. however, Lancashire au-
dience al q moment VIXEN the pinch Of short
cotton crop was no longer felt and when every
factory was running on full time with an accu-
mutation Of deferred orders: and when he con-
fenced tnat the rise in export values was due
70 The increased cost of raw material and that
there was IN reality i decline Of business and
thar The working class Was getting less out Of
81, his audience was confused and could not fol-
iow him His critics. with the returns Of the
Board o. Trade in their hands, could give diff
ieTent account OF the Lancashire trade and ac-
clse him Of gross carelessness in the suppression
n facts respecting the volume % exports and
snort working time. The facility with which
Commercial statistics can be used as a basis for
teIIallg directly opposite conclusions IS forci-
sy llusJrofec whenever there AZ fresh return
lem The Board of Trade. When anything can
3 proved by figures and Free Trade experts
s prepare % assert that any manufactured
asace Is entitled 70 be Classed as raw material.
~ conyersicn 0f working audiences TO tariff re-
- Nnen times are good and employment is
-.1nhu IS SLOW and labOrious process, espe-
sIy u centres 0f the cotton and shipping in
r-NsIlS Since his recent meetings in the East
iIo 0 L0nuen and ir lancashire. Mr.. Cham ber-
- most loyal supporters have been convinced
-sl me time fer mission work of this kind has
.--S1ep and that the debate must be transferred
Fsillameut. whore the fiscal question can be
,o-lssea in connection with national eXpendi-
's enc revenue requirements
- tise influence Of the Imperial Missioner tenn
s,'-IiiF Declines. the authority Of the Prime
user increases. Mr.. Balfour In his Glasgow
.t~4' mas shown that there more ways
g one OF thinking inperially, and that ma