New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-01
THE HALF SHEET."
Grounds for Umonist Fusion
Tariff Needed for Many Purposes.
London. April 10.

stSe OF the House. The Opposition is disap-
-o,nted and embittered because it cannot drive
,Unisters out Of office when every by-election
.~s-s decisive proof that they have lost the
audience OF the country. Various aspects Of
-. ss,sl question have been debated resolu-
ms Of private members with empty benches on
.re government side: the Ulster Protestants
I've been reconciled by Mr.. Longs frank as
-,,tsoSa OF full and undivided responsibility
- irish administration; and Mr.. Chamberlain.
- NJ turning against Mr.. Balfour and help
= me Liberals 10 regain Office. has carried his
GLASGOW prophecy to fulhlment: 81 go In front
:, ,he army; II the army IS attacked go back
g. The opposition has been well led, but
=. has failed 20 defeat the government through
ssa,,,ons OF Free Trade Unionists. Tariff Re
.,--,ars and Ulster Protestants; and It has
80 the Easter holidays with depressed spirits
= ,r,paired temper The Ministerialists. on
-. ofher hand, are equally disheartened- They
lain IN power, and with the concentration or
s-,es which Mr.. Chamberlain is bringing about
-. o-s aDparentIy secure against attack dur
- The remainder of the session: but they have
-, warned by the Brighton election that they
"a loslne the support OF the safest Conserva-
-. co-stiruencies, and that the Liberal ma
-, in the next Parliament IS increasing with
- fresh month of vacilation and delay.
,,-srs they may be comforted by the reflection
~ Ralfour and Mr.. Chamberlain are loyal
..o,, other. and that the two main factions
-.s-er each other IN matters Of policy. II not
:. --ir-iple than they were a year ago they
mi so credulous as to suppose that COM
-,-,sss which enable them 10 stand together
.ber7 with increased fighting power for the
General election
There have been two gains for the govern
-. budget and a phrase; and possibly one
- reject the other The budget involves the
.s-rfssior by free traders themselves that there
- ba 10 remission Of direct taxation. even Wien
ne times are good. characteristic remark
rs made by a former Chancellor OF the
rvche1uer when the budget speech was maze.
a shilling income tax IS the normal rate ne
--,--3zed: I'VE must expect ii year after year
What vas considered in CoOden's time a re-
.,-,--A eor The emergency Of war IS now a neces-
s.v in tine q peace for paying interest charges
!, an aro--nous debt and for meeting the re-
.,,,-s-7snts Of the military and naval sruaments'
The proportions O: direct and indirect taxation
N.-s bee, reversed IN the course Of fifty years
sns a normal <ree trade budget with national eK-
-.-si-r-es balanced by customs. excise, stamps
s-s a s.r1enny rate on incomes IS thing or the
nsr. Death sud estate duties are levied IN &C
o-sa-ce with socaltstic principles ana a shllIlns
canes out OF every pound OF income as n matter
=. course. These burdens of direct taxation are
,.rossa 81 a tine when local rates have risen
throushout the kingdom and the best class ot
tRr-avers-those having moderate means-'s
ruh1e-ted 20 a continuous and most exhaustive
pfru,n- The Chancellor OF the Exchequer has
not emphasized The point but his figures prove
90. var taxes are required IN time OF peace
A. cat there - no longer an effective reserve
so- n national emergency: and moreover. since
t-e s~4i,nrv resources % free trade finance have
saro4 20 prevent a. Increase % debt new sources
!. -.gr--e are fndispensable- a budget q this
~ cannot % popular. but - may have an
saucafi1ua, value
mere As also a new phrase. English politics
- s.. ANN hut Is nomenclature has not
,.,..s o., D., rlrturrsgus During the last two
vrs-r thare have been whole Hoggers." Little
Pirrrrs- arH 'Froo Foo3ers": and now. pres'o'
yh-rs are +TIglf sheeterE" According 70 Ohlo'l-
-, calculations. there are III members OF the
y-...a committed % sTr. Chamberlain's pro
ro--ra n who would favor them Il M HaIiour
v-4ars a---, them. 90 who have halted half way
.. ,as -s.r-iat,7n r1st. . who are opposed To
ar change i1 the fiscal system ana = VINO
ss---, Do rraqsiaes The peacemakers have
-.~.r n new rorcer1~ation upon common plat
s.--- --.1-a-. every member viii have standing
-r-- ana air and not be IN danger or o'''s
o. we'd --f Of his own corner; and a de4esa'''N
~ ---.s. -es,--fers has been sent % Mr.. balIoNr
vf.h ree.- buttons phrased in his own lang uAee
HARMONY &C. % be restored by a deterlfh'led -
s7r- 90 carry out the Prime Ministers pro
r-r~rra ~ fsral policy inscribed on sh'e''
shot NJ note paper. There VIII re peace az f.'il
as ros- consents 20 be known as 4 nan
$780,. ,,e.4,ra,,g. The new phrase excites the
s-trs1.a4u ~ Unianlst commentators TOT II -
-..a-.r "a heaven sent irenlkon- Themselves De-
.-- -.ft-sss.s no sacrifice q principle has been
,-r-.-..s- -rare has been no surrender OF phi
v4-s conviction. nobody has recanted ana every
holy fs satisfied: and the country VIII kno" az
laet what ~ has been trying go find OUT Tor Two
ysa-s-vrtat &C. the fiscal policy on "hieh Tue
government - going 20 the country
Since The Prime Minister half sheet has pc
.--e NOR, ,---7-tart than the Chancellor's bal
s--s sheet n deserves closer attention thah II
received d few. months ago. when 81 was pro-
f1re1 SRI response % a challenge from Mr. Johh
Morley 70 contained a demand for col'i'ai
conference. provided the objects we're per
-..f,sF -- %. discussed urhaupered by limiting
irs,rg-f.r-s" and also a declaration that t'e
Prime Minister a'd not desire % raise home
prices f1r the purpose ~ aiding home produc-
-.- AZ vr Chamherlain's followers deny that
f.av are f-otactianists aud insist upon having
a free ana urfettered colonial conference, these
cla-ses are acceptable 20 them well az 20
the Retaliationists what g the essential Feat
u-a - the haIf sheet IS the expression 81 de-
sire f0r "euch an alteration Of our fiscal system
as san give a freedom of action imposSloie
~hi.e we hold ourselves bound by the maxim
That no taxation should be imposed except for
revenue" This freedom Mr. Balfour has COW
e'ef because - would strengthen Englands
hands IN negotiating for lowering hostile for
egn tariffs. because f. might enable the i'm
ffrtH. government % rrCfacr he fiscal indie