New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-15

negotiated for the gradual abolition of bounties.
and as soon as there has been single good sea-
son for the beet crop prices VIII again fall. The |
only thing which the jam and confectionery
trades will lose in future is the relative advah-
tage OF cheaper sugar when under the opera
ton OF bounties 1t could be dumped In Ensiaho
at an unnatural price, which would enable man
ufacturers to make large profits. and this aru-
ncial stimulus was not IN accord with the es
tablishe6 principles Of Free Trade. A scoFhluI
glance accompanying a single gesture to"ai0
Mr.. Kearley pointed the argument that 'ilo
middleman had been reaping rich harvest
from speculation and had no cause for denounc-
ing the convention as q source OF ruin to lesltl-
mate industry. A fine display nf indignation
marked his condemnation OF Opposition Iacucs
in mixing UP sugar with the fiscal policy when
there was no connection between thern' ana lhe
present 1uctuation was no more exceptionsi an
occurrence than the return OF comet ms
ridlcuIe became quite merciless when ne rererreo
10 the rise of shillings in wheat and asked
the. Free Traders what they would have said II
the shilling registration duty had been retained.
or II the 2 shilling duty of his preference scheme
had been levied Altogether, it was an
rnanswerable defence OF sound economic con-
yention for dispensing with bounties and art-
fetal conditions increasing the area of cane pro-
duction and benehting the sugar colonies OF the
East and West Indies
The most interested spectator OF the debate
was the youthful Chancellor OF the Exchequer'
Mr. Austen Chamberlain's face while his father
was speaking fairly beaming with aoTnlra-
tion. be laughed with the merricst when the
member for West Birmingham, with illuminat"
ing gesture, explained Mr.. kearley's interest IN
the subject as a middleman or illustrated de-
mand and supply by a glut Of Irish onions; and
his face was flushed with pride when the speech
was closed. Free Traders. when most i'll tenn
pered. describe Mr.. Austen Chamberiain's pres
encc on the front bench as Chancellor of the
Exchequer as proof OF an Illicit bargain between
the Prime Minister and the Tariff Reform
leader The most impatient among the Protec-
tionists on the other hand. are inclined to re-
gard 1t as a source of embarrassment since IL
diyerts Mr.. Chamberlain's interest as rather
eager to keep his son in Office for second
Budget speech and possibly for a third one
from his natural preferences as an astute lead
err and practical politician. Certainly no out
slider could listen to this adroit and forceful
speech on the Brussels convention without re-
ceiving q strong impression that Mr.. Chamber
lain would be more powerful advocate or ms
policies on the Opposition side of Liberal
House than he is now, when opportunists are
persuaded that it is more important to keep
the Uniouist party together than 1t is to make
Tariff Reform clear. definite, fighting issue. Yet
when tacticians have blurted out what is in
their minds, the fact remains that the tender
relation between this father and this son makes
a human and deeply interesting passage Of life
in the Commons Each is unreserved and I'M
affected in his appreciation Of the other. The
father, when he speaks turns naturally toward
the watchful face the front government
bench In emphasizing the most effective point
OF the argument, and the son returns the
glance with affection and pride. If the father
cares more about the advancement OF the Chan
ceor's fortunes than his own future in politics,
so also the stands ready to give up Office
at a wink nod IL self-effacement will be
helpful TO tariff reform and imperial federation.
The Prime Minister'S face is also an interest
ing study when Mr.. Chamberlain is speaking
Ordinarily Mr.. Balfour is a listess figure
the government bench. with a manner indicat-
ing detachment from the subject under debate
and with expression Of WEAKNESS and indif-
ference mis- handsome. intellectual face; but
he listens intently when the Birmingham leader
Is up and apparently with admiration untainted
by suspicion of treaehery The byplay is
watched eagerly from benches and galleries, and
every commentator offers his own explanations
colored more or less deeply by personal bias or
prejudice. Rancorous Gladstonians. who In
the old days would have IT that Mr. Chamber
-
ing with the Irish against his chief. are sullenly
predicting that he will turn against Mr.. Bal
four when he can defeat MIN without seeming
to do so, and suspicious Tariff Reformers are
equally disposed to believe that the Prime Min
lister is secretly anxious to compass the over
throw Of his great competitors prestige In the
country-''to down and drown him." as they
say. Talk of this kind Is infectious on a night
when the Hobbies and smoking rooms are full
Of gossip respecting official Intervention on be-
half of Lord Hugh Cecil at Greenwich and the
undoing Of successful tariff reform work in
other local associations, in which Free Trade
Unionists are menaced with loss Of nomination
The unbiased spectator, as he watches the
faces from the gallery finds 1t difficult to believe
that either is capable of disoyalty to the other
AS they confer together conhdentialy they do
not look like Jealous rivals or secret intriguers
Unless my eyes are seriously at fault they are
straightforward and unsuspicous allies one
more cautious and conciliatory than the other
but each man of unsulled honor An I'M
clouded friendship like theirs may become In
the future, when there can be a better sense Of
perspective. one Of the noblest traditions Of
the COMMUNICATING more inspiring than
the studied courtesies and amenities Of debate
I. N. F.
THE LUcANiA RESUMES VOYAGE.
Queenstown. March 14-Tba Cuoar6 Tyna stear,a-