New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-14
MR. BALFOUR'S POLICY

Mr.. Balfour has given another proof OF his
extraordinary dizziness Of mind and Of his un-
surpassed daectic Skill He has just suffered at
the polls one of the most overwhelming defeats
that the British electorate has ever inflicted
upon party leader and he has been supposed
TO be so discredited in his own party that his
continued leadership of it has been regarded
as doubtful-if indeed. his deposition was not
assured. For him 10 speak at all in such cir
cumstances courageous. We must regard it
as actual genius for him TO confirm himself in
party leadership and largely to rehabilitate the
party standing and repute before the country.
In that achievement Mr. BalfOur had at com
mand the resources OF a skilled and subtle meta
physician. yet he made less use of them than Of
a logic so simple and elementary as to be within
the ken of the humblest mind. Golden devised
free trade not for England against the world.
but for England with the world confidently
believing certainly as that the sun would
rise on the mOrrow-that presently all the world
would adopt the same policy. But that ex-
pectation has been disappointed The rest of
the world remains protectionist. The question
then arises whether Great Britain is 10 persist
In the practice Of CObdens policy in circum-
stances Numerically opposed to those for which
Golden designed IT, Mr.. Balfour's answer is in
the negative. He believes the nations fiscal
policy should be suited TO conditions that exist
hnO not 10 InoSe mat 90 not exist
Mr.. Balfour perceves also that the competi-
ton OF the nations for markets is growing more
and more keen and that Great Britain is sub
Jected TO vastly stronger rivalry now with in
dustrial and commercial Germany on one side
or her ana industrial and commercial America
on the other side, than in Cobden's day when
Germany was, Metternich said of Italy.
geographical expression, and America was still
chiefly an agricultural country In the struggle
for supremacy no nation can afford TO handicap
itself or 10 neglect any means Of mastery.
Therefore. Mr.. Balfour thinks it unwise for
Great Britain. by refusing a tariff system. To
place herself unarmed and unprotected before a
hostile world and to enter negotiations without
The power of negotiating In brief. he recOg-
nizes existing facts and proposes to deal with
them in practical manner.
He is, OF course in a hopeless minority, and is
likely TO remain for term of years While
We see reason to recall or 10 revise the opin-
lon hitherto expressed that the tariff question
had on the whole comparatively little influence
IN the electoral campaign ii is indisputable that
the overwhelming majority Of the House OF
Commons is opposed 10 Mr. Balfour's policy
ard is committed to that OF maintaining Golden
ism untouched. Whether the cause OF tariff
reform viii survive and he potent at the next
general election. FIVE or six years hence, will
depend largely upon the course OF British trade
II tina; remains prosperous. the British nation
may conclude that Mr.. Balfour's and Mr.. Cham
pertains warnings were unfounded and that the
Ihileo Kingdom can safely continue TO stand
alone against the Industrial and commercial
world If British trade declines and If Yam
hee notions and goods made IN Germany" in
Crease and multiply in tie markets OF the world
ana eTeh In those of Great Britain, Mr. Balfour
nay have an opportunity to lead his party in