Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-11
THE TARIFF QUESTION
Not Dead in England as Re-
suit of Elections.
BALF0UR PARTY DEFEAT
Predicted by Mr.. Chamberlain Three
Years Ago.
ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION
Liberal Majority So Large That 1T
May Be Defeated in an
Emergency.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, January 80, 1906.
The tariff question as a political and
economic issue is not dead as a result of
the recent election. Advocates of protec-
ton, colonial preference and other proposed
fiscal changes were never in better condi-
ton politically to devote themselves to adj
vancing the same than in the immediate
future. To conclude from the recent tri-
umph of the liberals that Mr. Chamberlain
and his followers are forever squelched
argues a most superficial estimate of what
is no more nor less than an English politi-
cal revolution, long anticipated as neces-
sary to clear the way for a new alignment
of voters confused by marked divergence of
opinion on many questions among the po-
Iltcal leaders of allegedly the same party.
Three years ago Joseph Chamberlain in
the course of conversation with the writer
predicted the defeat of the Balfour party
the first opportunity afforded the voters
TO express their opinion. Mr.. Chamberlain
not only predicted this-defeat. but he seem
ed to regard the inevitable with even more
than philosophical resignation.
Mr.. Chamberlain's Prediction.
Mr. Chamberlains prediction of defeat
has been fulfilled, and his statement of
cause and effect is as true today as it was
three years ago, when it was supposed that
any succeeding day might bring about an
election The recent political battle in Eng
land was not fought out upon the tariff,
protection, colonial preference or other ifs
cal issue.
1t is interesting to note, however admit
ting for the moment and for the sake of
argument that the tariff did play con-
siderable part in the returns, that out of
a total of less than 100000 votes 1861
600, or AZ per cent of the total vote was
cast for unionist candidates. Based upon
a system of proportionate representation.
the unionist party would now be entitled
to $50 seats in the next parliament, instead
OF $50. 1t must not be forgotten, also, in
estimating the result that not only Mr.
Chamberlain and six of his followers were
elected in Birmingham, but that Sir
George Doughty, Sir Gilbert Parker, Mr..
Pike Pease and other out-and-out advo-
Gates of the Chamberlain tariff policy were
returned to parliament by large majorities
The recent election, however. cannot
rightly be considered test of the real
opinion of majority of English voters
upon the tariff question.
The unionist party went down to defeat
weighted by the inevitable mistakes and
antagonisms of ten years administration
by the conduct of the Boer war, the en-
forcement of the education act and other
instances of controversial legislation
It is actually believed by many that had
Mr. Balfour boldly announced his adher-
to Mr. Chamberlain policy two years
ago the political disaster which has re-
Gently overtaken his party, while it pos
sibly could not have been avoided, would
not have been so overwhelming With Mr..
Balfour the avowed and acknowledged
leader of the unionists, declaring he
opposed to protection. and many of his
lieutenantS Voicing their belief in absolute
free trade, to argue that Mr.. Chamberlain
theories have been rejected by the British
people because of the defeat of the union
lists indicates blind advocacy of free trade
or an inability to appreciate the true in
wardness of the English political situation.
Analysis of the Parties.
Mr.. Chamberlains desire that the politi-
cal atmosphere should be cleared before his
party should go to the country on a clear
cut tariff issue has been even more thor
oughly and completely realized than he
could possibly have anticipated There are
now four well-defined parties in parlia-
ment. The liberals with 376 a party which
has been ''fn opposition ten years, and in
which can be found many who are out-and-
out protectionists. The unionists, Mr.. Bal
TOURS party, members of which range from
high prOtectioniStS to those who believe in
import duties as restrictive measures only.
The nat1onaliStS, an Irish party with 81,
interested in no economic theories which
are not to be bartered at will for any which
Will advance the cause of home rule in Ire
land. The labor, or socialist. party, with
90 votes and representative in the cab
met.
For the first time in the history of Eng
land, this last named political organization
has secured a sufficient representation in
the parliamentary body to entitle 1t to re-
spectful consideration in the politics of the
immediate future. As in France, Germany.
Austria, Italy, and. in fact, practically
every European country the socialist wing
of the legislative body will now play its
part in the final shaping of legislation.
Fifty members of the British parliament
have been elected upon a socialist platform,
and while this number is not as formidable
as the group of eighty to be found in the
NnY afal,
far more apt to increase in size and author
ity than it is to disappear again.
OF the fifty so-called laborites, thirty be-
long to the old-time radical labor party.
twenty are out-and-out socialists. men
elected upon an avowed socialistic platform
and openly advocating the same measures
as the extreme socialists of the continental |
countries. Some of these twenty members |
were elected by such maiorities as have
never been given to any group of candi- |
dates of any party known to English poll
tics heretofore. One railway porter palled |
over 1900 votes at Newcastle, another over
10000 at Derby. A steel smelter at Preston |
polled over 10000 votes, and was elected
by larger majority than was secured by
successful liberal candidate coming from |
another district in the same community
Liberal Party's Danger.
The liberal party, as it now stands in
parliament, has a majority over the COM
bined unionist, nationalist and socialist
RoteS, Dul there VIII De many votes IN the |
liberal party which THE leaders of that
party will be unable to count upon in any
clear-cut contest involved in the laying
down of strict party lines. Many measures
of social reform advocated by the socialist
party find sympathetic adherents among |
other representatives of other parties, and
to the support of any measure which meets |
quite generally with the approval of the
English working class will come votes from
members of many different political stripes
The liberals have gone into power allied |