The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-16
TUESDAY, JANUARY ls, 1905.
To refuse to act when we know
what ought to be done Is crime.
--Soud.
No Protection" for England.

~ little while back. tho protectionists
were in high glce because n protection
wave" seemed to be sweeping over Eng
land The movement was led by Mr..
Arthur j. Balfour and 1t appeared at one
time that it would carry But the sweep
ing victory of tho Liberals in the Sat
urday's elections was n crushing blow
10 protection and glorious triumph for
the free trade principle. Mr.. Balfour him
self was defeated by I. G. Horridge, Lib
eral. and the vote in this case is fair
sample of the radical change of senti-
mcnt.
At the general Election IN 1900 Mr.. Bal.
four defeated a. II. Scott, his Liberal OPP
ponent, by a majority of 2,453. There are
about 1900 voters in the constituency,
and over 700 of them have changed from
the Conservative to the Liberal Party in
the last five years.
Mr.. Winston Churchill who vigorously
cantroverted Mr.. Balfour's views, was
also elected over his opponent, Mr. w.
JOHNSON Hicks. Conservative, by major
lily of 1,21. another gain for the Liberals
I'VE have killed protection" said Mr..
Churchill in summing up the result. This
is the beginning OF such political up
lleaval as has not been seen in England
since the, days of the great reform BILL
Manchester has saved herself by her ex-
ertions; she will save England by her
example"
m n IiKTf orf, Hal
fcred an inglorious defeat, but it was. in
spite of the contradiction in terms, a
notable triumph of English conservatism.
We are not surprised. We never believed
that England would abolish her policy
OF free trade with the nations of the
earth to try s-e doubtful experiment of
protection
But in spite of all this the Republican
stand-patters are as tenacious as ever
of their protection principles and seem
determined to make no concessions, al
though Germany is now threatening to
retaliate.
The washington correspondent of the
New York Herd says that Secretary
Root and Secretary Shaw frankly admit
that they have been beaten in their
efforts to avert tariff war with Ger.
many and~ that ,,.unless Congress steps
into theJbreach the country can only learn
by dire experience the opportunity which
it has missed. The proposed German tar
if. which, according to administration
officials. has been held in tho air as a
menace will go into operation on March
], and they say that under the present
conditions of American tariff 1t will
mean not only death to American trade,
particularly in meat products, with Ger
many, but what the administration con-
siders of far greater Importance, the
lessening of trade with other foreign
countries who. under favorable tariff re-
lations with Germany, will substitute
German products for those of the United
States
The administration is greatly disturbed.
Our boasted tariff which was made to
promote trade is now threatening to de-
stroy trade Ii one of our greatest for
eign customers.
1t is a s,-lous matter, yet it may be
necessary for us to have a few cost,
lessons like this in order that we ma.
learn that the tariff is an obstruction ant
that no nation on earth is really 81
vitality interested in the greatest possible
freedom Of trade between nations as tn
United States. The Democrats have
splendid opportunity to impress thei
views and promote the interests 0
TARIFF reform ~ {.
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