New-York tribune., 1908-02-04
TRANSITION POLITICS.
Reckless Play srith Free Trade and
Socialism.
London. January 25.

Rfnr
diminished confidence that the issue Of tariff
sc--, was thrown out of court at the general
,.r-ior and that q democratic Parliament was
,-,urht into power TO work out practical re-
.o--ns 81 along the line. Ministers indefa-
,,rahle in their iabors. and they are prepared
-s.h schemes for old age pensions. education,
r,.s,s,ng housing Of the masses. Scottish land
form, Irish universities. Improvement of Lon
son as 6 port town planning, eight hours in
zines. 6.rnnution Of infant mortality, protection
- cattle grazing and taxation of site values.
whether much little of il is indicated In the
1,ne,s speech fl is legislative programme that
I.sves outsiders breathless. since there is work
,,,,sh laid out for half dozen sessions Yet
-. failures are TO be charged to the account Of
,b. rrivfleged House OF Lords. and the appeal to
a.. country is TO be made, possibly early next
s- sgasnst sn obstructive and irresponsible
chamber
searyhfle. underneath all this hubbub over
new legislation and the necessity for reforming
,b. upper house are the two fundamental issues
~ the maintenance OF free trade and the estab-
,,sh-,ent OF G concordat between Liberalism and
labor. Can old age pensions and other social
rsfo--ns be successfully financed under free
.-a6sg ny Asouith viii have find solution
.,thtu G. few months. the tariff reformers
III uus IN q counter bid for workingmen's votes
ram the Liberal party make coalition with
~sn,ze6 labor by which triangular contests can
h. prevented? That is q detail of practical poll
.,ios and the future OF progressive Liberalism
viii be determined by It Complex is the
,eF.slat.ve programme OF the session, the poll
tics @. this transition period can be reduced with
s-ast,c simplicity social reform, with alterna-
rtv. eysteu1s for supplying the money for IL
Free trade victorious in the general elections is
=, IN. defensive at the Treasury. Are the re-
sources OF revenue under II exhausted that
me military and naval services cannot be ade-
oustsy strengthened and wide margin be left
for old age pensions? II direct taxation has
heen carried 10 the extreme limit and there is
M reserve for social reform, the tariff party has
ts Man OF operations and something TO offer to
working men for their votes at the general cleo
ton-
Probably no political leader except MI Morley
ever reverts in these days TO Jonn Stuart Milfs
reflections toward the close of his life various
social reforms for which he had labored strenu-
cuslv es q consistent Radical and a progressive
democrat with ultimate ideals OF social improve
rnent which conservatives would now consider
downright predatory" Although he had lived
ro see many OF the opinions Of his youth obtain
general recognition. he was constrained TO admit
IN the Autobiography written half a century
seo that the changes effected had been less ben
eaciaI than he had anticipated, and that no
be expected until 2 complete transformation
could be wrought in religion, morals, politics
aud modes Of thought. THE English public.
he declared, ARE quite and undiscerning
on subjects Of political economy since the nation
has been converted TO Free Trade as they were
before and are still further from Having ac-
CURED better habits Of thought feeling, or
being il any way better fortified against error.
OF subjects Of 3 more elevated character" If he
took refuge In pessinism when vellnigh con-
yinoed that the benefits from Free Trade and
social reform had been counterbalanced by var1-
ous causes Of deterioration. what source OF op-
timism have economists now, when the fiscal
serstern is condemned by the Unionist party as
the root Of all evil and Liberalism is called upon
20 finance old age pensions by hook or by crook
OF else 70 confess that Cobdenism is a failure?
II M MIL reacting from extreme Bentham-
ism fifty wears ago, based such hope he
had of the Improvement in social arrangements
mainly On the continuous elevation 10 be ef-
fected By universal education, how much more
difficult is il TO find encouragement now in so
anomalous spectacle has been witnessed
this week at Hull, The Labor Conference rep
resentinE million worknen. has succeeded IN
reversing Itself within twenty-four hours, con-
dernring one day by an immense majority the
socialization OF the means Of production, dis
trbution and exchange" and advocating II al
the next session with a precipitate rush
specious attempts are made TO explain away
this extraordinary performance on the ground
that socialism is not a constitutional test for
membership IN trade unions federated with the
Labor party. although # is the 81 preme aim and
final object IF their political action Mr.. Shack
leon has. however, more authority as an inter
Prefer than either Mr. Thorne MI Grayson,
and 81 IS clear that the old-fashioned trade
ulionizts have lost control Of the Labor party,
which is now directed by dreamers and agita-
tors cut Of touch with the industrious working
class. Mr. Balfour may be more rhetorical than
accurate when he declares that the red flag has
been hoisted At Hull. but he Is not playing as q
Partisan with an artificial hogie when he de-
olares that Z million trade unionists are com
n3tSed by ma sjor.ty of their representatives 70
crude and calarnitous policy Of social recon !
s-ructior There IS little evidence in these illogi-
csl and frenzied proceedings that half century
e systematic education has trained and pre-
pared tie masses for anything so chmerical as
common ownership in raw material and equal /
rsrtcira-ion in the combined benefits OF accu-
ruiated capital and organized labor
Nor iz there better proof that either OF the /
main parties IS making 2 concentrated effort 10
regulate and enlighten the working forces OF
democratic England. Each is playing with So
cisls+n for partisan advantage without regard
ier the ultimate Improvement OF the masses
Tae Tnionists with zeal inhamed b. an unex- /
ieote1 triumph in Mid-Devon. are rallying to the
Eeppo-t q tariff reform definite policy /
'fich viii er-arge the sources Of national rev. /
erBe and facilitate the development OF sea /
power and the accomplishment Of imperial fed /
e'stion- and in order 20 conciiiate the working /
voters they are prepared TO pledge themselves /
10 oic age pensions and other social reforms, for
winch they viii have the money requisite The 1