New-York tribune., 1908-05-02
A FREE TRADE SEDAN
Ultimate Triumph of Chamberlain
ism IneritabIe.
London. April %.

high spirits over Mr ChurchilPs defeat: vet IT Is
hardly possible to exaggerate the Importance of
the capture Of the traditional stronghold Of Cob
denisn' Manchester headed the revolt against
BalfoUrisrn and Chamberlairisrn in the general
election, and within three years it has turned
against Free Trade with a hckleness and a ca
priciOus contempt for consistency which offer a
striking contrast TO the constancy and loyalty
o. Birmingham 10 Tar5T Reform It has re-
nounced the traditions Of generations when the
Unionists are banded together to levy higher
tariffs as soon as they are restored to office and
when Free Traders are excluded from their lists
OF candidates The Liberal government. when
Il appeals 20 the country. cannot make Free
Trade more conspicuous than Mr.. Churchill has
done during the last fortnight yet Manchester
has declared in advance that it cannot be de-
pended upon 10 reverence the memory of Cob
6en. II Lancashire has lost faith in Free Trade
how long viii II he before England is again
numbered among the tariff nations?
The ultimate triumph OF Tariff Reform in the
United kingdom is indeed the safest forecast
that can be made in British politics. 1t may be
deferred Two or three years through the reluc-
tance ot M Asquith to order general election.
hut come IL must sooner or later. The reaction
against Liberalism is not likely to ebb when
there Is q continuous ourUsh of legislation of
uzsettling nature. The education licensing,
pensions, land and trade union policies of the
government create resistance and resentment,
and when appeal Is made TO the country griev-
aaoes and discomfort viii find expression in hos
tile -7ajc-ities That was the natural effect of
z r-at~acted term of unOnism, and there is
every reason 10 expect that IL win be repeated
when the present government dissolves Parlia-
rnerl. The Tariff Re10rrlers do not want pre-
mature appeal 70 the country, for they dread a
return 10 power with feeble majority. A large
majority alone viii justify them in changing the
fiscal system. and they prefer 10 wait two years
for II in the confident expectation that the dis
content with existing conditions viii steadily in
crease. When the crisis comes the Liberals will
be voted down. unless all signs fail by various
sections Of the electorate which have special
grievances The Unionists will have their main
issue well IN front, and there viii be an end Of
Co5denisE.
Manchester has witnessed z general election
n miniature Mr.. Churchill appealed for sup
port as q trustee of Free Trade where the
Corzzrite Ark Of the Covenant had been conse-
Grated xkere the economic faith had once been
delivered TO the saints and where faddist Sec
ol5 Azveu-ists had been waiting for seventy
years for the fulflrent Of prophecies that wars
should cease tariffs be overthrown throughout
the world and the universal brotherhood OF man
be r-oclai iraed. Tradition. local pride, mercan-
tile prejudice and enlightened self-interest were
v-i-n him Manchester with its mllllons OF
su5udlss and looms had been enriched by Free
Trade and India with its hundreds Of millions
Of British subjects was its open market II
here was any quarter OF the kingdom where
The defence Of Cobdenism might reasonably
be expected 10 arouse zeal and enthusiasm IL
was in Manchester. There was at once
breath OF life among the dry bones OF rnou4def-
1-e Free Trade. Yet as soon as MI. ChurcIl4-
began 70 rally MS supporters for decisive
cd T1T1OTl
Licensing. religious education, irish Home Rule,
OLD age pensions eight hours for miners. woman
suffrage and scores Of other questions were
raised. and, reluctant as he was TO shltt MS
ground and 70 take them up, he was compelled
10 do il and 10 make concessions TO one DooI
Of r-alcontenrs after another. In the END ne
was defeated, after futile compromises on side
issues.
Now. what has happened at Manchester VIII
r,r7ta rr,> occur whenever a general election
comes on The Liberal government, as the sole
surviving trustee u Free Trade and the fiscal
-7rIiries Of seventy ears, viii appeal for na-
-ional support against higher tariffs; but as
soon as il doe 80, scores Of counter issues VII
be raised based oa It's OWE legislation and
adn1laist-a ZION and il VIII be placed on It's own
defence The choice between Free Trade ana
7,s~f+r ref1r.r cannot De converted into sin
gle r=fc-endum tor final decision by the demo-
cratic electorate. i viii be confused ana COM
rLicated with many ether questions on which
there are differences Of opinion The trustee
Of Free Trade wiz itself be on trial on an
omnibus Indictment. with many counts for IN
efficiency in administration and reeklessnesS
in legislation ana il cannot claim immunity
from re-porsihIHty on the ground of devotion
10 Cobdeu-s principles. There will be cross
c,----1-r as ~ Manchester. and with the multi
rrf,f-v Of grievances and issues the Liberal
government is likely 10 go down, as JnlonlsIn
CID before it, The Opposition VIII nave
marked advantage IN the general elections anu
when r returns 70 bower i VIII be under obi
cations 70 carry out its foremost issue "hIch
IS Tariff Reform. with preference for colonies
and resources for negotiation or reclamation anu
with the broadening Of the basis Of taxation
To- revenue PURPOSES. There may not be a
direct. saeo1lvocaI mandate for il from the
nation. byr q united party committed 10 fiscal
reform VIII be in fun possession Of the held-
vris uig le a proof that national policies
ere Transformed ry the operation Of the double
ra~tv syste.a of government Liberalism
stands for the old Golden order and Unionism
for the amended Chamberlain method OF tax
ing ED IMPERIAL confederation on the business
side and incidentally, protecting the nome
market against foreign competition. The na-
tion may or may not De converted TO the Bal
four principle If broadening the basis OF TAXA
ton bur when j, turns out one party and puts
the orher in Office. it VIII bury Cobdenisn out
OF sight That is the great change IN BRUSH
fiscal policy which must be anticipated by
America and Germany. BacksNding Manchester
has made il inevitable. ! y r.
WISCONSIN VETERAN A CENTENARIAN.
aI..7vaukee May James Clancy, thought TO De