The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-14
ELOQUENT APPEAL
 BY CHAMBERLAIN British Statesman Talks of inc
 Political Situation CRITICAL TIME Al HAND Chamberlain Appeals For Strong Fed eration of Colonies and to Take Measures to Protect British
 Industry.
CRITICAL TIME Al HAND


 mingham retreat, on the very eve of the elections Joseph Chamberlain has made final effort to rally his coun- trymen in favor of his oh erished policy, colonial preference. The invalid states man. who is unable to write and was obliged to dictate his statement to a secretary. has Issued a manifesto ad- dressed to the electors of the whole country. In 1t he reiterates the warn ings which he has so often given to them of the gravity of the commercial situation.
 T address your" says MT. Chamber lain, "as Brftons. as patriots, and I tell you that it is not well with British industry
 Pointing out that Great Britain is losing in the international race by her persistence in free trade, he continues:
 This is a critical and creative time You cannot play fast and loose with your destiny.
 You have an opportunity. You will never have it again. Victories in poh- tics are like victories in war. They are won by enthusiasm. lost by timidity. A mistake in imperial policy is irre- trievable.-
 Continuing at some length in a sim liar strain, he warns the nation that if the ties of sympathy binding the coun- try to the children who are soon to become great nations across the seas should be weakened or destroyed Eng land would sink to fifth rate nation. existing on sufrerance."
 Explaining that the remedy is colon ial preference. MT. Chamberlain con- cludes:
 By commercial union we can pave the way for federation. I see constant ly before me as a practical object of aspiration that federation of free na- tions which will enable us to prolong in the ages yet to come all the slori- ous traditions of the British race. Never yet in our history has the great de- mocracy been unpatriotic, and know that the fruition of our hopes is cer- tain"
 The manifesto Is hailed by the union- ist papers as a trumpet call to the country-one of the finest and most im- pressive things Joseph Chamberlain has ever done and compara ble to Chatham's last speech in the house of lords, for dignity and the pathetic circumstances of it's utterance from a sick bed.
 Premier Asquith, at Bradford, making reference to MT. Balfours last speech concerning tarif reform, says:
 '"rhe oracle has spoken What is it's Oa7 NAf N1y@hf D1l- palmiest days of sacerdotal ambiguity ever gave forth more uncertain condi- tions.'
 MT. Asquith contended that the oppo- sitfon leader had definitely committed himself to moderate duty on food.
 Chancellor rioyd-George, Winston Spencer Churchill. John Burns and other governmental leaders are still campaign ing with unabeted energy. Both sides are equally confident. unionist whip tonight predicts gain of 20 seats for the unionists on Saturdays polling alone.
 The first four members of the new parliament will be returned Friday by mo opposition" election. They are Joseph F. Chamberlain, for Birmingham west; Lord Hugh Cicil and Sir William R. An sen, for Oxford university. and John Walter Mills for Durham. All are union fists.
 A novel feature of the present cam paign has been the seemingly studied apathy of the Irish members and the absence of great election effervescence in Ireland itself. John E. Redmond leader of the Irish party. and T. P. OConnor have delivered a few speeches in England in behalf of the liberals and there have been some convention quarreis and consequent disorders in Ireland over the selection of candidates, but none of the heat of excitement which has &C., companied the campaign in England. The nationalists have spoken but seldom
 It would not be safe to assume that the home rule question win not have an important influence upon the English electors, but this question has been com pletely overshadowed by other issues, such as the lords veto, tariff reform. Germany and the navy, In spite of all the effort of the unionist speakers to keep the home rule danger" to the forefront , as means of impressing the electors against the curtaiiing of the power of the house of lords.