Mr. Chamberlain's direct references to Mr. Balfour were loyal and
complimentary. The following is the passage in regard to the Premier's plea for union as laid down at New- castle, a passage which' produced the Ministeral crisis which is still unsolved :—" You must not ask the majority, be it nine-tenths, or, as I think, ninety-nine-hundredths, to sacrifice their convictions to the prejudices of the minority. No army was ever led successfully to battle on the principle that the lamest man should govern the march of the army. I say you must not go into the battle which is impending with blunted swords merely in order to satisfy the scruples of those who do not wish to fight at all." The talk about the divisions in the Unionist party, Mr. Chamberlain continued, was most grotesque exaggeration. They were agreed on Retaliation and Preference, but they could not have Retalia- tion without a general tariff. His opponents indulged in the "most colossal lies" as to the effect of his policy, which was the only way of dealing with the lack of employment.
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