Mr. Balfour addressed his constituents in East Manchester on Monday
in an important speech, which is said to have fallen a little flat upon his audience. It was not, however, addressed to them, but to the Unionist party at large. Its general drift was that he still considered the Free-trade arguments of 1845 dead arguments, that he thought restrictions upon imports might be advisable, that we ought to ask preferences from the Colonies even if we had in return to place a "small" tax upon food; but that none of these things should be done until the conscience and convictions of the population, alike of the Colonies and Great Britain, were satisfied of the necessity. He urgently advised the necessity of caution—extreme caution—and even admitted the possibility that Fair-traders might in the end admit themselves mistaken. He was evidently thinking much of the prospects of his party, and begged Unionists not to split up more than they had done, for if they did the demand for Home-rule would revive ; and moreover, a party was like a drop of mercury, which, once broken up, split into an infinity of smaller drops, with a perpetual tendency to further separation. He thought that the statesmen of this country would have to devote their time for months, perhaps for years, to the cause of fiscal reform. We have said enough of this speech elsewhere, but may add here that it will deepen the regret of most men who read it to see so fine an intellect and so genial a nature spoiled for the work of government by feebleness of will.
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