A fiscal debate was begun in the House of Lords
on Thursday by Lord Crewe, who was witty and entertaining as well as sound in argument. He noted how perfunctorily Mr. Chamberlain's policy was defended. " Now, whenever the travelling mountebanks of the Tariff Reform League swooped down on a constituency in which there was a by-election, the distracted Government candidate gave them sixpence to play in another street." Lord Crewe was followed by Lord Balfour of Burleigh, than whom no man has made greater sacrifices for the cause of Free-trade, and who has shown throughout the controversy a profound knowledge of the essential principles of commercial policy. We are glad to note that he showed no tendency to dolly with the idea of retaliation, or so-called "freedom of negotiation." Arguments in favour of retaliation, he noted, seemed to lead direct to the reversal of the fiscal policy of the nation. Lord Balfour ended by telling an excellent story of a man who, when asked whether his mother-in-law should be buried, cremated, or embalmed, telegraphed: "Better try all three ; take no risks." In the policy of Protection he was not prepared to take any risks. While it was before the country it would swallow up every other question in public life. That being so, it was unfair of the Government not to speak out clearly on the subject.
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