Mr. Balfour, speaking on the Address in the Commons, congratulated
the country on the fact that foreign politics were no longer a party question, but he doubted whetler the thrusting of a Western Constitution on Persia would have good results, and he hoped that the rather indefinite statement in the King's Speech did not mean that this was contemplated. Turning to unemployment, he warned the Government that no plan would be acceptable which did not attempt to increase the employment for skilled labour. He went on to a most unconvincing exposition of how this could be done by tariffs. We heartily agree with him, however, in his strictures on the Government for having by careless threats and phrases reduced, the confidence of investors. After accusing the Government of vindictiveness in their treatment of Church schools, he challenged them to offer any excuse for their administration of Ireland. He called on Mr. Birrell to put in force the Crimes Act of 1887, and rightly denounced the Government for withholding protection from the weak and truckling to the strong. ...—
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