Mr. Balfour, after a very warm defence of Mr. Chamberlain
from the attacks made upon him, proceeded to declare that those who peculiarly prided themselves on being the representatives of the true Free-trade doctrines were nothing of the sort. He then erected a man of straw which he called Free-trade, and proceeded to demolish it. Mr. Balfour seems to imagine that Free-trade is essentially an international matter, and that unless other nations give up Protection there can be no Free- trade. That is, of course, a travesty of the British Free- trader's position. He says Let foreigners make as many blunders as ever they like in the regions of commerce and punish their consumers as they will. We will not imitate them, but whatever they do, will free trade from all money imposts save those imposed for revenue only.' The rest of Mr. Balfour's speech was taken up with a declaration in favour of a policy of retaliation, " larded " with the usual shibboleths of the Protectionists,—such as "Does this country exist on sufferance?" We cannot, however, deal with it in detail, and will only say that, in our view, it is im- possible to read the speech and doubt that Mr. Balfour is at heart a thoroughgoing Protectionist,—though one who at present "holds it not handsome to be here set down."
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