Mr. Chamberlain has written a letter to the Norwood Branch
of the Tariff Reform League in regard to a resolu- tion which they propose to pass. This resolution in effect defines the policy of Mr. Balfour as a Tariff Reform policy, and pledges them to support "only such Parliamentary candi- date as, clearly and without reservation, declares himself to be in favour of Fiscal Reform." Mr. Chamberlain in his letter says : "I feel justified in saying that I should certainly vote for such a resolution in any election in which I was personally concerned, as it does not appear to me to go at all beyond the official programme as stated by the Prime Minister on more than one occasion, and I do not see how any loyal supporter of Mr. Balfour and the Unionist party can possibly object to its terms." We venture to predict two things in regard to this letter. The first is that Mr. Balfour will not deny that Mr. Chamberlain and the Norwood Branch of the Tariff Reform League have interpreted his policy pro- perly. The other is that, in spite of this fact, the Balfourite section of the Unionist Free-traders will continue to insist that Mr. Balfour is at heart a Free-trader. Indeed, we should not be surprised to find them making such a declaration the day after Mr. Balfour had issued a Chamberlainite address in East Manchester.
Lord George Hamilton at Lincoln on Thursday made an admirable appeal to his countrymen "to think of themselves
Previous page
