The Colonial Secretary, addressing his constituents at Leamington on Tuesday,
claimed Kingsley, Ruskin, and Carlyle as authorities against the extreme doctrine of Free- trade. They seem to us doubtful allies to quote on behalf of a policy which would benefit the great interests at the expense of the humble consumer. The remainder of Mr. Lyttelton's speech was chiefly concerned with a defence of Mr. Balfour's policy of retaliation. He emphasised the necessity for caution. "No one could commit himself to all the definite methods for securing a Colonial preference which had been suggested." He admitted the serious difficulty that any form of Protection must lead to a competition of traders to secure it for their own commodity, and recommended to the
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audience the solution suggested by Mr. Charles Booth in the January Nationsl Review. In dealing with the duties of his own office Mr. Lyttelton said much that is admirable. We must respect, he said, the independence of self-governing States, and even with Crown Colonies "in keeping to unity and coherence of purpose we ought never to forget that each State must have its own life, its own particular thoughts, its oWn particular policy and method of expression."
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