6 JANUARY 1906, Page 11

The tone of complacent and supercilious superiority dis- played in

the address also marks Mr. Balfour's preface to his collected speeches and pamphlets on Fiscal Reform, published on Friday. Mr. Balfour acquits the "eminent persons "—including, it may be noted, the Duke of Devon- shire—who have failed to comprehend his utterances of wilful intent to deceive. He finds in their incapacity "a curious and rather pathetic interest," and then declares there is "no reason why true Protectionists as well as true Free-traders should not agree in approving" the changed attitude towards our fiscal system which he recommends. Yet we venture to think it will turn out that this perverse world will continue to insist that things cannot both be and not be at one and the same time.