On Thursday Sir Michael Hicks Beach made a most powerful
and convincing speech at Manchester to a non- party meeting of business men,—a speech which absolutely disproves the silly rumours that Sir Michael's opposition to the new fiscal proposals is dying away. No one could have put the economic argument better ; and we are specially pleased to note that he dwelt so emphatically upon the truth that we who uphold the ideals of Free-trade are the true Imperialists. Limitations of space unfortunately will not allow us to summarise Sir Michael's arguments, but we may point out that, though nominally aimed only at Mr. Chamberlain, they really apply with equal force to the policy of the Government, as outlined by its chief speakers and writers since the Free-trade resignations. No better proof of the unity of the Chamberlain policy with that of the Government can be given than the words used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Birmingham on Wednes- day, for the views expressed in public by the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer are universally admitted to have a special force and significance in regard to fiscal policy. This is what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said of Mr. Chamberlain's policy just after he had heard it expounded by Mr. Chamberlain with special clearness and cogency :— "He came there," he told the audience, "to show his admira- tion for the courage with which the senior member for Birmingham had taken up that question and fought his fight, and his sympathy with the policy which he advocated in all its branches." Unless Mr. Balfour is able and willing to dis-
avow the statement of his Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks Beach need after this have no further compunction as to opposing the Government policy.
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