The second part of Mr. Chamberlain's speech was what one
can only term an endorsement of Mr. Balfour's declarations at Edinburgh. Mr. Balfour has repudiated for himself the name of Protectionist. "I also," said Mr. Chamberlain, "repudiate the name." It might seem to some persons a paradox that a great statesman like Mr. Balfour should think that he can put duties on to stop hostile tariffs, and yet not raise the price of goods; but experience showed that it had been done, and can be done. "If by such a change and reform of the tariff as Mr. Balfour and myself propose, you can give security to British manufacturers," there is no reason whatever why things should not be cheaper and not dearer than before. Mr. Chamberlain's endorsement of Mr. Balfour's proposed Ccnference was equally emphatic. Only in one point did he hope that Mr. Balfour's scheme would be reconsidered He could not understand what was the necessity for a second Election. The delay would be too great. This was the only blemish that he saw in a plan which, in his belief, marked a great advance in the programme of the Unionist party. In our opinion, those who imagine that the two speeches mark a disagreement or divergence of view between Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Balfour are mistaken. The points of difference, such as they are, are to be accounted for rather by the differences of temperament in the two men than by any antagonism of view.
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