PREFERENCE TANGLE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1913, Page 2

PREFERENCE TANGLE

•»» — i — MR. F. E. SMITH'S ADHERENCE

THE FEARS OF UNIONISM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 24th December. Whatever may be the reasons of generalship which induced Mr. Bonar Law to make his now famous declaration regarding food taxes, it is clear that his party either does not understand his intentions' or seriously distrusts them. Opinion collected since his speech last week shows clearly two things: 1. That the Dominions refuse point blank to make themselves responsible for the levying of any taxation on the people of England , and 2. That tho North of England, which matters more than any other section of the Kingdom in the decision of great issues, will not hear of food taxes in any shape or form. That is the position in • a nutshell. ,And it is Mr. Bonar Law's next move. There is a large section of the Unionist Party which declareu vehemently that the inclusion of food taxes of any sort whatever 1 spells ruin at the next election, • The dictum of the Daily Despatch may be taken as a cample of what is being said in the Unionist organs of tho North: "For Unionists to go into an election, at any thinkable date within the next two years, shouldering the Sin. bad's burden which has been their undoing in three elections already, would be to invite defeat. A fourth Unionist defeat would mean ( debacle." A. veteran Unionist candidate writes a word of warning from North Wales: — "1 have fought four elections for the Unionist Party, 'and I am sure that if we propose any tax on the people's food we are certain to be defeated. -With the question of taxing the people's food, even to a small extent, we are bound to lose the Union and the Welsh Church is bound to be pillaged." A POWERFUL ' ADHERENT. Whatever may be the feeling in the party generally, it is interesting to tint* how the front bench take the position. . Mr. F. E. Smith, "one of the pillars of strength to the party, ia evidently in accord with his chief, for lie said at Dudley last night:— "Tho events of the last three years hay« strengthened immeasurably the claims which the outer Dominions poss*« upon the gratitude of England and the fidelity of the Unionist party. Will any man choose this moment to lay aside his armour and abandon the cause? " For myself, I can only say that a party so bankrupt of honour, so saturated with poltroonery, would rt«nerve and would receive the contempt of . the constituencies and the condemnation of history. ' Mr. . Bonat Law has pointed out what is evidently true, that it would be im* possible for any Government to introduce proposals of Imperial preference without protracted consultation with tho colonies. He never said, as some have supposed, that the decision would be left to tho colonies. He never proposed, and he could not propose, to abdicate the responsibility" which the Government of this country will always ow« to the people of this country. Our object is. Imperial preference. Only foolish people will confuse the means with the end. The very object of discussing Imperial preference with the colonies is- in order that we may be informed by them with authority what, in their judgment, is vital, in order that that policy may.be carried chit; _ There are >tnany, .both in Canada, and in our other colonies, who, without excluding from consideration the question of duties on food, havo other, suggestions <to offer in the attempt to. Rttam the objects v, The end is greater than the means. We shall not (shrink from the means if the end requires it; but we shall not commit thc^ error of subordinating the greater to the less." , DIVISION MEANS DISASTER. Concluding, Mr. Smith said : — " Division means disaster. , If any man wishes civil war in Ulster, let him divide the party. If any man wishes to consummate the ruin, first of the Church in Wales and then of the Church in England, let' him divide the party. If any man wishes to perpetuate in our Constitution, the, Parliament Act and all that it stands for, let him divide the party."