BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1028, 22 October 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

SPEECH BY JOHN MORLEY,

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright.

London, Oct. 20. Mr John Morley had a great and enthusiastic meeting at the Freetrade Hall, Manchester. He declared that the whole weight of authority, practical aud theoretical, was against Mr Chamberlain's crude, raw, unthoughtout proposals. Mr Balfour, a more shadow of a Premier. It was unworthy to resort to a policy of intellectual shuffling Cobden and Bright had proved right too often to be overthrown. Auyono acquainted with Lancashire's days of protection would know it to bo idiotic to declare freetrade a failure. Instead of ruining agriculture it had enabled the farmer to hold up his head. It had raised the position of laborers. He pointed to the enormous increase of tho income tax, savings banks deposits, and increase of shipping. While tho average price of food had fallen 30 per cent, wages had risen 15 per cent. He denied there was any real displacement of trade by tho principal foreign competitors. Even if there was cause f r anxiety it was unwise to seize the first remedy. Free imports were the true and only key to national prosperity. Mr Balfour, wishing to gain liberty, was offered a choice of fetters or manacles. The nation must refuse to be bullied into accepting a difficult and dangerous policy of retaliation. Tariff jingoism was the back-wash of war.

Sir E. Finlay, Attorney-General, speaking at Inverness, protested that the tariffs would probably disintegrate the Empire instead of cementing it. The admission of the colonies into the Imperial Council, with a share in its affairs, would be a better moans to secure consolidation. Mr Chamberlain was accorded an enthusiastic ovation ou his journey from Birmingham to Newcastle.