The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1910. MR. BALFOUR'S BOMBSHELL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 989, 2 December 1910, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1910. MR. BALFOUR'S BOMBSHELL

It is easy to over-estimate 'tho effect that will be produced by Mr. Balfour's statement that he is willing to submit the principles of Tariff Eeform to a referendum. Yet it is impossible to deny, that its effects will ultimately bo very great indeed, and that nothing that has been said by any of tho leading Unionists during the past year can bo compared with it in point of usefulness to the Unionist party, ■that it has created a very great senL •?? 1S alreadv obvious from the shrill dismay of tho Radical press, and trom the still more significant alarm of the Morning Post. The statement could hardly have had a ™° 1-e dramatic and effective setting, fne Radical press had been torturing its resource of sophistry almost to death in its anxiety to find" some plausible indictment of tho only political method that really'permits tho clear and authoritative expression of the popular will for which Radicalism professes to be ngntmg, against the manoeuvres of a . R art y- Mn. Churchill had just declared that the referendum was not an undemocratic measure, ■ and had cited some leading issues that m'gkt well bo settled by its means, ihe Observer had then suggested a referendum on the tariff issue, and apparently the Radical press, convinced that Tariff Reform was unpopular, and also convinced that its advocates would be as anxious to avoid. a clear and unmistakable poll upon it as tho Radicals are anxious to avoid putting their own politics to the same test, proceeded to issue confident challenges to the Unionist party. This can be: inferred from■'. Mr. Balfour's -statement in his Albert Hall speech that ,the_ Radicals "sought to put the Unionists in'a hole" by asking'them whether they would refer vital questions, particularly Tariff Reform, to a special poll of the people. On tie very day upon which Mr. Balfour staggered his opponents by giving tho answer which thoy did not expect, Mr. . Asquith was asking: "Will the Tories submit Tariff Reform to a referendum , ?" ■>' '

Ifc_ is impossible not to admire the j agility of the Radical newspapers' comments. . Their first objection to the referendum was' that people could not vote confidently on complicated Bills. When' it was shown that this would not do, and that it implied, amongst other things, that democracy meant that . democrats should place, not only their hearts and- consciences, but their heads also in the keeping of their representatives in Parliament, these agile sophists urged that under the. reforendum minorities would suffer. But that minorities must suffer is the essence of Radicalism, so the ground had to be shifted, once more. The latest argument—it is plainly the last ditch—is that the .direct operation of "the will of the people" will mean "good-bye to party government." For our own part we agree .that there is real substance in this plea, but it is not a plea that a Radical can advance without forswearing his principles, and Mr. Lloyd-George's public—even his Mile End friends—would be-iquick to concludethat the Government had all along, in secret, held tho maintenance of "the party" as a dearer object than tho triumph of the will of the people, Mr. Balfot/r's definite statement is a bombshell in the Radical ranks, for it destroys the strongest of the Radical battlecries. Nothing that their leaders or •newspapers can" now say will persuade the public that there is any longer any relevance or force in tho assertion that tho return of the Unionists to power will mean the immediate taxation of food. ■

The new strength of Mr. Balfour's position is empTiasised by his challenge to the Liberals to meet his offer respecting Tariff Reform by a counter-offer of a referendum o.n Home Rule. The Government wouldgreatly strengthen its position could it take up this challenge, but it has debarred itself from doing so even if it dared.' The best result of Mr. Balfour's sensational declaration is the fact that it ha* crippled the Tariff Reform "rushers" as badly a3 tho Radicals. Tho Times, . the Daily Mail, and the Daily Express are delighted, and are proclaiming, obviously with, good reason, the consolidation of the Unionist party. It is natural that the Morning Fost should enter a, protest and express doubt concerning "the wisdom of Mr. Balfour's hasty pledge." This famous journal has been tho inspiration o_f the "whole-hoggers" amongst the Tariff .Reformers,, and is proud of the fact that it has never swerved, in its career of 138 years, from its adhesion to Protection. The greatest asset of the Radicals has been the split in the Unionist party. That breach is now healed. Mr. Balfour's declaration is a pledge that the Unionist party will not, when it returns to power, inflict a tariff on tho people without first consulting tho people. Whatever tho issue of the election—and tho declaration may be too late to have its full effect next week—it would appear that the Unionist leador has spiked the guns of the Jacobins and left them with nothing but Liinehdiiso speeches to soften the wrath of the allies who have declared their readiness to turn and rend them. On tho broader, issue, the Imperial aspect of tho situation,, it is proper to say that nothing could have better pleased tho overseas Emph'o than this assurance that Tariff Reform cannot now come save as a deliberate deoieion by the people of tho United Kingdom. ■ "