MR BALFOUR AT SHEFFIELD

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 13

MR BALFOUR AT SHEFFIELD

A MEMORABLE SPEECH. "I MEAN~TO LEAD” (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON. October 2. Mr Balfour made at Sheffield last night the speech which the country was so anxiously awaiting. Seldom indeed has the prospect of a Ministerial declaration of poliev put so keen an edge on expectation. All the interest in the great problem which is agitating the country was focussed for tho momait upon_ one man —tho Prime Minister. With his general views upon the fiscal question the country was already, through the medium of his “Economic Notes,” familiar. What all parties waited eagerly to learn was to what lengths in tho direction of tariff reform Mr Balfour was prepared to commit tho Government of which; ho is tho head. Last night's speech will become historic, if only By reason of the extraordinary circumstances which lent a unique interest to its utterance But a.s regards tho speech itself, what Is to he said of its reception? As a public speaker Mr Balfour admittedly rose to the occasion last evening, and delivered a political address that was worthy of his great ability. But the general feeling seems to bo that the speech, for all tho candour, the courage, and tho conviction which it displayed, was inconclusive. As tho “Standard" puts it, Mr Balfour’s address “leaves us very much where we stood before it was delivered." The speech has been received, in fact, with mingled feelings, apart from those dictated by mere partisan bias. There is satisfaction that Mr Balfour, as head of tho Government, has definitely announced on tho public platform tho outlines of his fiscal policy, and a feeling of disappointment at the continued absence of any practicable schema embodying those principles. The scene within tho Drill Hall testifieri to the extraordinary interest which the speech excited. Close on six thousand people were wedged within the four walla of a building which at ordinary times accommodates about two thousand.Great gaUoriat, draped with scarlet cloth, woro built out from the walls. In one gallery were the delegates of the conference, in the other a great array of members of Parliament and local leaders of the party. Ladies occupied the chairs in the body of tho hall, and at either end the standing crowd, close packed, presented. a sea of upturned faces to the rostrum whence the Prime Minister spoke. Mr Balfour’s entrance punctually at eight o'clock was tho signal for a fine demonstration on the part of the expectant audience. The whole great gathering rosa to its feet and cheered again and again. Men waved their caps, ladies their handkerchiefs; tho strains of "For He's a Jolly Good Follow” mingled with the shouting and tho cheers. Standing in the full glare of the electric light Mr Balfour showed signs of tho great strain the present crisis has imposed upon him. Ho looked tired, although evidently pleased at the warmth of the reception, and when he began to speak ha had to apologise for tho weakness of his voice. But that was only at tho commencement. Presently ho wanned to his subject, his voioe rang clearer, and every word of hia address could be hoard throughout the -vast assembly. Contrary to his usual custom. Mr Balfour had previously written out tho speech and revised it with scrupulous care, but when he came to deliver it ho spoke only from a few notes jetted down on envelopes. With the outlines of his speech colonial readers are already familiar. Ho spoke on one topic, and only one —tariff reform. He showed how Mr Chamberlain’s memorable speech last May had fallen on prepared ground. Ho urged the need for a revision of the principles which governed England’s fiscal policy in order to bind tho Empire in - closer union and safeguard Britain’s trade. They could not go to war over tariff reform. Tariff attacks, he declared. could only be met by tariff-re-plies. But tho country, he frankly admitted. was not ripo for the taxation of food, therefore his advice, as the leader of a great party, was that a tax on food was not within the limits-of practical politics. ’ k Then canid the keynote of tho speech, the essence of his policy:—“My request to you to-night,” said the Prime Minister, 'buy fundamental and essential request, is that the people of this country should give to the Government of this country, from whatever party that’Government may be drawn, that freedom of negotiation of which wo have been deprived, not bv the course of circumstances, not by tho action of overmastering forces, not by tho policy of foreign Powers, but by something I can only describe as our own pedantry and self-conceit.” And tho Prime Minister reached his climax in a' declaration which by its note of personal, courage and determination compelled the enthusiasm of his vast audience: "1 have b»en asked,” ho cried, “to give a lead. I think tho request was a.reasonable one. A man, however unworthy, who is called upon to lead a party must lead it, and so long as X am in that position I mean to lead it.” Tho Prime Minister, in short, has pledged his Government to tariff reform under a policy, however, in which the taxation of food must find no place.