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Show THE GREAT QUESTION POSTPONED. The determination of the British Cabinet not to make "financial reform" re-form" tho critical political issue Is a mere postponement. Some time It must be made the crltlcnl Issue In Great Britain. "Financial reform" Is the name under which Chamberlain urges his "fair trade" propaganda; it Is a tariff question entirely, and the question ques-tion Is the same in Great Britain as it is In tho United States and in Germanythe Ger-manythe protection of the home workman against the workman of and in foreign countries. On this issue Chamberlain made a tremendous campaign last year in England, Eng-land, Scotland, and "Wales. And yet, his positions would be called moderate in this country; in fact, they wore mod-crate. mod-crate. No doubt they had to be, In a country so much given over to free trade as Great Britain has been, and is yet In a moro moderato degree. In order to make any Impression at all, or even to got a hearing (In which hla diplomatic triumph in South Africa gave him great leverage), he had to start gradually, and make his approaches ap-proaches with wiutlon. But he got his hearing, and It looked at one lime as though he might sweep the country. In this he failed, though he all but committed the Ministry to his Idea. It took long and serious consideration to keep out of the clash. The commercial and Industrial conflict con-flict will be the issue not only In all the countries from henceforth, but between be-tween the nations. The pressure Is already al-ready on, and the process of adjustment or adaptation to the requirements of the stress have begun. This process will smash theories both of free trade and of protection, as the ore Is smashed in tho concentration mills; what is good and valuable will be retained re-tained In the channels of retention, and what Is worthless will . be thrown off by the friction, and pass to the dump of worthless rubbish. Germany was qtflck to perceive this tendency and necessity, and is In better bet-ter order for the struggle than Is Great Britain, which is naturally .conservative .conserva-tive and slow to act. But all the nations na-tions will have to strip for tho race; the issuo must bocomo acute In each; and in postponing action, Great Britain merely puts off the day when the 'decision 'de-cision will have to be made. |
