In connection with the fiscal campaign the most striking event of the week has been Sir. Michael Hicks-Beach's speech at the Conservative Colston banquet at Bristol.. A good deul of anxiety was felt by Free Traders, especially by Unionist Free Traders when it became known that the Prime Minister and Sir Michael were both to be present and to speak at this banquet, and their fears proved not to be unfounded. It'is true that the ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer declares his continued, adherence, to Free Trade and his, unalterable opposition to Mr. Chamberlain's proposed food taxes; but he took the opportunity at Bristol to assure Mr. Balfour of his loyal support of the Government in its official attitude on the question. He approves, in theory at least, of the policy-of resorting to retaliation in order to induce foreign countries to modify their Protectionist barriers against our trade. is fairly. clear,-ton, that an understanding had been arrived at between Mr. Balfour and Sir, Michael beforehand, for.the Prime Minister in'his speech carefully refrained from any repetition of the encouragement which he has previously given to Mr. Chamberlain in his-campaign. Sir Michael is, evidently engaged in a desperate attempt to reunite the Unionist Party, on' the basis of Mr. Balfour's proposals. He agrees that there need be no general election until this Parliament expires by, lapse of time, and he hopes that in the meantime Mr. Chamberliin's food-tax' scheme may be knocked on the head. To most people, however, whether they ate Free Traders or "Tariff Reformers," this seems a vain hope, There is no enthusiasm for Mr. Balfour's scheme. Whatever may be the view of the major of the electors there can be no question that the great mass of the - Unionists are with Mr. Chamberlain. Whether Mr. Chamberlain will win may be questioned but that he will succeed in his object of making his scheme and not Mr. Balfour's the test question at the coming election it is almost impossible to doubt.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.