About all this Mr. Balfour said not a word in his speech, which was all taken up with his announcement on the fiscal que tion, for which the country iis been pre-pered by his pamphlet. He is going to ask the country for freedom to nezotivte la fiscal matter-—in other words to retaliate exeinst hostile taritfs—and for mems to nezoticte with, He is not going to ws for is freedom, to impose taxes on howerer, food, although be ogrees with them in theory, because the country is not ripe "for them and they are therefore outside practical polities." "IL have been asked to give a led." Mr. Belfour said, and T think the request is a re+sonable one, A min who, Rowerer unworthy, is called upon to lend a party must lend it, and s0 Tong ws L.sm in that position I mean to lead it." Tut ever from that essentially consertive gathering a significant query was here blurted out—" What about Joe!"
The Attitude of the Conserv ives The meeting at which this speech was delivered was held in connection with the annual Conzress of Conservative and Constitutional Associations; and there was of course a good deal of interest to see how that Lady wontd be diveled on the fiscal question. it would go for Prote: riy doubt, For years past these conferences have been jossing Protectionist resolutions. They were snubbed for, it by Lord Salisbmn them that however desirable their i lo, because, rethe vere smallest hour axes. ers: and now that proves ty be smilier than ever, s'the resolutions swent they ended {ina compromise. Mr. Chaplin withdraw-emendment in favour of food taxes end Sir John Gorst_ one condemning, while approving of Mr.
ey was adopted. This only ever, that the Freetraders acres tion so long as it can be put in injuring our own trade—and ther believe this to he impossible, As soon the detailed plan of retaliation comes up the split will reopen. Tam referring, how ever. rather to the Conservative and Unionist M. B.'s than to the rank and file of the party. who are much mote Protectionist than their Tenders. Tt was clear at the Conference that if Mr. Balfour had gone lo bog." and adopted Mr. Cham:
in's scheme in its entirety he would bulk of the Conferorce ever more enthitsivsticnlly with him. But what willie the attitude of that considerable portion of the nation which attaches itself Terminently to neither party. and which fet alias tums the scale at a General Election? As to that, the General Election will alone conclusively show.
The Macedonian was held at protest Macedonia. rust Bishop it; and though no doubt ave shown on the side of the insurgents, snowed policy of leaving 1d" Austria to settle tie matter bear as the balance of has mut by liter in-format wice_of the "Times," cerresmtlence on this point is parti eluable. Ne one can doubt Turkish ave been guilty sce masseres and horrible cruelties, nor fan anyone Velieve that the scheme of re-famed administration to which the Porte
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.