We have dealt elsewhere with Mr. Bonar Law's speech, but
must say here that though it does not altogether satisfy us it was the speech of an honest man, and also of a moderate man —of a statesman who does not wish to ride rough-shod or push matters to extremes. As often happens in the case of party politicians oppressed by the imperative exigencies of the hour, Mr. Bonar Law has not, in our opinion, fully thought out the consequences of his decision to leave the question of the Food Taxes to the Colonies. When, however, those consequences have been worked out, we are confident that the whole party will realize that in fact, though not in immediate intention, Mr. Bonar Law has placed an impossible condition on the passing of Food Taxes, and that therefore those taxes will never be introduced. They have, in. fact, passed out of practical politics, though their ghost may haunt the party a little longer. The Colonies will never consent to take the decision that food now free in Great Britain is to be taxed, and the mass of comment by Colonial newspapers which has already reached us proves that this is so.
