On Wednesday evening Mr. Black moved his much-dis- cussed amendment
in a speech of no little ability. He was followed by Mr. Goschen, who showed that he has inherited his father's devotion to the cause of Free-trade. The fact that Mr. Goschen, though he has taken no very extreme line, is to be opposed in his constituency by a Tariff Reformer made the following questions addressed to Mr. Balfour very pertinent:—" He should like to hear from the Prime Minister, however, what was the attitude of the Government towards those members of the party who bad loyally supported them in the past and who had differed from them only on this fiscal question. What was his attitude towards those Mem- bers who had not only supported him on other questions in the past, but who were prepared to accept the Sheffield policy though their constituents disagreed with them ? Was the right hon. gentleman prepared to support them against their constituents who desired the more advanced policy of the late Colonial Secretary ? " Though Mr. Balfour, of course, made no reply, we can supply an answer. Mr. Balfour will not lift a finger to prevent Unionist Members in Mr. Goschen's position from being tomahawked "when the time comes" by Mr. Chamberlain and his organisation.
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