New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11

note of mild protest and the evening paper which
forms its views of practical politics upon MI.
Chamberlain. expressed itself in critical spirit
Mr. Laboucbere, with his usual bluntness, observed
that the electors of Chelsea had chosen DIT Chares
Dixie as Radical and that, II he had ceased 10 10
one, be ought 10 have given them fair notice when
offering himself for reelection and not at the last
moment, when 1T was no longer possible 10 start
rival. Some of the provincial journals wrote in q
similar strain. There was some ground for these
complaints. The new Cabinet Minister bad GER
tainlv derided his youthful declarations scatter
Drained. which is strong epithet to apply TO ones
own opinions He had, moreover. avowed his con-
ylction that while he sat below the gangway
he had been too ready to oppose
and attack his leaders. Finally he had
propounded in very curious terms the new doctrine
of political permeaton, according to which the true
aim of the Radical wing is and ought to have BEEN
to influence the front bench by argument and
persuasiveness to make converts of the wings
rather than victims, and in short, to permeate the
Liberal loaf with the leaven of RadIcalIsm. The
word permeate being an odd one hit the public
fancy and fastened attention on the change OF
mind it was thought to denote in liza inventor.
Now Sir Charles Dixie 10 a shrewd judge OF
public feeling and pre-emincnt for caution IN his
political conduct He must have foreseen the effect
raised Storm OF detached from his side
any of his old supporters. If, as l think
probable, he overrated the extent and strength
of Republican sentiment In England when
ne appealed to il fifteen years ago at he IS
far from undertaking. now the power which mas
since grown up under the name OF advanced
Liberalism. If he used words sure to offend TINS
powerful and heretofore friendly section of bis own
party he must have done it under the stress Oh very
urgent conviction in obedience to the dlctatlon
of a will stronger than his OWE. There is nothing
in the state of public feeling to call for 1t. The
only conclusion is that the circumstances under
which he was offered and accepted post In the
Cabinet were such as made tins declaration
nece sity. If ii were made a condition of Cabinet
rank that he should to a cera ain extent put of the
old Sir Charles Dixie and continue his career I'M
hampered by awkward recollections, the Chelsea
utterauccs are ineligible and they are hardly in
tellIgible on any other theory.
That hey will permanently loosen his hold on the
Radicals don't believe. That they signify break
up of the firm of Dixie and Cbamberai believe
still less The business of that partnership has
been too profitable to be lightly reuquIshcd. Sir
Charles Dixie has plenty Of work before him in his
own department, AID in legislation on matters con-
neced with it, i'll which he may reassure the friends
who for the moment, are suspicious or querulous.
He and they really at one on the questions whch
stand readlest for solution. Be that as 1t may he
has won the distinction he coveted at an age when
most men who rise to eminence in England are con-
tent with subaltern rank. He has q host
of friends and few enemies. He
has given abundant proof of capacity,
Of patience of suppleness, of business qualities.
His reputation is European as well a. English and
he is the foreordaIned Foreign Minister of some
future Government. His political opponents re-
spect him he has won the confidence of many men
who give confidence but slowly. Above all, he has
convinced Mr. Gladstone that he is necessary
Cabinet Minister, and he is freely named az a sue
cessor of Mr.. Gladstone at day which everybody
hopes may be distant. G. W. 5.