New-York tribune., 1884-12-07

Mr.. AW.LrfEVRE -M MR. ClIAMRERl'AlN
AGAlN-TllE PRIME SELLERS


49, IoNpnN November -.
Mr. Shaw Lcfcvrc tho new Postmaster-"'h'ra''
il u man from whom much Is 10 be hoped; man
with grit cnough, believe. TO stand up against ms
permanent secretary, Mr.. Stevenson Blackwood' ana
all his lcglons of permanent clerks lie mas III" /"
DISTINGUISHED career He has been member for
Reading ever since 1868 and during a great part OF
his Parliamentary life has held Office under tho
Crown in the Board OF Trade. in the Admiralty
three times and finally in the very responsible post
of First Commissioner OF Works. This latter is q
particularly good berth for Trying mans me',''
The First Commissioner is a sort of Edilc, with
very large jurisdiction, and pretty complete anthor
itv over all Crown buildings and parks. Mr. Shaw
ofovre has bcen four years in this office and has
left his mark on London was likely to leave
mnch broader one had he remained fIrst 'on-
missioner He has done some admirable things
such as clearing away the houses obstructng access
to and sight of the Tower: and some things less
admirable such as the rearIangement OF Hyde idrk
Corner
Whatever he the faults of Hyde Park Corner as it
now stands the removal of the Wellington statue
entities the man who accomplished it to the graft
tude of London. Through good and evil report
Mr. Shaw efevre persevered in this project. lie
had to overcome an opposition OF the most multi
farious character. Influences of every sort were
brought TO bear on the First Commissioner. All
the English reverence for what exists was invoked
in behalf of this hdcOus and hideousy placed statue
Innumerable respectabilites wrote letters to the
papers TO rrove how little they understood OF the
matter There were votes in both houses of Parlia-
ment; the Lords, as usual, on the side of super
stition. Private efforts never ceased In spite OF
ALL Mr. Shaw Lefevre finally carried his point The
bronze monster was taken down, taken to pieces,
and finally cartcd on to Aldershot, where believe
they have put him together again and set him mp on
a hillside as an everlasting warning to the youthful
warrior not to deserve too well of his country 1t
does not much matter what becomes of him so long
as he is pulled down from his London pedestal.
The incident well illustrates Mr.. Shaw-Lelevcc's
power of frmness and it is this very quality which
hone to see him illustrate further IN the Post Office.
He will fnl for all he has. There vii! be a
struggle The new Parliamentary " chief hs Mr.
Blackwood describes his superior, will be melted
very early in his administration to show what stun
he is made Of He will have to choose between, on
the one hand. giving in to Mr. Blackwood and hav
ing things made pleasant for him, and, on the other
hand asserting his rightful authority. enforcing his
own views insisting on his own reforms. and there
fore finding his life burden and his path strcwn
with official thorns. He has to choose, i'm other
words tween the public service and his private
comfort. don't believe Mr. Shawl Leicvrc il lll ely
io prefer the latter 10 the former. Postmastcr-
General needs. of course. some further equipment
than force of character lie noels freshness of mind
and a caraoitv for taking new views instead of the
routine views tu which pcrmnncucy of clerksip has
accustomed the cleikIy intellect lcw men. cor-
tainlv have greater capacity for work than Mr
lU,rl vond'a new chief Ne may hr trusted ~ look
into things lor himself lie has come experience of
thc Post uniro rum previous Temporary tenure uf
IA "a IA.
,hinrt, has a,non murc tusit YEARLY. and the srtii
ni tho primlnrnt rlnih ineiinf siill. nni Nt SHAW
inleiip 10 eutn tu nul spupu ri hll HE pnoiHY hud
hnaimas nhilii, nni opua4n IA tho tnlnfm 81 g, al.
ln4 ahnsrs and aiuVihe nuln irnoY ia department
once lhn pride or England II viii not bo lone l''.
iofo ho 10 ia the Cabinet
whether from tueat of criminal proceedings or
othorNis isc, Nj. urnir has seen reason 10 modify
the terms oi h.s attack on Mr, Chamberlain, or of
the more personal pirt OF il, A week ago ho wrote
that Mr. Chamberlain Is reported II know not how
truly to have made a large fortune in monopoly
secured by most questionable dOdges.' Now Mr..
Grnlcll wishes TO blot the phrase questionable
dodges and substitute lor 1t that Mr.. Chamberlain
made large fortune by procuring an absolute
monopoly in the business he embarked in"
believe that Mr. Chamberlain on his part has been
advised that the dignity of a Cabinet Minister will
not be enhanced nor his reputation bettered by
prosecuting Mr. Grcnfell for libel His friends
have rushed eagerly into print to defend hum and TO
attack his assailant. Columns of the London papers
have been occupied with discussion of Mr. Cham
berlan's merits His partisans are not satisfied with
repcllnc what they think calumnes on his condnct
in relation to the making of screws. They enlarge
upon his general virtues, and invite the public to
admire and initiate them
THIS is all very we'll but IT misses the point Of the
controversy. Admiral Maxsc. for example a man
of the highest character and position ccnsurcs Mr.
Grentcl with great severity for setting aloat this
slander upon the private character OF public man
But. IN the first place. Mr.. Grcnfell did not set it
ahoat. The accusation has been made repeatedly,
and las not been refutcd. Admiral Maxse says il
does not deserve refutaton. dare say not, but he
omits to note thai the real question is not whether
Mr.. Chamberlain secured a monopoly of screw
making, but whether he secured it by crushing
poorer rivals If Mr.. Chamberlain chose to take
notice Of this, he could. presume, prove the story
to be false am told that IS the opinion of "A very
eminent lawyer who knows all about the matter
Supposing however there were any truth IN these
reiterated rumors, hardly think Admiral Maxscs
complaint of the made of them by Mr.. Chamber
lains political opponents will bear examination.
The point is this: Mr.. Chamberlain in public
speech at Birmingham attacked the landowning
class a class who toll not neither do they SPIN.
He has since publicly proposed that tie whole cost
of needed Improvements in the housing of the poor
should be borne by the same class, and by them ex-
clusivey. Well, answer they. if we are to be fined
because toll not neither do we spin. let ms see
how much tolng and spinning You do. What is
there in the history of the acquisition of your
wealth which gives you right TO propose the con.
fiscatlon of other mems wealth. Aud thercupon
follows the story about screws. If the story is
false. as | assume. nothing can excuse those Nho
started IT. If IT had been true. you will judge for
Yourselves how far tho circumstances Justify the
Inrins and Nj NhnmhcIlain's Mhlr nnnnnnnt Nm