The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-12

stones traits is the capacity he has shown for
adapting himself to altered times and circum-
stances. He began with imperfect political ideas,
but he has been a ready learner. He was a Tory
at first, and has been led into advanced Liberal
ism by the necessities of the country and the
proinptings of conscience. But for this his in
iiuence might have been no greater than that of
the early associates whom he has left so far be-
hind. Great as a statesman. great in learning,
and great in private virtue, he is also one of the
greatest of living orators. In this country he
has no equal, either in Parliament or on the plat
form. He was formerly rivaled by John Bright,
but years have told on the latter, Wild Glad
stones magic powers Of debate seem to defy
them.
THE PEOPLES JOSEPH.
Gladstones .soubrOquet is The Peoples Will
iam, and Chamberlain's pet name is The Peo-
pies Joseph" The latter is still young, both in
years and in political service. He is a Radical
of the Radicals, subscribing to the full Radical
programme, the principal points of which are
manhood suffrage, equal electoral districts, pay
ment of members of the House of Commons
abolition of the House of Lords, and of theo-
logical tests, church establishment free
schools, self goyernment for Ireland, reduction
of the national debt and international arbitra-
ton. For the accomplishment of these ends he
uses the machinery of the Liberal party, and is
willing to take half a loaf rather than get moth
ing. AS the representative of the central town
in the midland counties he commands a large
following, and in Birmingham no man is more
idolized. He first came into public notice as the
mayor of that town, and to his efforts largelyare
due the vast moral and material improvements
wrought in the place in recent years. The
ability he displayed in these matters, and in the
political organization of the borough, marked
him as a fit man for parliamentary work, and he
had been In Parliament only a few years when
he was pressed into the Cabinet. He is con
temptuously spoken OF by his enemies as the
product OF the Birmingham caucus-that adj
mlrable system by means of which the electors
OF that place, though having only two votes
each, manage, by dividing up their suffrages,
to return three Liberal members, whereas the
Tory government, which inserted a minority
clause in the last reform bill, intended that the
place should send two Liberals to Parliament
and one Conservative. AS a matter of fact this
system is the product of Mr.. Chamberlain, for
he, l understand, invented it, though which
ever way the relation is put L fail to
see that either party to it has cause to be
ashamed. Mr.. Chamberlain is a man of whom
any constituency or country might well be
proud. Even those who disagree with his po-
htlcal views must at least recognize his ability
and admire his daring. He has all the courage
of his convictions, and will not allow his tongue
to be bridled even by the restraints which are
proverbially supposed to surround a Cabinet
minister. He tells his colleagues and the pub
lie what he wants-what he thinks the country
wants-and then abides by their decision; at the
same time, however, serving notice upon them
that they will hear from him later. His motto
is: Let what is practicable be at once embodied
in legislation, and let us, by agitation and de-
bate, prepare the people for what now seems inn
practicable" Their lordships of the Upper
House get it from him right and left. He also
INDUCES il, frequent filings at royalty, and, as
for the Established Church, he regards that with
feelings Of positive adherence. A dissenter
himself, and belonging to a religious society
which Is quite content to bear its own burdens,
the idea of a great religious institution pam |
pered and fattened by the state is utterly OBJ
nOXious to him, and he is ~sanguine that the
days of the Establishment are numbered. To
his fearless and ceaseless pleadings, more than
to the efforts of any other one man. must be at
tf1buted the forward condition of the franchise
question, and he is still laundering away on this
subject, expecting in the near future to see
every householder in the enjoyment Of a vote,
but demanding manhood suffrage as the ulti-
ultlmatum. For Ireland he has the most liberal
plans. He would give her home rule without
delay, if he could, and meanwhile, he SAYS, she
must and shall be included in the coming fran
chise measure. He has been on intimate terms
with Mr.. Parnell, and only lately he shocked the
Tories by consulting that gentleman
with reference to some patronage
he had to dispense in the Green, Isle.
Mr.. Chamberlain is a very effective speaker
not an orator; but what he lacks Unnatural grace
he makes up for by careful preparation and a
thorough mastery of his subject, and speaking
always on themes which touch the popular
heaft, he never fallS to awaken enthusiasm. In
appearance he is the furthest removed from the
conventional politician. OF slim build, and with
a younglooking, almost beardless, face; dress
ing, too, as he does, in fashionable attire, and
always wearing an e~yeglass. a la Dundreary. he
would pass on the street for a dandy rather than |
a Cabinet minister. His prominent nose. the
solitary flower he sports in his button-hole. and
his inevitable eye-glass together, make him a
splendid subject for caricature: but ridicule, |
while it kills the weak and puts the wicked to
shame, is the material out of which strong and
true men build up great regulations. so l pre-
sumo the comic papers, which so often display
his phiZ and form, are It source of amusement
and satisfaction to him. One may judge Of the
influence Of a man Just coming upon the scene
by the opposition he arouses. Measured by this
test, Mr.. Chamberlain must be a great man, in
deed. He is the nightmare of the Conservative
party. From their point Of view, there is no
mischief he is not Matching and no evil he would
not do. His colleagues, not excepting even the
Premier, owe him a great debt Of gratitude, for
he is the butt of every attack made upon the
Cabinet. Everything in the administration
past. present and prospective-that is not Just
right in Tory eyes, is the work of Chamberlain.
But Chamberlain is a fighter, and he gives back
every blow with interest. In the meantime,
both he and his principles are growing. The
Radical wing is getting to be the leading power
in the Liberal party: and Radicalism means
Chamberlain. Consequently he is pointed to by
progressive people as the future Prime Minister.
Whether or not he will reach that height is
problematic, but that he is to-day, next to Mr..
the most prominent figure in English
politics cannot be denied. H. I.
THE SARAH BERNHARDT ROOK.