New-York tribune., 1886-05-09
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE CAUCUt

MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE CAUCUS
Mr.. Chamberlain did not invent the caucus.
He only obtained an English patent on an
American idea and adapted the principle to the
conditions of Liberal politics. Having genius
for organization, he succeeded in an incredibly
short period in having the caucus generally ac-
cepted as the basis of party nominations and
action. Not content with applying the principle
to individual constituencies aud with attempt
ing to discipline members of Parliament who
swerved from their allegiance to party leaders,
he formed National Council composed of
representative, of hundreds of Liberal associa-
tions, which could speak authOritatvely on
matters of political policy. For years it has
been the fashion among Conservatives to sneer
at Mr.. Chamberlain as the patentee Of various
dangerous novelties, which degraded English
politics to the American machine. He has been
contemptuously known as the I" boss of the eau.
Gus" and has been denounced by his opponents
as educating a new and not wholly reputable
school of wire-pulers and machine workers.
Like many another venturesOme expert
menter the Birmingham leader has been hoist
by his own pe.ard. The National Caucus, inter-
vening in the present crisis in the fortunes OF
the Liberal party, has turned against its master
spirit. 1t has not only declined to follow his
leadership, but has treated him with scant cere-
mony, and by pledging its support to Mr.. Glad
stone by an erwhelming majority, has dealt
the opponents of Home Ru c, as Is stated il, one
of our London cable letters, a tremendous
blow. Mr.. Chamberlain's discontinue does not
end here. The Birmingham members of the
Liberal Federation, invigorated by the action
of the general body, have adopted resolutions
informing him that it is his duty to support the
Home Rule bill on its second reading. He is
represented as being greatly irrtated by this
attempt of the caucus to dictate to a member of
Parliament. If Mr.. Forster were only alive
the two statesmen might now be able to agree
on tue proper attitude Of independence which a
representative of the people ought to maintain.
When the Bradford caucus was seeking to dis
cipine its member, his colleague from Burning
ham could not appreciate the necessity for re-
senting political coercion.
Mr.. Chamberlain, being exasperated by the
unexpected action of his favorte machine, has
issued what he terms an utimatum. lie will
vote for the Home Rule bill, if Mr.. Gladstone
will promise that Irish representatives, shall be
retained in the Imperial Parliam ent. Without
this concession he will vote against 1t. The
Liberals generally regard this as challenge to
the Prime Minister TO accept.tbe alternative of
humiliation or failure. But in our Judgment
this ultmatum resembles an overture for
caritulation rather than a challenge. When he
replied in Parliament TO Mr. Gladstone his
speeches were filed with destructive criticism
of various features of the bill. His opposition
has now simmered down to the one point which
Mr.. Gladstone has pronounced himself willing
to treat as an open question. In like manner
Mr.. Treyelyan has plofcssed his willingness