The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
The English University Boat Race Won by
Cambridge After Very Exciting Strug-
gle-Preparing to COerce Greece.
CHAMBERLAIN, THE RADICAL.
Sketch of q Man Who Is Destined for q
Large Place In English Affairs.


Joe was sent to the University College school.
but he was sent to business before he was seven
teen. commencing his commercial life with his
father When he was about eighteen, the entire
family, father, mother and several sons removed
to Birmingham. Mr.. Chamberlain, senior. be-
came a partner in the screw manufacturing firm
Of Nettlefolds which. as Nettlefold & Chamber
lain have for years held foremost place in the
industrial world. For twenty years Joseph
stuck to the business, each Of his brethren hav-
ing the responsible charge Of a special branch
When the old man died, in 1875 Joseph with
drew from trade, capitalist and politician, to
devote his time and talent to the public service.
During his early business life he had belonged
to local debating society. These amateur
parliaments have for many years been a leading
feature of provincial existence, and they have
trained many young man for the platform and
| the pulpit The society to which Joseph Cham
berlain belonged had the enormous advantage of
having for it's chairman George Dawson, of
the most eloquent and subtle Of English lectur-
ers, and one Of the most earnest and loveable Of
men, Joseph Chamberlain and George Dawson
became intimate friends, and Joseph was soon
the foremost Of the secretary's orators and de-
baters His success In this intellectual field
stimulated his desire for knowledge in other di
rections. He snatched all the time he could
spare from business in the interest of study; he
bought and read the best books, and with the
aid of professor mastered the French
language. So proficient linguist is he now that
writer in the Municipal Review, who knows
him WELL says that ''in illustration of Mr. Cham
;,so fax nj III
had Gambetta paid visit to this country, as
was at one time contemplated, the three En-
glishmen who could best have conversed with
the Frenchman in his own language were all
members of the government. namely, Lord
Granville, Sir Charles Dixie and Joseph Cham
berlain, the member from Birmingham"
In 1868, Mr.. Chamberlain became a member
of the Birmingham town council In the same
year he was chosen chairman of the Education
League and two years afterward was elected
member of the first school board under the ele
mentary education act In 1873 he was elected
Mayor of Birmingham, and so great was his pop
ularity that he was reelected for two years fol-
lowing. ALI this time he was a prominent Rad
ical in word and deed. Not a Radical of the Jo-
seph Cowen type, who claims that the present
monarchical system of England is the best kind
of constitution for England. but Radical who
believes that we should be better governed, more
happy and prosperous under a republic. When,
therefore. it was arranged that during his first
year of Office the Prince and Princess of
Wales should visit Birmingham. the midland
counties, Of which Birmingham is the chief
city, were much concerned as to the treatment
these august visitors would receive at the
hands of the Republican mayor. Mr.. Chamber
lain, of course, recognized the force of the Con-
stitution under which he lives, and gave the roy
alties the loyal and courteous reception to which
they were entitled, not only bv their Office but
as guests. He declined In his official capacity to
allow the people to be taxed for the cost Of the
civic hospitality He bore himself the expense
of entertaining the royal visitors He received
them with dignifed simplicity of manner. but
his hospitality was royal The Prince and Prin-
cess were deeply impressed. They not long
in returning the compliment" Mr.. Chamber
lain was soon afterwards invited to Marlborough
House, where he was received as an honored
guest The man who outrages the decent con
ventionalities of life Is boor; the official who
endeavors to dishonor the accepted institutions
of his country is a traitor to law and order; the
courtesy to two of the most amiabe persons in
these realms-the Prince and Princess of Wales
must be the very opposite in training, charac-
ter and feeling to Joseph Chamberlain.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Mayor of Birmingham,
busted himself as much in advancing the mater-
al interests of the town he had busted himself
in making the fortunes of the firm of Nettlefold
& Chamberlain. During his mayoralty, the gas
companies of the town were bought up and man
aged by the corporation for the benefit of the
| rate-payer; the local water company followed
| suit; and many other great and important i'm
| provements were made in the administration Of
| the town and its property. In 1874 Chamberlain
| contested Sheffield for a seat in Parliament:
| Sheffield rejected him; Sheffield is jealous of
| Birmingham, and thought it something of an
| impertinerce for so thorough going Birming
| ham man to presume to solicit the SURFACES of
| Sheffield. A year later of the members for
Birmingham resigned his seat and Mr.. Chamber
| lain was sent to Parliament in his stead. He
made his mark in the House Of Commons at
| once Not an orator in the sense that Bright
and. Gladstone orators MIR. Chamber
lain is. however, powerful speaker His
| style Is peculiarly acceptable In the House or
Commons. 1t is terse, close, epigrammaticai
| full of point, apt in illustration. and, above all
| this, earnest. There is no eloquence more clio
| ouent than the eloquence of truth and earnest
| ness Mr.. Chamberlain may be right or wrong.
| but he believes he is right. He does not speak
| for the sake Of speaking; he speaks because he
has something to say. We have too few men
| ike tutS IuAu OuE pVhticione no o ruiS, oKo
mere Office seekers. They party men first,
and Englisbmen afterwards The few who
despise party are not true patriots Mr. Labou.
| chere is humorist and cync-a delightful
companion, an accomplished journalist; but he
makes legislation jest He thinks he can
level mountains with joke He laughs at the
| faith of the men who blew their horns before
| the walls of Jericho, but thinks he can abolish
| the House of Lords with sneer and laugh.
| Mr. Chamberlain, on the other hand, Is in dead
| earnest; he believes he has q mission, IL con
scious Of bis responsibility to himself and bis