The Irish standard., 1895-06-15

that whenever Mr.. Gladstone should obs.
tain, satisfactory assurance on these
questions he would proclaim himslef in
favor Of Home Rule. But did Mr.. Glad
stone, before the constructive OF his new
government, consult fully with all MS
colleagues and make known to them MS
intentions with regard to Home Rule?
Did he, for example, make them fully
known to Mr.. Cha1nb nberlain? When ne
offered Mr. Cham berlain the position OF
president of the local government board.
was thatsthe office which Mr. Chamber
lain had wished to take, or was MIR.
place? These are questions to which
many people would be very glad~to have
an answer. Such an answer might per-
haps throw some light on the sign1fi.
canoe Of the events" that soon followed.
For Mr.. Cham berlain refused to accept
the main principles of Mr. Gladstone,s
Home Rule scheme and resigned MS
place in the administration. Then he
renounced Home Rule altogether and be-
came, to all intents and purposes, what
he has since continued to be. Tory OF
the Tories-an opponent of every llb-
eral and progressive measure in the po-
litical life of England.
I remember no such extraordinary
change in political conduct in the Eng
land of my time Mr.. Chamberlain is
patronized, of course, by the Tories, and
by former Liberals, like the Duke OF
Devcnshire, who have renounced the
very creed and sacraments, OF Lib
eralism.
Mr.. Chamberlain has boxed the politi-
cal compass pretty completely. He used
to be the most incorporating opponent
of the House of Lords. OF late, since he
has become the henchman OF the DukeAof
Devonshire, he is very angry with any
one who presumes to question the pa
triotism and the wisdom of the heredit-
ary chamber. Of course man has
right to change his opinions. The In
huence of duke has naturally good
deal to do with many change Of opin-
ions in England. But wind-changing
politicians, like another class Of persons,
ought to have good memories. Mr.. Cham
berlain has a capital memory for the in
consistencies of other men, but he seems
to have poor recollection OF his own
He began his speech by an angry demand
to know what was the excuse for the
Liberal denunciation of the House OF
Lords, and what was the meaning OF the
vile phrase, now so common Ill the
mouths of Liberal ldemagogues, about
."sflling the cup''-about giving the
House Of Lords time to fill the cup of
their iniquities. Alas! Mr.. Asquith re-
membered Mr.. Chamberlain's past career
and past sayings better than Mr.. Cham
berlain did himself, and he was able to
prove out of Mr.. Chamberlain's own
speeches that Mr.. Chamberlain was him
self the author of the phrase about filling
the cup, and that he had used it years
ago exactly as his ifititators are using 1t
today. The house was convnlsed with de-
light. Even the tories were for the most
part we'll pleased The Tories make good
use of MIR. Chamberlain, but they do not
all quite admire him. His alteration OF
rank lis perhaps little wanting in fin
ish,'' as Mr. Disraeli once said Of Lord
Salisbury's satire Most of the Tories see
this and quietly smile at it.
After his passing over the camp OF the
Tories Mr.. Chamberlain boasted in pub
lie speech of the satisfaction which it
gave him to be in the society of English
gentlemen. Some malign critic forthwith
described him as the Becky Sharp of Eng
lish political. life. The phrase stuck, and
Mr. Chamberlain was naturally dtspleas-
ed. Except for his own immediate friends
and faithful personal followers do not
suppose that anybody puts absolute trust
in him.. go. ..- =. @-.s.,.-
1t will be. interesting to- watch Mr..
Chamberlain's further career in politics.
He has an ambition, and he has undoubt-
ed capacity and strong self-will. He is
unQuestionably one of the best debaters
in the House of Commons. There are. ac-
cording to my estimate five great deba-
are Sir William Harcourt, Mr.. Arthur
Balfour, Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. Asquith,
and Mr.. Sexton. Sir William Harcourt,
Mr.. Sexton, and perhaps MIR. Asquith
may claim to be orators as we'll. Mr..
Chamberlain is certainly not an orator.
There is not a CLEAN Of imagination In
him, or Of fancy, or pathos, or genuine
passion. No heart is ever warmed by his
frigid, cutting eloquence. No eyes are
ever moistened by any appeal from him.
To all the artistic side Of life he is color
blind. He has not in him the capacity
for one flash of genuine humor. He can
be sarcastic, or perhaps rather spitetul
than sarcastic; there is sort OF spinster-
like shrillness in him when ne gets out OF
| temper and loses the suavity Of the ladies'
doctor. But he is a keen shreWd debater,
and he has singularly clear intonation.
Not word that he says is lost upon the
| house. His voice is not musical; 1t is
sibillant and monotcnous, but it reaches
every year. He has quick eye to detect
! flaw in the argument of an adversary.
He is splendidly se1f-opinionated and
would not be in the least afraid to meas
ure himself against Demosthenes if it
| were possible that that orator could come
| in his way, and that either could under
stand one word Of the others language.
I have spoken Of Mr.. Cham berlain's
remarkable capacity as parliamentary
debater. But it is not to his power of
debate, great as that undoubtedly is, that
I Mr.. chamberlain owes his special infiu-
Ience in English politics. He is made
by nature, by inclination, and by train
| ing to be f1rst-c1ass "boss"--to adopt
an expression familiar in American poli-
tics. He is not statesman; he is not
an orator; he is a boss and "boss"
Of the first magnitude. He has prac-
ticed the art with great success In the
municipality Of Birmingham, and he has
shown great skill in transferring the
practice to the floor and the lobbies Of
| the house Of commons.
Mr.. Chamberlain has decided gift for
what / may call working things" and
for finding the men who will help him TO
work them. At one time he undo doubted-
Ilv seemed to us here to be emphattcally
| a coming man. Why did he not come?
| Was 1t because at one particular crisis
he was too much In a hurry to come and
SO trfpped up and lost his balance Is
he to come even yet? Many think that he
| has missed his chance; but I at least am
not inclined to- be too dogmatic on that