New-York tribune., 1896-08-31


through various phases and stages Of political
development. The evolution OF Mr.. Gladstone from
being "the rising hope of the stern. unbending
Tories" 70 being the leader of the Liberal Radical
party is not more remarkable than that of Mr.
Chamberlain from local Radcalism 10 Imperial
Conservatism.
Mr.. Chamberlain was not. however, altogether a
Radical by birth and early training iie comes or
a good old family of Wiltshire ycomanry. which
originally settled at Shriveuham For more than a
hundred years before his birth his ancestors carried
on an extensive business as leather merchants and
shoe manufacturers in Cheap~ide. London MI
Chamberlain himself has boased Of bis pedigree. Of
which he is as proud az any baron might be- OF ~
title which he owed to the smiles of a king. In
one of MS public addresses some years ago he
claimed descent from "one of the elected ministers
who in the time Of the Stuarts. left home and work
and profit rather than accept the State-made creed
which it was sought 10 force upon them To this
day the family remains in the dissenting ranks. on
which account Mr.. Chamberlain was years ago
often described 10y Tory foes infdel and an
enemy TO Christianity The accusation was most
unjust He has ever since his childhood been
consistent member OF the Unitarian Church ana an
earnest participant in church and sunday school
work
he was born just sixty years ago in Gambler
vel one Of the great middle-class suburbs Of Lon
don the eldest son Of Joseph Chamberlain. mem
Der of the Cordwainers Company. and WAS trained
Tor a commercial career After a few years In
private school and the London University School he
entered al the age OF sixteen. the office of hs
father who had become q member OF the firm Of
Nettlefod & Chamberlain, screw manufacturers in
birmingham. In due time he became member OF
the firm. and after twenty years retired with an i'll
dependent fortune honestly made through his OWN
industry and enterprise This enabled him 10 de-
vote the remainder Of his life 10 the public service
without the slightest danger of being charged with
seeking power for the sake Of profit II i credible
that such was his ambition from the beginning Of
MS career for he early began TO take "A practical
interest in public affairs and that not Radical.
but rather as a Conservative. lie was an active
member Of the Birmingham and Edgbaston Debat-
ing Society. and often spoke against the Radical
tendencies of some Of the political leaders OF the
day A newspaper OF December. lS53, in q report OF
d meeting Of the society. mentions that he in
lively. clever speech. pointed out various inac-
ouraccs in Mr.. Bright's speeches At another
time he "avowed that 80 far from the arstocracy
being responsible for all the wars as Mr Bright
had asserted every war since 1855 had been demand
81 by the people: he quoted Bacon. Cromwell and
Kossu-h a. 10 the necessity Of being always pre-
pared FOR war"
Those speeches perhaps were merely his political
Wild oats. Al any rate. ne soon swung around 10
Radcansm and Repubicanism. NJ a meeting in
Birmingham in $50. called 20 express sympathy
with the new French Republic. he declared that a
Republic was bound to come in England" ana two
years later ho attended electoral reform confer
ence in London as the accredited representative OF
the Birmingham Republican club.
REFORM MAYOR
Mr Chamberlain ente~ed official hfe in 1855 as
member Of the Birmingham Town council ana
chairman OF the famous Education League. and in
lNo became member Of the first Birmingham
School Board The Education League was formed
for securing legislation which should leaN" religious
instruction entirely ,ae cergymcn of the various
churches and make State education entirely sec
ular Il did NOT fully carry its point but il did
much in that dirociont and dissolved IN 1916.
after tho adoption Of satisfactory compromise.
I'm 1873 Mr.. Chamberlain was elected Mayor OF
Birmingham. and ne WAS twice reelected to that
once His administration marked 10y the ac-
tofnpf nmoni Of series Of municipal reforms
which hay" made him and Birmingham justly
f"mou- throughout the world. lie secured P"rlia-
men'ary legislation leading TO the requirement OF
the local waterworks and gasworks. and the
management of them by tho municipality. This
policy has proven brilliantly successful. Gas is
furnished 10 the people more cheaply than before.
and the works yield a profit OF $4,000 year The
Naferwcrks are also a source Of profit TO the town.
lie also executed A gigantic scheme for hcautiIying
and IL yifying Birmingham by the abolition of AL
slums the construction Of improved new dwellings
ard the laying Of fine streets and public parks.
He is also be credited with the improved schools.
libraries art galleries. public baths and the great
Midland Institute. which make Birmingham one Of
the model cities OF the world.
While be was still mere local dgnitary Mr..
Chamberlain had the honor TO figure in Of
"Punch's' cartoons He depicted as our
Brumnag Lion" kneeling AT the feet II the
Princess OF Wales For II was only two years after
his appearance In London the tative Of
Republican club that he had 10 do the honors OF
the city Of which he was Mayor 10 the Prince ard
Princess Of Wales. Il shall be ashamed Of myself
and the whole business" he said in letter which
ne wrote that time. and he added that the Prince
would be "as popular the Tichborne claimant"
There was great public curiosity 10 how this
Red Radical" would act In the presence Of royalty.
The result showed him TO be the possessOr Of
rare degree Of tact. lie the friendship OF his
guests without forfeiting the respect Of his
sutuenu. The popular verdict upon his conduct