New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
rBY CABLE TO THE rRIsuNE.l
Copprfqht: 1925; by The Tribune AssoetdttoN.

mentary eloquence have been opened; but the
world is not much wiser from the release Of all
this pent-up Information. Russia Is shown to
have declined from the outset to cooperate with
England in attempt to coerce Turkey. One
| wonders what Lord Salisbury and Lord KIM
berly could have meant In ringing the changes
on the European concert. when 1t has been out
of tune from the beginning. Sir Philip Currts
seems to have been either misinformed or out
| manoeuvred from first to last. The logic Of the
| Blue Books points to a secret alliance between
Russia and Turkey.
| The Venezuela affair is dropping out OF dis
| cussion. When Venezuela sends a Minister to
| London. the boundary dispute will be settled.
| The precise method Of adjustment IL not yet
| known, but the belief is universal that the ques-
| tion will be amicably arranged without pro-
| tracted controversy. 1t Is no longer possible to
| interest the public in the Schomburgk line or
| any other technicaty Of the subject. Every
| body takes 1t for granted that some compromise
will be effected without unnecessary delay Not
| even the publication Of the British case will re.
| vve public interest In the diplomatic argument,
| since the tone Of discussion in Parliament has
revealed the profoundly pacific tendencies OF
| English opinion and a new habit OF respect for
| the Monroe Doctrine as the natural and rational
| policy Of the United States.
Among SpeeCneS
Of Parliament only will be remembered. It
was not an Irish speech; the Home Rule debate
was chiefly remarkable for the rivalry between
Mr.. Dillon and Mr. Healy respecting the Irish
| leadership which Mr.. Sexton has declined. Each
exerted himself to prove that he was capable
! of leading the party, but Mr. Dillon was clearly
outmatched, Nj. Healy, with his satire and de-
fant invective, holding the attention OF the
House. But when the debate was ended nothing
had been accomplished beyond raliying and
uniting the Home Rule party in the division
| through Mr. Redmonds taunts and Sir William
| Harcourts adrot reply.
Nor was this speech made from the Opposi-
ton benches Lord Rosebery has been jaunty
In manner and sparkling in episram, and SIP
William Harcorrt has been trenchant. digni-
| fed and strong, but neither leader has done
anything in the week that will be remem-
bered. Lord Salisbury himself has spoken badly.
| his utterance being so indstinct that he could
| hardly be understood. Mr. Balfour had done
WELL but had not electrified the House Mr.
I.aboucheres speech on Cecil Rhodes and the
Chartered Company only served to direct atten-
ton by reason OF its feebeness TO his failing
! health.
The man Of the week has been Mr. Chamber.
lain. His speech the Transvaal was not only
masterpiece OF lucid exposition. like Mr.. Glad.
| English common-sense dealing with COM
plex and dangerous situation. 1t will be re-
membered because II discoses a new method oc
conducting foreign and imperial affairs In
| democratic spirit Whatever else Mr.. Chamber
lain may be. he Is not a mystery man. like l>ord
Beaconsfeld. He takes Parliament into his con.
hdence with amazing candor; he substitutes pub
city for secrecy and violates diplomatic usage
by showing his cards while he plays his hand.
From the moment when the first tdings of Jame-
sons raid were received he frank with the
public and converted the Colonial Office into a
news centre Dispatches on the Transvaal affair
we're published twenty hours before the de-
bate came on. and in his speech he explained
everything In detail. with the air OF man who
had nothing to conceal This was a new method
of managing public affairs and 1t offered IA
vorable contrast to the diplomatic game OF blind
mans buff which had been going on In Con.
stantinople. What rendered this candor more
remarkable was the fact that Mr. Chamberlain
was compelled to admit that he had irritated
President Kruger by his mpetuous action In
printing the Home Rule dispatch prematurely.
and possibly had prevented his proposed visit to
England. He had made a mistake in sprngtng
his scheme for the future government Of the
Rand without previously submitting ic to Presi.
dent Krtiger and had drawn out an angry pro-
test; but he carried 1t off well. and closed his
speech with the withdrawal Of his scheme as o
| mere tentative suggestion and . drm declaration
respecting the obligation Of the British Govern
| ment TO stand by its citizens wherever they
| might be.
Mr. Chamberlain has generally been at his
| best under attack. when he has turned his back
| to the wall and displayed his fighting qualities
Seldom has ne been seen to better advantage
than !r discussing the complex details Of his
South African policy The ease with which he
| made an intricate matter intellgble was
| marvellous; the sound Judgment which he had
| displayed In counteracting Jamesons foly oy
deprving the Chartered Company OF Its police
| military and magisterial functions, ordering an
| impartial and thorough investigation ana meet
ing the requirements Of a momentous situation
with nhexible frmness disarmed criticism no
seemed to have no secrets to hide though douot-
| ,ess ha did not turn his pockets inside out He
| ,or talked freely about his interview with
| Cscu Rhodes and said pleasant things ABOUT the
| vreat lender whom he had sent back 10 Africa
nos,haste after an hours conversation
u,,ua Mr. Chamberlain was speaking Baron
,,aahau WAS delivering In the Reichstag an
,~.n,ous defence Of the German policy In ne
o,,o,,nq with Portugal for permission to land
| .r,nes at Delagoa Bay. He denied that 6er-
| .,arv had endeavored to obtain moral or po-
,,.,.a, nrotectorate the Transvaa. but
,,,.d for her the privilege OF calling the wrong
s,, ,ts proper name. and of expressing satisfac-
| ,,on that the right remained right. 1t was
s,rong and resolute speech. without menace to
england. but 1t disclosed the magnitude OF the
danger from which England and Europe have
been delivered Indeed there Is an ulterior possi-
bility of European war In Baron Marschalrs I'M
plication that there must be no federated DO.
minion in South Africa since It would mean
serious injury to German commercial interests
based upon the most favored nation treatment
The Municipal Parliament Of London devoted
this weeks session mainly, to the election OF Q
town clerk The selecting committee named q