The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-13

New York, January IA special Lon
don cable to the Sun says: The British
politicians who have regar ded the Trans
vaal crisis from party point of view are
impressed more than by anything else
with the great advantage Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain has derived..from it. 1t is
not too much to say that he is at this
moment the most popular public man in
this country. All parties regarded his
accession to Office with misgivings, and
his own personal friends and blindest
partisans feared that he would lose his
individuality in Cabinet overwhelming
ly Tory and presided over by his old ad-
versary, Lord Salisbury.
AS events have turned out Mr.. Cham
berlian from the first aimed to assert
himself. He struok out line Of policy in
the conduct Of colonial affairs as daring
as 1t was novel, and this ex-republioan
Mayor Of Birmingham, this politician
who learned craftsmanship in a
provincial municipal school, this ex-
Liberal Minister who deserted his chief
and his principles with what appeared to
be shameful ingratitude and flippancy.
had not been three months member Of
the Tory cabinet before he began to OBJ
tain reputation as leader in new i'm
perlallst policy IN the treatment of
colonial affairs which had too long been
mismanaged by mere bureauorats.
MT. Chamberlain saw the opportunity
and was quick to seize it. He was al
ready making big reputation when this
prodlg1ous piece of luck came in his way.
For many Years past the conduct Of
colonial affairs has been so fiabby that
when the people saw a minister display
ing courage, tenacity, and sagauity they
set up great shout of admiration and
than fulness. The mob always admire q
man of action, and SO they are admiring
Mr.. Chamberlain.
He cannot walk along the street with
out being followed by cheering crowd,
and people assemble at the railway sta
t1ons when he Is travelling and throw up
their hats and howl encouraging approval
and exhortation at the popular idol. His
friends say this sort Of thing will never
spoil him.
In his heartMr. Chamberlain is DEM
agoge with a thorough con Hmpt for the
mob, and he pursues his way with his
eyes always on the goal of his ambition,
which is and ever has been, the premier
ship of Englard d. He has passed most of
his rivals in this exciting and deeply in
teresting race. Mr.. Gladstone being dis :.
qualified by age, Mr.. Cham berlain feared
no other competitor, and events have jus
titled his confidence.
Sir William Harcourt has become i'm
possible as leader of the regenerated Lib
eral patry. He may be depended upon to
lead lively opposition in the House of
Commons during the coming season, but
when the country once more swings
round to Liberalism Sir William Har-
court will retire to the digDiflei seclu-
sion Of the house o. Lords. The reversal
OF his fortunes was pathetioally illustraU-
ed only yesterday, when he appeared in
his new capacity as Welsh member of
Parliament and member of deputation
which waited upon the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, suing hum bly, for small
grant from the imperial treasury In sup.
port of the University Of Wales.
Mr.. John Morley, who ought to be Mr..
Cham berlain's most formidable competi-
tor, shows no burning desire to resume
an active part in political life. MIR. Ar
thur ltalfour and the Duke of Devonshire
are too tndOlent to maintain for any
length OF time strenuous opposition to
Mr.. hamberlain's S claims to precedence.
In the present cabinet there remains only
Lord Salisbury to be taken into serious
consideration. Mr.. Chamberlain is bound
to come into collision, sooner or later
with Lord Salisbury, and the struggle