The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02
NEVER LOST HIS HEAD
ENGLAND SHOUTING HIS PRAISE
He Did tho Right Thing From the
start, and Unhesitatingiy-He Has
Yet TO subdue Cecil Rhodes.

A few weeks ago / spoke of Mr. Cham
tsrlain ar the most interesting figure on
she political stage. and the only member
~ The cabinet who was likely 10 do any
,hlng OF unique and far-rcaching import
49, In the administration OF q great vffice,
var the last ten days he has been aIrnost
"A. only public man IN plain sight during
naousenfous crisis In Great Britaia's CO.
Ionsa! and foreign policy. The cabinet has
held no meeting until today. although a
seet has been modified. England has been
eonyulsed with excitement. and the foun-
aat.ons Of empire In South Africa have
been shaken. Lord Salisbury has been
urfme minister and the queen has reigned
but ar. chamberiain's outstretched hand
has swayed the scales OF British destiny.
The bulletin boards In every public place
have borne witness hourly 10 the great
part which this many-sided man is playing
In imperial affairs. From the night when
he ordered a special train at Birmingham
and came up 10 London with precipltate
,ush he has been the commanding genius
OF a complex situation. Ills movements
IN and out Of the colonial Office were chron-
lcied hour By hour. as though he were a
royal parsonage. DIR. Jameson had left
BechnanalaDd on a mysterious mission.
possibly an errand OF mercy, presumably
political adventure. Mr.. Chamberlain
abruptly proclaimed him rebel against
the queen. dispatched messages to recall
him. warned Johannesburg against trea-
sonabie association with him. and conn
manded the colonial officials TO do every
thing In their power TO thwart and over
throw an irresponsible conspiracy A state
had been wantonIy invaded in defiance of
treaty obligations. Dir. Chamberlain sep
arated England from this fllbustering
raid, sprang to the rescue OF the South
African Republic, and upheld the sanctity
OF treaty law.
The servants OF the Chartered Company.
with or without the eonnivance OF Mr.
Cecil Rhodes, the powerful premier OF
Cape Colony, attempted to force Mr.
Chamberiain's hand. but they found In him
their master. The German emperor inter-
yened with message fraught with men
ace 10 the British empire. Mr. Chamber
lain answered 1t with commanding dignity
and force.
The story OF DR.. Jameson's raid will be
an old one when this letter sees the light
II Is not necessary TO refer here either 10
the details or 10 the results. IL IS enough
TO say that Mr.. Chamberlain was con-
fronted on the first DAY with a situation
OF extraordinary difficulty and danger. and
that he faced IL with infiexIble courage.
marvellous energy and unerring Judgment
There was not a trace of hesitation or
vacillation In his conduct. He marked out
strong line OF action and followed II with
teaacity OF purpose. Results at once vim
timed and mischievous intervention was
forestailed by Mr.. Chamberlain's saga
eious and equitable policy Civil war In
south Africa and foreign intrigues with
me Trabsvaai were averted by his quick
ness OF mind and his immediate discern
menu OF the moral responsibilities OF the
imperial government
Temptation Resisted.
What has perhaps escaped observation
AnaTtF4 49,
Chamberlain resisted In acting as he did.
He had taken office with an unconceaIed
ambition to make a great reputation as a
colonial administrator. With Character
is'ie energy he had mastered the complex
details of official routine and acquired a
comprehensive knowledge OF the require
ments and capabilities OF the worldwide
dependencies OF the British crown Rul-
Ing IN department where mediocrity had
long been installed he had succeeded in In
spring the confidence and commanding the
sympath.es Of the colonies ON the TIRES
hold of an Official career which promised
TO be brilliant and exceptionally influential
and successful, he hazarded his reputation
by taking a line OF action which might
make him the most unpopular Fngllshman
IN South Africa. A weaker man would
have hesitated and allowed affairs 20 drift
Until IL would be impossible to control
them. Mr.. Chamberlain boldly took the
risks OF opposing the wishes and aiienat-
Ing the sympaihlcs OF the English colonlsts
IN South Africa
Colonial opinion = always a long way In
advance OF the Official administration at
home. IL takes the lead ordinarily in ev-
cry new enterprise and drags after II the
colonial Office. fettsred as IL Is with red
tape and paralyzei with routine. Cape
Colony from small and feeble settlement
had become. by successive annexstions of
criqualand Basutoland. Kaffrara. Beehu-
snaland and Poudoland. a great state. with
a. area OF 220e square miles The colo
n.sis had gone ahead resolntely ard the
nome government had come numbering az
ter The British South Africa Company
was colonial enterprise inspired by Cecil
Rhodes. the Napoleon OF South Africa and
J controlled under its charter an area OF
saea square miles. The slow-goiBg home
government had been forced to charter 70
eF pressure from the coion.sts. and MAG
rlcent empire had been won and the en-
trsy Of the Beers and the ambition Of the
Germans forestalled
MT. Chamberlain knew the trend OF CO.
lanial opinion He understood also the ia
elity with which breaches Of good faith
and crimes against treaty law are con
doTed as contingencies OF imperial pro-
Frvss lie could readily forecast the ex-
uliasian among the English settlers which
would hc caused II Maiuha hin We're
avenged and the Boer government over
thrown He perceived The risks 20 which
~ was exposing himself by setting his
fsee sternly against the jameson raid and
aatsgonlzing the aspirations ana policies
81 The English coiou.sts. Yet he did not
hesitate nor turn hack
his Reputation at stake.
Moreover. Mir Chamberlain could not
'er-essi with any degree OF certainty the
failure az the expedition whch had sud-
denly plunged into the Tr&nsvaaL II might
secessd, and whether the header nc a
sfvs. ar a Hastings, or a Jameson. In popu-
lar estimation the end ordinarily tustittes
he means and lnve>ts doubtful or even
positively Immoral enterprise with CLAM
g q heFoism u Dr.. jameson had entered
Sshaaneshurx uunalestsi. there wo1ld
nave been a successful revolution, and the
hoer government would have been ever
taFewn. Then Mr. Chamberlain, who had
our by opposing him and proclaimng
In rebel would have been laughed CT IN
south Africa. ana possibly have been sheer
- at as little Highlander" Ike La
hoaehers. The conquest Of the Transvaal
would have been popular exploit In that
PORTION OF the World. Or. Jameson would
h&se been a colonial idol. another man %
setens Ike Garthaldi; and II would have
zen impossible % undo MS good work, for
f.Hxsand would never send out an army
g conquer It's own colonisis in order 10 re-
ssare the Boer republic.
Mr. Chamherlain. being a reflective man.
e.ad easily have followed al these lines
o theaghs on his midnight ride from Hir-
h.nasara II be haa not been a self-rsli-
ropg-willea ran. BE would have
sesN 10 the temptation. and all swea
e0aih African Affairs to take thoir course.
Nssesng hls own hands o~entaticusly, like
@scaher Plate.
Lhea. toe there were social and financial
.a'ffesis which a weaker colonial secre-
AIRY would have tenpoviEea With. ana rot