New-York tribune., 1896-01-21
MIR CHAMBERLA1N's TRIUMPH
HOW HE FACED A GREAT CRISIS AND
RESISTED DANGEROUS TEMPTA-
T1ONs-HIs WORK IN sOUTE
AFRICA BARELY BEGUN

AFRICA BARELY BEGUN.
London January IL
A few weeks ago spoke OF Mr. Chamberlain
| as the most Interesting figure on the political
stage, and the only member Of the Cabinet
who was likely to do anything Of unique and
far-reaching Importance In the administration
Of great Office For the last ten days he has
been almost the only public man in plain sight
during a momentous crisis In Great Britain's
colonial and foreign policy The Cabinet has
held no meeting until to-day although feet
has been mobilized. England has been con.
vulsed with excitement, and the foundations Of
empire in South Africa have been shaken. Lord
Salisbury has been Prime Minister and the
Queen has reigned but Mr. Chamberlain's out
stretched hand has swayed the scales OF Brit
ish destiny.
The bulletin boards in every public place have
borne witness hourly to the great part which
this many-sided man is playing in imperial
affairs From the night when he ordered
special train at Birmingham and came up to
London with precipitate rush he has been the
commanding genius Of complex SITUATION
His movements in and out or the Coionlai VI.
flee were chroncled hour by hour as though
he were a royal parsonage Dr. Jameson mad
left Bechuanaand on mysterious mission,
nossibly an errand Of mercy. presumably
no,,t,cal adventure Mr.. Chamberlain abruptly
proclaimed him rebel against the Queen, dis
Matched messages to recall him. warned Jo-
hanuesburg against reasonable association
with him, and commanded the colonial OF
! fcials TO do everything In their power to
thwart and overthrow an irresponsible con-
snracy A State had been wantonly invaded
in defiance of treaty obligations. Mr. Cham
ber,ain separated England from this filibus-
ter,ng 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 connivance Of Mr.. Cecil Rhodes.
the powerful Premier Of Cape Colony, attempted
to force Mr. Cnamberlain's hand, but they
found in MIN their master. The German En-
peror interviewed with message fraught Win
menace to the British Empire. MI Champer-
lain answered 1t with commanding dignity and
force.
The story Of DR.. Jamesons raid VIII be an
old one when this letter sees the llght IL Is NOT
| necessary to refer here either to the details or
to the results. 1t Is enough TO say thaI MT
Chamher,ain was confronted on the first day
with situation Of extraordinary dfncuity ana
danger. and that he faced 1t with nfexible
courage marvellous energy and unerring jung
ment. There was not trace OF hesitation or
~
strong line of action and followed 1t with
tenacitv Of purpose Results at once vindicated
his Judgment The Emperors il-timed ana
mischievous Intervention was forestalled by Mr..
Chamberlain's sagacious and equitable poiicy.
Civil war in South Africa and foreign intrisues
with the Transvaa were averted by his quick
ness of mind and mis- immediate discernmeht VI
the moral responsibilities Of the Imperial Gov
ernment.
TEMPTATION RESISTED.
What has perhaps escaped observation IN
| America is the temptation when MI |ha''oe''
| lain resisted in acting as he did he had taken
| office with an unconceaed ambition to make
| great reputation colonial administrator
| With characteristic energy he had mastered the
| complex details Of official routine and acquired
| a comprehensive knowledge OF the requirements
and conahilities Of the world wide dependencies
| Of the British Crown. Ruling in department
| where mediocrity had long been installed ne nad
| succeeded in inspiring the confidence ana COM
| manding the sympathies OF the colonies. On the
threshold Of an official career which promised 70
be brilliant and exceptionally influential ana sue
| cessful. he hazarded his reputation py taxing
line of action which might make him the most
| unpopular Englishman in South AFRICA.
weaker man would have hesitated and allowed
affairs to drift until IL would be impossible to
| control them. Mr. Chamberlain boldly took the
| risks Of opposing the wishes and alternating the
| svmnathies OF the English colonists in Soutn
| Africa.
| Colonial opinion is always long way in ad'
| vance Of the official Administration az home II
takes the lead ordinarily in every new enterprise
and drags after il the Colonial Office, fetteru a.
| IL IA with red tape and paralyZed with routine
Cane Colony from small and feeble settlement
had become by successive annexations OF GriquA'
land. Basutoand. Kaffraria, Bechuanaand anu
| Poudoland. great State. with an area OF -10'0'
square miles. The colonists had gone ahead res0'
| lutely and the Home Government had come iu'''
| bering after The British South Africa company
| was a colonial enterprise inspired py MI 'e'"
| Rhodes the Napoleon OF South AFRICA anu
| controlled under It's charter an area OF 'o'VVv
| square miles The slow-going Home EoVerhhe"'
| had been forced 10 charter II by pressure l'on'
| the colonists. and a magnificent empire had oeeh
won and the energy of the Beers ana 'ie "''''
| ton of the Germans forestalled.
| Mr. Chamberlain knew the trend or coioMa'
opinton. He understood also the facility win
| which breaches of good faith ana crimes asai''.
| ,r.a,v law are condoned contingencies OF
| ,,nor,o, nrogress He could readily forecast the
| ex,,tat,on among the English settlers whch
| vould he caused If Majuoa Hin were aVehseo
and the Boer Government overthrown. lie per-
| ceived the risks to which he was exposing hi'''-
self by setting his face sternly against 'he 'a"e,
| son raid and antagonizing the aspirations anu
| policies OF the English coonists. le' lie uiu "''
| hesitate nor turn back.
HIS REPUTATION AT STAKE
Moreover. Mr.. Chamberlain could not ioie'aS'
with any degree or certainty the failure OF '"e GA
| nedition which had suddenly plunged into 'ne
| Transvaal 1t might succeed ana, whe'her '"'
| loader be a Give or Hastings. or a Jameson ~
popular estimation the end ordinarily 'us''',es ~.
| means and invests a doubtful or even pos'''u
| ,,,,,oraI enterprise with glamour or herolsm -