New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
TALK OF THE SUCCESSION TO HAH
COURTS LEADERSHIP.
A STRONG SENTIMENT ~ THE LIBERAh
PARTY AGAINST EXTREME IMPERIAL
SUPREMACY OF AMERICAN
COTTON MANUFACTURES.
GBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE. y


measures. not men. The National Liberal Fed
Grafton has wisely refrained from premature
meddling with the question Of leadership. and
has left the members OF the party in the House
of Commons free To choose their own captain
DR. Spence Watson. with the cheerful optimism
OF Mark Tapey directed the conference with
beaming face and strong hand. and Sir Wilfrid
Lawson. the chief party humorst. kept the dele
gates in high good humOr Sir William Har-
court was warmly thanked, but his resignation
was accepted as final. The delegates resolutely
declined to go into caucus for a leader. and I'M
posed upon the Liberal members OF the House
Of Commons the obligation Of working out their
own salvation
Mr. Asduith's address was delivered with
great difficulty. since section Of the audience
was hostile but he succeeded in minimizing the
lines OF cleavage within the party on questions
OF foreign policy. The days work was charac-
terized by soberness. tact and good Judgment
Liberalism is without a leader but ii is not
demoralized nor does it await with frenzy OF
excitement the coming OF Lord sashurys Mad
Mullah in a Jehad 10 carry away the loot
The choice Of Sir Williams successor viii Do
reached by the process Of exclusion Mr.. Nor
ley is the ablest man. but. as Harcourts leu-
enant he cannot hope to succeed where his cap
tain has failed Mr. Asquth ranks next in
force Of character but he is positively Identified
with Lord Rosebery"s fortunes. and lacks fiexi-
bilitv and tact Mr. Campbell Bannerman is
also one of Lord Roseberys adherents, but ne
has the serenity Of temper required for leader
ship is personally popular. and has been thirty
years in the House Seniority in service is MS
strongest claim and his promotion would excite
no jealousy but ne is rich and indolent' ana
shrbs hard work. Mr.. Fowler IS good depa'eE'
but is a natural trimmer. lacks power OF oe-
cision and seldom knows his own mind Mr'
Bryce is not political manager. but scholar
in politics Mr. Herbert Gladstone has MS
fathers name but the Liberal fortunes cannot
be directed by dead hand Sir Edward Grey
springs from a race 6f statesmen. Is hard
worker. has resources of tact and energy requ'-
site for leadership. but is too youns to command
veterans
Personal ambition will have nothing 70 90
with the selection Of Liberal leader IN 'he
Commons since nobody will venture to aspire
to the honor Of directing the forces Of the OPP
position when Harcourt and Morley are free
lances on the same bench. The Liberal mem-
hers will choose a man for dangerous service.
and he will not be at liberty decline the posi-
tion. Mr. Campbell Bannerman. Mr. Asquith
and Sir Edward Grey are the most prooaolc
/ candidates for the succession In the order
J
named.
The birmingham conference has offered
! striking proof that London Liberalism has un-
derrated the strength Of old time traditions or
! foreign policy prevailing in the provinces Tne
undertone Of the discussion in that body OF rep
resentative Liberals was hostile 10 te new I'M
perialism or Pamerstonism Of Rosebery ana
Asauith The old ideals Of rerencHment. pa
/ cihc diplomacy and soberness in the conduct OF
! foraiqn affairs are still cherished IN Manchester
! and the provinces Sir William Harcourt and
! NJ Morley stand for policies q ociated with
! Gladstone. and provincial Liberalism is not pre-
pared to break away from them. The London
view has been that Irish Home Rule and Nam
chester ideals OF diplomacy We're buried In
/ Westminster Abbey with Gladstone, and that
/ tie party could hope 10 regain power only ny
discarding both and meeting Mr.. Chamberlain
on his own Ground The radical Socialism and
anti-imperalism Of the Birmingham conference
have warned the Hotspurs that they must make
haste slowly. or they will be in danger Of split
ting up their distracted party. From this point
Of view this weeks crisis may be a blessing in
DISGUISE Provincial Liberalism has thrown
wei blanket upon factional intrigue and zeal for
now policies foreign and domestic. Sir William
Harcourt and Mr. Morley will be unhampered
and will speak for a strong minority In the Lib
eral party which still believes in Gadstone.s
principles and is not willing TO be rushed wildly
into Imperialism and jngoism. Lord Rosebery
and Mr.. Asquith, now representing the ma
tority Of the Liberal party, will be more con-
ciliatory and discreet when they are exposed TO
destructive criticism from Harcourt and Nor
lev one the best pariiamentarian and the other
the greatest intellect Of the Liberal side.
It was easy for Lord Salisbury TO raise
laugh last night by describing the countrys
enemies as all lighting with one another and to
follow up the gibe with the pIattude that moth
ing was better for a strong Government than
a strong Opposition, but Il is hardly open to
question that there will be a larger scope for
critical functions in consequence OF Sir William
Harcourt's action this week Responsibility
without power Of enforcing personal authority
crippled Rosebery and Harcourt in turn. Lord
Rosebery increased his political resources by
resgning the leadership; Sir William will also
have greater force and authority when here
after ne takes up foreign questions as an inde-
pendent Liberal Honest criticism is requisite.
for the Government is planning for next session
a job assortment Of small measures. and is de-
pending upon the busting activity OF the dock
yards and the spirited policy in foreign affairs
for the retention of public confidence.
The American members Of the Peace Commits
| sion sailed to-day by the 81. Louis, after re-
| naming a few hours at Southampton They re-
ceived an urgent invitation 10 come 10 LONDON
| from Mr. Henry White. who was anxious TO en-
tertain the whole party at dinner: but. with the
/ exception OF Mr. Moore who was here a short
time the Commissioners persevered in their
original plan Of returning to America with the
! utmost dispatch. Public discussion Of their
work has ceased here. since there is only one
opinion respecting the signal success with which
they have brought their arduous and anxious
| Iabors TO a close and since, also. the rejection
OF the treaty by the Senate is considered i'm
possible.
President McKinley's Atlanta speeches have
| attracted much attention here. from their robust