New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-26
movement Of the hand. with quick glance at

Non Of dependence upon notes. Gestures are
r-eouent ard always forcible: but his main re-
.ource for emphasis is his voice. which Is low
AIRED IN meditation and deepened in tone when
ever he wishes 70 lay stress upon a single
thought Lucidity and dignity the charac-
t.ristics Of Mr. Chamberlain's best expository
ytvie His delivery is without oratorical arti-
fee or stage device. He speaks right on" with
a measured movement and with little variety
q. style II would be monotonous in effect IL
The resources OF expression were not so full and
HE qualities OF voice melodious
Mr. Chamberlain disclaimed last night any
intention Of making q party speech. although
he was surrounded by partisans eager to hear
one For forty minutes he was as good as his
word. He discussed the Fashoda question. on
which the country has been united as one man.
and he surprised his audience by his modera-
ton Of language and caution Il was not a
long spoon speech" with spirited passages and
undiplomat1c surprises. II was temperate
but unequivocal declaration OF British policy in
the valley Of the Nile. While there was DELHI
crate avoidance Of expressions tending 10 irrtate
French susceptibihties. there merciless
logic for the Fashoda affair not treated as
an Isolated incident, but was connected with a
long series OF 'pinprck'' controversies in New
toundiand. West Africa. Madagascar, Siam.
Tunis. Abvssinia and China. in which England
has been called upon to make concessions in
the interest OF peace. MI Chanberlains voice
deepened in tone when he referred TO Eng
lands services in redeeming Egypt from ruin
and anarchy. and TO the national requirement
that the French should evacuate not only Fa
shoda- but the whole Bahr-el-Ghazai district,
and any and all posts within the former juris
diction OF the Khedive: but there was neither
gesture nor phrase which could be Justly in
terpreted a menace. II was plain-spoken
and resolute. but also diplomatic speech with
timely expressions OF friendship for the French
nation ard emphatic denials that England in
declining 10 yield anything 10 pressure. vas
seeking 70 humiliate II
DEFENCE OF THE UNIONsTs
Having once emerged from the dangerous
regions Of diplomacy. Mr.. Chamberlain took up
his parable from Mr.. Asquith, and made
spirited defence OF the Unionist Governments
record in receemine IT'S pledges. He stated that
he had collated and summarized the addresses
~ Unionist candidates at the last general cleo
ton. and had found that eleven measures. which
ne enumerated. were strongly favored. Eight Of
the eleven measures had been dealt with In
legislation. although the Government had been
In Office for barely one-half Of It's allotted time
This record he contrasted grimly with that Of
pledged 70 twenty-eight separate reforms and
had not carried one Of them. The husinesslike
directness with which these inventories Of the
stock in trade Of the two political parties were
taken delighted the Unionist audience 1t was
characteristic Of the practical intelligence which
Mr. Chamberlain carried into the business Of
politics and craftsmanship from everyday nner-
camille life That is one Of the secrets OF MS
power He may bc member OF an old Tory
Ministry and his social life NAV carry him into
the country houses and town residences OF the
titled class but he represents middle-class mer-
camille England. and speaks and acts for II with
authority.
II was IN the concluding section OF his ad-
dress that Mr.. Chamberlain seemed TO be con
scious OF the haunting presence Of the ghosuy
reminder Of his former political self. and ne did
not finch from the encounter. As Radical,
he had favored two measures with distinctly
soc,aIjstic tendency and as a Unionst Minister
he faced the music with old-ttme fighting
power. One OF these measures workmen's com
pensation for accidents. he had carried through
Parliament as a Tory Democrat, and It had
~-.ated discomfort among employers and had
,l,ena-ed many Of the Governments supporters.
He boldly defended the ect enormous boon
20 the Industrial classes. and contrasted + with
Ny Asouiths corresponding bill for promoting
litigation ard enrtchins the legal profession
He contended that while the new act threw the
burden Of compensation for accidents upon the
Industry employers. mine owners and manu-
facturers could we'll afford 10 take the risks
themselves and insure their workmen against
them: and he gave illustrations from the mining
Industry and cotton trade 70 prove that the cost
would be insignificant II the measure tended 10
promote good feeling between capital and labor
He gave no sign Of contrition for having forced
this socialstic measure upon the Unionist Gov
eminent, but stood resolutey by his colors as
social reforrner
OLD AGE PENSIONS.
Having resolutely crossed swords with the
spectral visitant in this passage. Mr. Chamber
lain essaved a second bout He took UP the |
question OF old age pensions. upon which Lord |
Rothschnd's committee had reported unfavor- |
2 bly, While he denied that he had ever made /
50 UNQUALIFIED promise Of enactins this scheme
as mis- critics have represented he declared !
that his interest in the subject had not been !
chilled by the adverse report, and that al
though the difficulties mentioned by the com
nittee more serious than he nad antlc'-
,s+ea he continued 20 entertain the hope that |
IRE T-njonist Government would be able TO solve
-he question. Instead OF Sinking responsibility
for bringing forward the proposal in election |
addresses three years ago. he exulted over MS
mart IN making IL a prominent topic Of public |
discussion II he succeeded in confronting the |
gbos, ~ his Radical self with comfortable op- |
-trnisrn ne did NOT meet a trenchant challenge |
from the gallery While he was enurneratlng /
the essential limitations OF any practical scheme
OF old age pensions, namely, the objection OF /
the working classes TO systematic deductions !
from their wages the immense cost Of five |
shilling weekly pension for workmen over sixty
five. and the discourage OF habits or Unit
q shriu voice from The gallery cried out: What |
,, .- ....rr ~ The nuesfion7' The |