New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-26
ENGLISH ORATORY
Mr. CHAMBERLATNS ART Az A PUBLIC
SPEAKER AND HIS BOUTS
WITH A GHOST.


a conqueror at Free Trade Hall. 1t was his
first public appearance since his return from
America, and the Conservative md Liberal
Unionist organizations In Manchester Joined In
an impressive demonstration Of confidence and
respect When his familiar figure was deserted
under the escort Of the chairman. Sir William
Houdsworth. the audience Of six thousand fill
ing the famous hall where Richard Golden. John
Bright and the greatest English orators NJ the
generation had spoken, was singing Rule, Bril-
tannia." The chorus was hushed by a tremen-
dous shout OF welcome. followed by hilarious
outbursts Of cheering. Rule. Britannia" was left
to shift for itself when a stentorian voice from
the gallery gave the pitch for Hes a jolly Good
Fellow" The audience. which had been sing
ing for an hour "Ye Mariners Of England"
Hearts Of Oak" The Death Of Nelson" and
other patriotic songs 10 the accompaniment of
the great organ. was eager 10 set the note ~ A
personal greeting TO the most aggressive poltl-
cal leader in England With one voice IT roared
and shouted. and then repeated the stirring An
glo-Saxon benedcton. which is as popular with
political audiences on one side OF the Atlantic
on the other
Free Trade Hall was built forty years
ago on the site OF the assembly rooms Of the
Anti~Corn Law League. II has Italian ex-
terror and downright English interior. II Is
a high vaulted hall 30 fret wide by 100 feet IN
length with wide gallery running all the way
around except at the end where the platform
breaks the circuit. The acoustic qualities are
not good. so that even a clear and reso-
nant voice like Mr.. Chamberlain's is strained
In the attempt to reach the remotest gal
lery. The coloring is quiet. and the decora-
tions are severely simple. 1t is hall
built for the accommodation Of a great con-
Of tat all ~ ,vho ha
speaker on the platform even II they cannot
hear with distinctness those conversational
tones which Parliamentary .-eakers habtuay
use. Free Trade Hall was constructed for agi-
tators who were accustomed 10 raise their
voices In declamatory excitement. That style
OF oratory Is no longer In vogue in England.
Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN's GHOST
There is spectre that follows MI Chamber
lain wherever he goes. II is the ghost OF his
former political self. He can do many things
In public life. but he cannot succeed in exor-
csing this uneasy spirit When he was ris-
ing politician. barely thrty-two and was hardly
known outside Of municipal Birmingham he
appeared for the first time in Free Trade Hall
at general conference organized by the Nom
conformists of the Mdands and Northern Eng
land This was in 1872. or four years before he
entered the House OF Commons as a Radical
member. and drew from Mr.. Dsraeli the fam
tastlc and cynical forecast: The future Duke"
He was surrounded then the platform by
earnest Liberals like DR.. Dale Jacob Bright
Edward Mall. Henry Richards and Alfred
1llingworth. and commissioned to move a
resolution calling upon Nonconformists TO in
sist on thorough and consistent application Of
the principles Of religious equality in the cdu-
cation policy Of the leaders Of the Liberal party
After twenty-si years he was again on the
platform. but in place Of the Nonconformsts
and Radicals there dignitares Of the Is.
tablished Church. titled patrons Of sectarian
schools and stanch old Tories; and he himself
vas one of the foremost members OF a Ministry
which had secured the enactment OF the Volin-
tary Schools act. The grim ghost was making
its rounds TO remind him OF the strange reso-
lutons Of the whirgig Of time
There were also other disturbing remns-
cences. Mr. Chamberlain in his early manhood
was Cobdenite OF the stratest sect and his
fervd speeches in Free Trade Hall had borne
witness to his orthodoxy and zeal as an apostle
of Manchester's economic faith. A convinced
free trader, he entered the Colonial Office
much of an Imperialist and so little Of pedant
that he was prepared to advocate an Imperial
Zollverein to recast the commercial policy ~
Golden and 10 impose duties on wheat sugar
alarmed by his schemes for converting the
British Empire into a close corporation with
free trade inside and tariff outside. with Incl
dental protection for the English farmer. He
was compelled to drop his zollverein project
but not until Mr. Courtney and the zealots Of
the Golden Club had condemned his apostasy.
The spectre OF the earlier Chamberlain was in
the historic hall moaning Remember me-
when the later Chamberlain took his seat on the
platform among several conspicuous Tory Pro-
tectionists. Alas, poor ghost" It was forced
to count the titled gentry on the same platform
and TO recall with fine irony the caustic Radical
phrase They toll not neither do they spin
Mr.. Chamberlain is not a5ashed when he is
charged with inconsistency and convicted on
evidence supplied from his own speeches. AS
practical politician he knows that. like Mr. Glad
stone. he owes much Of his power and prestige
TO the evolution OF his opinions and 10 the
transition stages Of his ca-eer. Lord Salisbury
and Mr. Balfcur trustworthy Conservatives.
and never will be anything else. Their future
action as statesmen IS predetermined by the
logical course OF their political service. Since
there is TO lack OF continuity, nothing that they
can do will excite surprise have
the fascination OF mystery. Mr.. Chamberains
public life discloses opposite trends and
nicting tendencies and he is watched more
eagerly and critically than any other figure now
the political stage. 1t pques curiosity be-
cause nothing he affirmed respecting his
future with any degree OF certainty. He has
not accomplished what he expected to do when
he entered the Unionst Cabinet as Secretary
for the Colonies; but he is a many-sided
OF great force Of Characteristic one picturesque
figure in English politics.
CARRYING HIS YEARS EASILY
No other public man carries His years so easily