The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-26
EI4&SzTS;;5Se
zzszzz kzS:s=z4-==-y
TBURsoAY....OCTOBER 20 1895
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
The conspicuous Figure in the knshsh
Cabinet for Year.

Observers of current poiltlesl
events in Great Britain, says the chi
caoo News, must have noticed TO
what an extent Englsnd's Secretary
for Colonies has monopolized stten'
ton within the past year. Through
all the complications which have
brought Eoglsnd and the Transvaal
to a clash of arms it has been Cham
berlsin, always Chamberlain and not
the MARQUIS Of Salisbury, who has
Agursd in the news dispatches and IN
the negotiations. This has not been
due simply to the fact that the Trans
yasl trouble comes under the head
Of colonial management. for where
wsrl is concerned that, OF Frederic
Harrison in his open letter to the
MARQUIS of Salisbury pointed out'' is
an imperial matter, and hence could
and would have been as
sumed by the Premier himself
had there been less strong
and commanding personality grasp
ing the threads of diplomacy ana
fsshioniug events Of grestest I'M
portsnee to the future OF England
Lord Salisbury has not interferred'
probably because Chamberlain is
carving out policy such SIS be en-
dorses, and possibly because he rec
ognizes in this bold. msstertul diplo
mat strength of energy and purpose
and q closeness Of touch with the
aims and ambitions of the England
of today that be himself does not
now possess. Whatever may be the
reasons for Salisbury's sequieseence,
the result has been to make Joseph
Chamberlain, and not the Premier,
the commanding figure in English
political life since the passing OF Glad
stone.
AS to those who are called imper-
islists in Great Britain, Joseph
Chamberlain is clearly their chosen
leader and spokesman. This position
of leadership, also has not been OF
recent growth. Since joe Cham
berlain parted company with
Gladstone on the home rule
question in 1856 his course
has been consistent and uniform.
At first called Judas" by his former
colleagues, he always commanded
the respect of Mr.. Gladstone, who
referred to him, when he had occa-
sion, always in terms of respect, and
sometimes OF eulogy self-prsised,
with great control, no nerves
and with boundless capacity
for work, the Birmingham statesman
has steadily forged to the front, un-
til now the Premiership years ago
predicted for him by the Prince of
Wales is clearly within sight, unless
there should be break. down of some
kind in the Transvasl affair. Though
called q JUDAS" Chamberlain has
always been staunchly loyal to his
friends, 8 notable instance where
such loyalty at the time was unpop-
ular being that Of Sir Charles Dixie.
To-day scarcely any one believes
the charges once made against Dixie,
and he has almost been restored to his
one.time, popu, -ity, largely through
Chsmberisin's loyalty. This is 8
trait that always counts in politics,
and when it is joined to a domestic
life beyond criticism, it is easy to
under stand the hold Chamberlain
now has on the great Unionist and
Conservative party. When to these
facts are added the statement that
Chamberlain is an orator who never
fails in q speech; that he is master
of sarcasm and irony, and that be
has unbounded faith in England's
great destiny as a world empire, it is
not difficult to understand the great
influence "Joe Chamberlain now
exerts.