The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-10-09
OPPOSITION TO cHAMBERLAlN.
The London Msn Now Suggests That
He Is Going Too Far


He Is Going Too Far
NEW YORK, Oct, S,--A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
The brief pause in the elections af-
fords the London journals this morn
ing leisure for threshing out the morals
OF the contest. The Mail. which COM
mands a circulation OF million daily
and has hitherto been one Of the warm
est supporters OF Mr.. Chamberlain's
policy. now suggests that the colonial
secretary is going too FAR. It is pos
sible. It says, to understand the grave
apprehension which Mr.. Chamherlain's
advent to the highest Office would cause
among thinking and moderate men on
the continent
Herbert Gladstone's prediction that
Lord Salisbury viii retire from public
life within twelve months and that Mr..
Chamberlain will succeed him either as
prime minister or at the foreign office
is not regarded more than the final ef-
fort Of an astute party manager 10
whip in the other opponents Of the min
istry I'm the reigning county coasts.
Lord Salisbury's natural successor as
prime minister would be Arthur Bal
four. and Mr.. Chamberlain has neither
the qualities nor the ambition for a
diplomatic career. There are no signs
that Lord Salisbury is meditating over
the problem. He may transfer Lord
Lansdowne to the foreign office as a
lecum tenens. but his good health and
fine flow OF spirits warrant the concur
sion that he win enter resolutely upon
his fourth term as prime minister, max
ing as few changes as possible in the
cabinet.
Mr.. Chamberlain has been most for
tunate in the hatred which he has in
spired at home and abroad. His OPP
ponents here are not as ignorant as
they are on the continent. where he is
held responsible for a decision OF Lord
Chamberlain's subordinate. the censor
of plays. that Ibsen's Ghosts shall
not be licensed for a London perform
ance by a German company, but they
are constantly magnifying his import
anee and extending his influence by
singing him out for attack. The ir-
reconcilable Radicals, who have been
moralizing for year about Mr..
Chamberlain's war" have themselves
to blame If he emerges from the cleo
tions the most picturesque If not the
most powerful personality in English
public life.
The most important change produc-
ed by the elections on the opposition
side is the transfer OF the balance Of
power from the Radical imperialists.
They will be the dominating faction in
the opposing benches. Many prominent
Radicals have been defeated and the
authority Of Lord Rosebery. Mr. As
quith. Sir Edward Grey and Herbert
Gladstone has been greatly increased.
Mr.. Chamberlain. who is a fighting
man in politics. perceives that the pow
er has passed into the hands Of the
Liberal imperialist group. for he Is al
ready attacking it and firing over The
heads Of the Radicals.
The change in the relations Of the
two factions is illustrated by the for
tunes of two former editors of the Daily
Chronicle Henry Norman is Liberal
imperialist in party and may resume
the editorship. Mr.. Massingham con-
tinues to write the London letter for
the Manchester Guardian. but has
greatly impaired his influence by his
fierce denunciations Of the Ministerial
policy in South Africa.
Imperial questions are destined to
have the foremost place in politics dur
ing the winter. This is evident from
the preparations Llready making for
the reception of Lord Roberts, the
Guards. the London volunteers. and es-
pecially the colonial veterans. The last
VIII be a stately function with the
queen and the Prince Of Wales as
royal patrons and the colonial secretary
as master Of ceremonies. The AUS
tralian journey Of the Duke Of York
win be another feature of the imper-
ial government. and military reorgani-
zation is likely to be converted into a
systematical scheme for the defence Of
the empire in which the development
Of the auxiliary forces Of .he self-gov-
erning colonies will be an important ele-
ment
The empire now holds the field TO
the exclusion Of everything insular.
Mr.. Chamberlains friends are saying
that he perceives more clearly than
anybody else the central dominating In
terests of current policies and that he
considers the colonial office the chief
stronghold Of power and has no idea
Of abandoning it.
WILL WAS GENUINE.