New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-27

LONDON.
THE POSSIBILITY OF SALISBURY'S RE
TIREMENT AFTER THE WAR
SERVE THE EMPIRE BETTER THAN IN
THE COLONIAL LOFFICE-PRESIDENT
MKINLEY'S NEUTRALITY.
HAT MIR. CHAMBERLAIN COULD

M'KINLEY's NEUTRALITY
ICopyrfsht: 1900 The New-York Trbune-l
GBT rRrBrSE.I
London May 2G.-The closing scenes OF the
war are witnessed with WEAKNESS and apathy
by a jaded public, What is described succinctiy
as Boer- hunting is not regarded as good sport;
it is necessary but it is not glorious. Nobody
finds fault with Lord Roberts. whose work is
without flaw but the spectacle of a we'll
equipped and powerful army pursuing scattered
Dutch commanders after seven months strug-
gle and gradually dispensing them is not one
that appeals strongly to British pride. There
signs of public rejoicing the rapid
advance of Roberts's army and the retreat of
the helpless Beers from line Of kopjes to
another.
The popular instinct is unerring when II
singles out Baden-PowelI for hero worship and
enjoins silence respecting the Irresistible march
of Robertss and Buffers battaliOns. Mafeking
is accounted justly feat OF arms worthy Of
the highest place in the records of the British
army. but the conquest OF two republics which
have been heavily overmatched in hopeless
struggle is regarded exploit which
justifies boastful aCclamation. especially when
there many blunders during the early
stages of the campaign and many evidences
of defective generalship and reckless conduct
the part of officers. There signs OF
| either hypocrisy cant in the public Judgment
upon the results of the campaign. and there Is
much plain speaking.
There indications in the by-elections
that the Government has lost the confidence OF
the country CT that any compromise will he
tolerated in the settlement of the issues of the
war. Successors to Sir Richard Webster and
the Marquis of LOrne have been elected TO the
Commons by largely increased majorities- The
South Manchester poll is an astonishing proof
of the strength of the Unionist party in what
was once a stronghold of Little England ideas
and policies. There could not be more strik-
| ing illustration of the rise and progress Of the
new Imperialism than the nearly thirty-fold in
crease in the Ministerial majority in factory
| constituency where the ablest and most con-
sistent Liberal journal. The Manchester Guar
| diam has been preaching to empty pews
| These elections have moral for the country
and hints for party managers
| The moral is that there must he thoroUghness
! without sentfmentality in the settlement OF
! South African questions broad lines of i'm
| periaI interest. The hints for party managers
| point to an early dissolution of Parliament. in
order to allow the Unionists to take fun ad-
vantage of the feeling and to intrench them
| selves in the stronghoids OF power for another
| term of six years. The Liberals almost as
unprepared TO meet the Unionist onset the
Beers are to block the advance of Roberts's
| StrCng and mobile columns Sir Henry camp
hell -Bannerman lacks the instinct of leadership.
| Mr.. Asquith is in better form than his col
Leagues. but the party is made up of dis
| heartened and scattered commanders. Mr..
! Chamberlain who is the best politician on the
! Unionist side. is known to be in favor of an
| appeal to the country in the early autumn. IL
i not in July. and South Manchester backs him
| up There many rumors in the air to-day.
| but no decision has been reached by the Min
| listers. will there be one until Roberts is in
Pretoria Even if the war be brought 10 a close
by the middle of June, the most sanguine
military authorities are expecting will be
the result July seems TO be out of the question
as the date of a general election. A far more
probable time is October. the houses of Par
liament being simply adjourned toward the
end of July, and not prorogued.
| Several important personal questions will have
to be settled before the Unionists appeal TO the
! country. One of these is Lord Salisbury's
preference for retirement from public life IT
has been rumored many times that he would not
remain in office after the dissolution of the pres
ent Parliament. and IL is known that he was
| deferred only by a strong OF public duty
| from retiring under the pressure of his bereave-
ment and his i'll health. The close of the war
| in South Africa and the strength Of the Union
ist party in the country will offer most favor
able opportunity for bringing his successful
| leadership to end when it has been crowned
| with honor.
| His retirement will render necessary the re-
organization of the Ministry and this is not a
! task TO be undertaken lightly when IL is a
coalition Government with statesman Of in
| ordinate ambition. like Mr. Chamberlain strus-
| Cling to obtain supremacy There is much in
| teresting byplay behind the scenes. even when
| the debates in Parliament are most stagnant
| 1t is not by any means certain that Mr.. Cham
berlain is anxious to wind up the South African
controversy himself, especially when il is likely
| to prove a most harassing and thanklsss bust
ness. He would probably be readily reconciled
to the elevation of Mr.. Balfour 10 the peerage
with the honors Of Prime Minister and the
labors of the Foreign Office. provided he himself
| became either First Lord of the Treasury or
| Chancellor of the Exchequer. with the leader
! ship OF the House of Commons: but there would
be searching of hearts and not little high
| toned profanity among old Tories IL these
| changes brought about
Sir Alfred Miner is without doubt the best
| man for the South African settlement for he
| has contrived TO remain good terms with the
| Dutch Ministry Of Cape Colony and has not ex-
| cited personal resentment. This Is an iuportant
qualification for the functions of peaceraker
| when there least a hundred thousand
more Dutchmen than Englishmen in South
| Africa. and when the confederation TO he
| worked out ultimately on Australian lines must
be essentially Dutch scheme under the British
| Crown IL is not unlikely that Sir Alfred NfInsr
| would be less embarrassed in working out a
settlement II Mr. Chamberlain were in the
Treasury rather than in the Colonial Office: the
Dutch In south Africa have come TO regard the