New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
WAR TALK IN LONDON.
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN's DEFENCE-AN IRISH
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" THE HERO.

A-OA0on, FeD. Z4.-Apart from the dramatic
change that came over the situation in South
Africa, the event Of the week was undoubtedly
Joseph Chamberlain's vigorous. almost vicious.
self-detence in the House Of Commons. The
Colonial Secretary met the accusations and de-
mands with one Of those terrible fighting
speeches for which he is noted. With venOmOus
retort and scorn he once more denied COM
licity In the Jameson raid, denied the so-called
revelations OF the Independence Beige" and,
with def phrases presented the Opposition s
agitation g personal attack upon his much
prosecuted self. In the heat Of debate and with
an overwhelming majority ready to cheer every
bitter phrase Mr.. Chamberlain carried all be-
fore him But. after reflection. many Of those
who thoroughly believe Mr. Chamberlain TO be
absolutely untainted and who place no impor
lance upon the letters stolen from Mr. Hawkes.
ley. counsel for the British South Africa Com
pany, regretted that the Colonial Secretary took
up the matter in such personal spirit Voic-
ing this feeling. The Saturday Review while
strongly deprecating another Raid inquiry at
the present Juncture. deplores Mr.. Chamber
lain's "undignifed attitude" and reminds him
that the good faith OF a Secretary Of State is
not personal but public matter. Continu-
ing. the paper says it regrets that he did not
court a resumption Of the Raid inquiry instead
Of leaving IT TO A. J. Balfour First Lord Of the
Treasury and Government leader in the House
Of Commons). but adds that obvious reasons
Of State prohibited such procedure at the pres
ent crisis In the mean while DR.. Gavin Brown
Clark Radical Member Of Parliament for Cath
ness. who was formerly Consul General of the
South African Republic. stands accused by Mr..
Hawkesley Of buying stolen property in the
shape Of letters in regard 10 the Raid. Though
DR.. Clark has denied the allegations printed in
The St Jamess Gazette" he has not, far,
denied Mr.. Hawkesley's charges His fellow
commoners are much stirred up in regard TO the
matter. but DR.. Clark seems unlikely to take
any steps unless his constituents force an issue.
Lord Rosebery. this week the fOrsaken sole
oracle Of '1ugubrious Vaccinations" has been
bantering the Lords Of the Government in the
lightest satire upon the fix they have got into
by the unexpected change OF the Wemyss reso-
luton, which originally proposed TO enforce the
existing statute providing for CONSUMPTION, but
which at the last moment was altered to read
that the statute should be amended in order 10
make it available to be put in force, a change
which upset Lord Transformers and the Duke Of
Devonshires carefully prepared speeches 70 such
extent that Lord ROsebery satiricalIy moved
an adjournment to enable them TO prepare new
speeches and even Lord Salisbury laughed.
With the accomplishment Of the Governments
plans, the main objections regarding war leglsla-
ton collapsed. and some attention was directed
y
supremely undressing
IRISH OBSTRUCTION A FAILURE.
The ancient methods Of obstruction employed
by William Redmond and two other
Irish members have so far failed to have any
result.
The nomination Of Major Mcbride. OF the Irish
Brigade in the service of the Beers. 10 contest
South Mayo vice Michael Davitt. resigned. has
created no little cutlery. Another Nationalist,
John O'Donnell, opposes Major Mcbride. Conse-
quently, on February %. when the voting is
done, Mr.. O'Donueu and the absentee candi-
date will fight it out between them. The au-
thorities pay 30 little attention Irish disanec
ton that no steps have been taken 10 prevent
Major Mcbride contesting the seat. The in
diligence Of the Government, Of which this is an
instance. fosters the feeling that Irish advO-
cacY OF the BOer cause, and, in fact, the whole
Irish movement al present, is Of no great impor-
lance. This, il is asserted. is the Govern
ment desires It should be.
The condition or the navy and the alleged in
adequacy OF the new estimates are creating no
end Of discussion The fact that the Govern
ment has ordered the Reserve Squadron to as
semble at Portsmouth on March l has relieved
the fears of those who thought Continental IN
reference was imminent, but they hail with
pleasure the accompanying announcement that
the squadron will be scattered again on April l,
after months exercise. Nor is public conf
dence strengthened by such statements
made editoriaIly in The Naval and Military
Record" which AYERS that there are eight or
nine modern French battleships capable Of sink
ing the reserve fleet and that though France
now has only six OF such vessels with her north
squadron, she could quickly get the two
needed from the Mediterranean without attract
ing suspicion while the amalgamatiOn of her
northern squadron with that Of Russia's Baltic
fleet would altogether outclass Great Britain's
reserve, which, this service paper declares, is a
heterogeneous and by no means modern con-
glomeration, lacking in all the essentials Of
trained battle fleet. AS a remedy. il is urged
that ships not included in the reserve be
Immediately commissioned and that powerful
modern fleet be assembled in home waters to
await contingencies.
The Rev. F. B. Nash. Of Newark. Ohio. has
written a long letter TO The Saturday Re
view based on a recent cable letter of The AS
ISOLATED Press maintaining that the bulk OF
American opinion sympa thizes with the Beers
forsaken her role Of defender of freedom during
the present war.
"BOBS" THE NATIONS HERO.
The fierce fighting that has made the week
memorable IN the history Of Great Britain has. in
spite Of the heavy casualties that accompanied
it. acted as an exhuarating tonic upon the ma
ton. II is almost with cheerfulness that the
people of Great Britain are taking their punish
ment for now there is something to show for it,
in pleasing contrast 70 the weeks OF wasting and
suspense that scarcely ever passed without
largely adding TO the deathroH and never seemed
TO bring Great Britain's forces nearer TO the
goal Hand in hand with the relief OF Kirnber-
ley and the daily expected relief Of Ladysmith
4