New-York tribune., 1902-07-13
LONDON.
RECEPTION OF LORD KITCHENERA
GREAT POPULAR TRIUMPH.
TRIBUTE RATHER TO THE PEAcEMAxER
THAN THE GENERAI-PLANs FOR
THE CORONATION.


not have been heartier nor more sincere The
route from Paddngton TO HYDE Park and from
constitution Hill to ST James's Palace was lined
with troops. and behind them were holiday
| crowds cheering Justify as the carriage passed
with Lord Kitchener's soIdierIy figure and i'm
passive face. The Prince of Wales was at the
station to welcome him in the Kings name and
Marlborough House entertained him The Duke
OF Connaught commanded the troops taking part
IN the military reception. Lord Roberts with
the full headquarters staff. followed the car.
riages- No mark of honor was lacking and the,
crowds in the thoroughfares could hardly havs
oeen larger for the coronation show. Generals
Hamilton and French. two of the best soldiers
In South Africa. were with Lord Kitchener but
they passed almost unnoticed
LORD kitchener was welcomed less as the suc-
eessrul general than as the opportune peace-
maker who had brought to a close the weari-
some campaign. HeraIds might well have pre-
ceded him proclaiming peace with mercy It
was difficult for spectators with memories t,i
Identify the hero of the enthusiastic popuIacsi
Win the stern. unbending avenger of csordonC
ana the conqueror of the Dervishes. The man
or iron had become soft and flexible, showing
mercy when Mr.. Chamberlain and Lord Milner
mad hardened their hearts and making peace on
most generous terms whes there was a reason-
able chance Of ending what had seemed an ir--
10 South Africa the reputation of being roughs-
scientific soldier who despised sentiment and
| took a cold and almost heartless view OF the
business Of war. He has brought back an hon-i
oraDle fame as peacemaker whose chief re-l
source has been magnanmity in triumph Thai
same Cabinet which had Lord Roberts's word
1or IL that the war over and ordered thr
general election in the midst of the campaign
is now seeking its full share of the popularity OF
kirCbRnar'S
miration and gratitude even of the rancorouE
pro-Boers.
Either Mr.. Chamberlain like Lord Eitcba,s-
! mas suddenly grown soft after being inhexibls
ana aggressive, or else he has perceived ths
1utilty OF opposing his colleagues and dragging
them after him. He has disappointed South AZ
iIcdhs oy Ne'olhs the indefinite suspension oe
the constitution in Cape Colony and has v,rt,,-
| ally handed over the Cape rebels to local AN.
| thorities who will condone treason and outrage
is he jealous Of Lord Kitehener's reputation for
| masnanimity. or is he weary of Offering re-
| sistance to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach and bis
/ other colleagues? The latter alternative is the
more probable one 1t is rumored among poIi-
ticians that the Cabinet would have bsen
against him if he had persevered in his policy
OF overriding the constitutional liberties Of the
cape Dutch Sir Michael Hicks Beach. who was
oenind Lord Kitchener in enforcing the accept
ance of peace has befriended the irresoIute Sir.
| Gordon Sprigg and carried his colleagues with
hlm- Mr.. Chamberlain has perhaps made a.
virtue of political necessity and rivaIIed Lord
Kitchener in hexibiity and trustfulness in desI-l
| ing with the Cape Dutch.
There have been smoking room, rur,orx ,bs..
the War Office and the Colonial Office bsvsi
been pitted against each other in arranging the.
details of Lord Kitchener's reception one sArg
! OF oHlcials desiring TO overaccentuate and thsa
other set preferring to minimize the miIitary=
services of Lord Kitchener. These tales OF of44 !
clal intrigue are incredible There could have
been no possible motive for jealousy betweeui
the two services, and certainly no EngIishnau
with any breadth of mind is disposed to under.
rate the great qualities displayed by Lord Ritch-
ener in directing one of the most difficult and
harassing campaigns known in modern history,
Both Lord Kitchener and General French d.
serve the elaborate tributes paid by the rniII-i
tary writer's of The Times and other EnsI,st,3
journals this morning
hltcheners prestige has increased becsuz. ,bs4
number of Beers and Cape rebels surrenderfns-t
under the agreement at Pretoria has nro,va5 NV, :
expectedly large, and the difficulty OF supnrssz4
ing guerilla warfare has been fully der,ons+-,. i
ed He receives to-day full justice for his novva-
as an organizer and the bulldog British tena,ttv.
with which he triumphed over almost fnsuper-
anie obstacles The warmth Of the popular re-
cepuOn, however, is attributable 10 the sat,.
faction with his achievements as a peacemaksr
The Canadian Arch. brilliantly Illuminated TO-
night, tells the whole story in a sirnpIe insc-in
tion. Kitchener: Hero in War and in Peace.
Mr. Chamberlain, instead of suIking over tbs~l
honors paid Lord Kitchener and dininisbin- tbe,l
Importance OF the imperial conference as ma
hclous enemies are suggesting. is adapting him,
self to the situation with the ready resource Of
the practical politician. Probably no other
Englishman is equally grateful to Lord Fitcb.
ener for bringing about settlement in Soutb
Africa which offers promise of permanent neacs
Certainly no other imperialist can compete with.
him in influence in the colonies and if the rs.
suits of the conference are likely to prove dis
appointing it is not through lack of enthusiasm
on his part in the cause of imperial federation
The speeches of the Earl of OnsIow. Sir WiIfrid
LaUrter and Sir Edmund Barton at the Guild
hall banquet were full OF good feeling. but thArs
was tacit agreement around the tables thar
neither commercial union preferential basis
the distribution of the burdens of the military
and naval defence the establishments or
close political connection between the mother
country and the colonies could be brought abou+
at the present conference.
Even the steamship subsidy question will prob
ably be remanded to supplementary colonial
conference. The colonial premiers with whom
have talked frankly admit that the colonies
must come TO agreement among themselves
respecting the mail service. preferential trade
and other questions before they can expect the
British Government to take decisive action unon
them
The announcement that the coronation Womb
come on day between August and II releases