The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-01
MR.. CHAMBERLAINS DRIVING
POWERS.
His Genius for Trotting to the Edge OF
the Chasm and Turning In Time.
From the London Spectator,


debt OF gratitude that must never be Tor
gotten, but he has one memorable defect.
He does not realize that things cannot be
and not be at the same time. II Ia common
defect in the politician. but usually it is linked
with certain feebleness Of grasp and weak
ness Of purpose.
N Mr.. Chamberlain there are no such
balancing drawbacks. His strength Of will,
his eagerness. his alertness, all combine to
exaggcrate the defect Sleepy. inert men
may think that things can be and not be at
the same time, but they do not attempt to
bring the matter to the test. They DRIFT
and let drift. man like Mr.. Chamberlain
insists on forcing the pace. Once imbued
with an idea. he will not rest till he has brought
1t to the front. lie has no doubts about any
scheme he has taken up. but believes in 1t
passionately, He never stops to inquire
whether after all the foundation of his plan
may not be a paradox. He is sure 1t is set
firm on the rock. He may invite criticism.
for he Is so keen about his scheme that he
wishes to improve it in every possible way.
But, thou Oh he likes criticism which will prove
useful and helpful in construction. he VIII not
brook opposition II the opposition Is real,
and SO essentially destructive.
This determination to push matters through.
this intense belief in any project he takes up.
is in many ways most admirable. We feel
that Mr.. Chamberlain really cares His Is
no fabby. half-hearted approval, but real
enthusiasm. and when his cause is a sound
one as we gladly and gratefully admit that
1t Is in nine cases out Of ten. the nation reaps
the benefit When. however. he has. as In
the present case. built his scheme on para
dox--the paradox that thinFs can be and not
be at the same time. that you can combine at
one and the same time the advantages OF
free trade and protection, and that you can
let the colonies and the mother country each
and all have a free hand fscally, and yet
bind them by system OF preferential duties
Mr. Chamberain's magnificent driving
powers are a source OF danger to the nation.
He climbs on to the box. selzes the reins in
his firm and steady grasp. calls to the helpers
to let go, and with crack OF the whip and
splendid blast from the post-horn the I'm
perial mail starts of amid the paudits Of the
crowd, sometimes quite in the right direction.
but sometimes. too. down one OF those roads
that lead nowhere" or actually over a preci-
pce. II is always magnificent. but. alas! 1t
is not always sound workmanship
As may be supposed. the more sober por-
ton Of the community are filed with dire
dsmay when they see, as in the present in
stance. the gallant coachman and the ma
tional coach setting out along a road that ends
In precipice, But though they are alarmed,
and have cause to be alarmed, they still are
able to take heart from former experiences.
They know that in spite of all rcmonstrunces
the coach will be galloped to the very edge
OF the abyss. but that when just at the edge
the splendid nerve and splendid powers OF
driving possessed by the coachmnn will avail
to eStricate himself and his charge from the
difficulties in which his rashness has placed
them. Just before it Is too late he will con-
trive to turn the coach around. and the team,
safe If somewhat depressed will be brought
back, and we shall all be praisng the skill
of the man who could manage TO get so we'll
out of so bad sCrape.
To drop our metaphor. Mr.. Chamberlain
though so rash in thought and in abstract
con illusions, always shows a wonderful
ability as soon as he is brought face to face
with practical and concrete situation.
When II comes to definite action he is seldom
at fault. Facts. when once ne can really get
In touch with them, seem to inspire him to
do the right thing. He is. no doubt. for
thought too rash. but happily he Is not
for action too refined His reason ia per-
petually leading him wrong. but IL he can
only arrive at a concrete situation his instinct
keeps him straight.
Before the Home Rule split actually took
place. Mr.. Chamberlain, as we all know, in
dulRed in the most dangerous and delusive
ideas as to scheme for Provincial Councils.
which was to he and not be Home Rule at ono
and the same time. With the notion that his
power and energy could force the two incom.
patbles 10 fuse. he light heartedly entered
Mr.. Gladstone's Cabinet But when Mr.. Glad
dstone's Home Rule bill was actually drawn
and Mr. Chamberlain was face to face with
the facts. he saw things as they really were
and saved the situation by his resignation.
Yet strangely enough he has not learned
the lesson that paradoxes make bad founda-
tons. The very next year he was willing and
eager to enter on a round-table conference
L,.l,,, 81,
under which oil and water should mix, and
should allow the maintenance of the union
TO be and not be at the same time. Here
again, however, his strong common sense,
when confronted with actual fncts. saved him,
and he left the round-tabe conference a
frmer Unionist than ever.
Take another example of Mr.. Chamber
lain's difficulty in realizing that things cannot
be and not he at the same time-his virtual
proposal for an alliance between Britain.
Germany and the United States. The thing
from the first moment it was proposed was
an impOssbility, That We could form II not !
an alliance in name with America, yet an !
understanding based on community Of
interest and on kinship. was clear enough.
That either we or the United States. or both. /
could be in alliance with Germany though
ample Of his belief that ! Kings can be and not
be at the same time. But though Mr.. Cham |
berlain trotted his team up to the edge OF |
the precipice he turned round In time and |
now we venture 70 think that no statesman IA |
more convinced than himself that the foreign |
policy OF tho Kaiser and our own foreign |
pesy . ars no s, ssnse Compatible
berain ever personally favored The s.pen nam
Of the Cape Constitution we do not know, but |
at any, rate he allowed the question 70 Re |
mooted In South Africa, and did not the
moment 1t was suggested place his veto on it.
That he did not impose that veto was at ony
rate, sign that he did not realize that here
again he was acting on his belief that thines
can be and not be at the same time Yet |
me moment the proposal came within the |
sphere Of immediate political action MI. |
Chamberlain realized the danger impending |
and In one Of the ablest Of modern state pa pers
put an end TO the rash and ILL con sidered
scheme.
The new proposals of MI Chamberlain for
revolutionizing the fiscal and Political policy
OF the Empire constitute the browning ex-
ample. " ever n scheme was based on the
deluson that things can be and not be at the
same time. II h. the proposal for some system
OF preferential duties within tho Empire
under which we are to remain free traders
and the colonies are tn remain otectionists
and everybody Ia to mako his own tariff
while ct the same time we are all to be eome- |
how united in the bonds OF preferential or
di2erential tariH.
Depend upon il. this gigantic paradox,
after innaming the minds OF half the people
q me empire and raising false hopes from
ne tronlcs 70 the pole. will burst and collapse
a. soon MS he sits down to construct Ills tarifl
or rather 10 discllsS hia TWIN In Anf,N ,.;tk