New-York tribune., 1903-03-11

Obstruction tactics walk out oe the House rather
than oppose the government on the Army ReOr-
ganization, distasteful as he policy Of rnitar-
Ism 10 to them, there is promis- OF active Irish
cooperation with the Tories In the next general
election Mr.. Wyndham il to-day the main
hope % the Balfeur administration. He may be-
come the most effective recruiting sergeant in
the general elections. when Unionist defections
are serious and Irish votes are needed In English
and Scotch boroughs and county divisions.
Mr.. Wyndham's supreme opportunity In bring
ing in land measure which may settle the
Irish question naturally invests his personality
and future with interest and fascination. Con-
seTvRtives who are not convinced either that Mr..
Balfcurs prestige has waned or that Mr.. Cham
berlain will ever succeed him point to Mr..
Wyndham as the probable Prime Minister in
the course Of q decade. II he succeeds in set
ting the Irish question he will have position Of
commanding authority after the retirement of
Mr.. BaIfour and Mr. Chamberlain, ana he cannot
be left out Of the ingenious forecasts Of political
speculation. One Of the most experienced OBJ
servers OF public affairs ventures to make the
following prediction: Mr. Wyndham will live to
be Prime Minister If his Irish policy leads 70 the
reconciliation OF races in the United Kingdom.
His only rival at the end OF decade may be
Mr. Austen Chamberlain. who is coming on
rapidly in public life, and has much OF his
genius" That Is a. least an interesting forecast
Mr.. Austen Chamberlain is already the favorite
candidate for the War once In the smoking
room Of the Commons. in view of the possible
appointment of Mr. Brodrick as Lord Curzon's
successor as Viceroy of India. Lord Curson,
however. will have to be reckoned with by the
prophets Of the smoking room and the lobbies.
He also has a brilliant reputation as a debater
and an administrator, and unless all signs fail
he has great part to play In the near future.
The Duke Of Marlborough is reported to have
expressed q belief that Mr.. Churchill will one
day be Prime Minister, but the coterie of ad-
mirers who now applaud the free lances ire
sponsible performances in the Commons lack
the Imagination for &c long leap in the dark.
On the Liberal side there is less speculation
respecting the party leadership. Sir Henry
Campbell-Bannerman still retains the allegiance
OF the Radicals. but his work In the Commons
lacks inspiration and his authority is seriously
impaired q party leader. Lord Roseoery may
not be the necessary leader, but he commands
the support Of what money there is IN reserve
for financing the Liberal cause in the general
election and this fact has great weight with the
practical politicians. The settlement OF the
Irish land question may also strengthen his
claims upon the leadership, since it will remove
the Home Rule issue, upon which oldtirne GLAD
stonians have considered him unsound The
Irish Land bill and the Education acts. the mill
tary reorganization scheme and the costly naval
programmes may create a taxpayers reaction
against UEionist government. and the Opposi-
tion may come into power after tie next elec-
tions without reference to faction feuds ana
5eaousies on the Liberal side Certainly the
government has earned defeat by its inefhcten-
cy, ineptitUde and military inc9pacity. Mr..
Churchill in his brilliant speech made this com
rnent upon the plea that hunger and low wages
were driving mer into the army: Yes, hunger.
and that officer will bring in more recruits II
these costly burdens continue toSmpoverish the
countryr Taxation is the best recruiting ser
geant for the opposition l. N r.