New-York tribune., 1903-02-01
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON
Chdmbe,1lain's Success Man
ageme,at IN Peneeuela affairs.

ever ne mas gone in commanding respect
for Downing Street. and in convincing the
Beers and loyalists. the millionaire mine
owners and the Kaftirs that at least one
great Englishman survives with unique genius
for impressing his own viii and mind upon
the empire The enthusiasm which he in
spires is based on the spontaneous recognition
Of his pre-eminent qualities for leadership. His
inherent force of character enables him to dis
cuss frankly every question with an air Of per-
sonal authority as the champion of imperial in.
terests. He can eulogize Cecil Rhodes at KIM
berley without reference to the stale and for
gotten pro-Boer ISLANDERS and ordinations and
he could warn the disaffected hurghers and
rrimmers that the idea of a Dutch South
African republic baseless abric of a vision,
and that Cape Colony by neglecting to become
imperiastic would risk the loss Of paramount
authority in the confederation Mr.. Chamber
lains exhibition OF sustained power in dealing
with men, factions and rival interests justifes
the belief that the resources of British states
nlanship are not Yet exhausted, and that the
empire building race has not gone out of bust
ness.
Mr.. Chamberlain is in such splendid isolation
the OF supreme talent among his
Numbering colleagues that it is difficult to
resist the conclusion that he will become Prime
Minister before the next general election. His
Jrigue against the chief whom he serves loyalty
Mr.. Balfour's health. however. may be a con-
venient excuse fer voluntary retirement to the
Lords whenever it is apparent that Mr.. Cham
berlains prestige is the chief available asset for
carrying the Unionist business at the old
stand. Nothing has been so damaging to the
government as the coalition with Germany for
equalizng honest British claims and specula
tive German interests in Venezuela No Eng
lfSl he ched
compact for employing the British navy col
lect German claims Of doubtful validity, and
thereby riskinE affront TO the Washington
Government, But while Mr.. Balfour and Lord
Iansdowre are fumbling IN the dark and seek
ing TO control the unmanag geable German EN-
peror Lord Cranborne is allowed freedom On
every question at issue. His speech at Shelf
field was a play with the words alliance
and cooperation, and involved concealment
Of the real facts of the shuation. His par
allel Of Anglo-French cooperation in Egypt was
particularly inapt when he was discussing the
Venezuela affair. III which Germany sus-
pected Of ulterior purposes
Lord Cranborue evaded the real point, which
is England's joint responsibility with Germany
for keeping the Venezuela question Open under
the pretence Of settling creditors claims. The
ironclad agreement made between the two
governments forces England 10 maintain the
blockade until the payment of the German
claims. which are essentially different from the
British claims IS arranged These German
claims by means OF this coalition are allowed
preference ever The honest claims of other pow
ers and the German Emperor is enabled to risk
offending American sensibilites with the sane
Ji0n OF his British partner. Lord Cranborne did
not attempt TO explain the method of rigging
Venezuelan claims more discreditable than any
scheme of stock promotion formerly denounced
Ta4 s-saaf Fz-era
the motives OF the British Government in
cepting unlimited liabilities from the German
bondhoiders and from the German Ernperors
activity without reserving for itself the liberty
for Withdrawing from the partnership. much
less the power Of exerting effective control.
While the British ministers are seeking TO mis-
lead public opinion here, it is evident that the
Venezuela negotiations are blocked, and that
the German Emperor is pleased to have it so
The isolation Of Ger many on the Continent has
become more markco since the passage of the
tariff bill. Austria Hungary has brought for
ward tariff scheme. imposing largely in
creased duties on German imports and the Rus
sian Government has prepared schedules,
almost Of prohlbitory character, against Ger
merchandise. German merchants and
manufacturers are threatened with the loss Of
the Continental markets when the home market
remains dernoraliZed. The enactment of the
German tariff fy drastic methods has dis
credited the parties ordinarily supporting the
government and imnarted a tremendous impulse
10 the soclaIistic propaganda. The German En-
peror without doubt finds in the Venezuela af-
fair convenient opportunity for displaying ms
costly navy and dverting the attention of the
Fa1herland from home interests. The British
Government by the terms Of the partnership is
helping him ont Negotiations are dragging, not
o account Of the question Of the equality OF
treatment Of the Val ioIfs powers, but from the
unusual demands made by the German Govern
Inent
The current theory Of the English press is that
Germany is making all the trouble, and that
Americans understand fully that the coalition is
csliled throughout the United Kingdom But
The Washington Government has TO deal, not
eith Ihe irresponsible English press, friendly as
Il may be. but with the British Government in
Partnership with Germany under conditions
hard TO keep reconcied with independence Of
action and friendship for the United States.
= The Wesleyan body has acted in its usual
busnessllke way in dealing with the Eduation
.biA Ii could not accept the support or the
Wesleyan schools from the rates, and advise
Nonconforn1ists not to pay rates. IL mas ad-
Nlseo the trustees and managers or the Wes-
leyan schools 10 apply the act so as to secure
popular control by representatives OF the tax
payers. This epportunist policy viii be much
better example than the drastic methods Of pas
sire resistance favored by the extremists among
the Nonconforr7lists.
jury reformers have been divided in opinion
since the second disagreement In the Peasenhan
murder case. They could not favor majority
verdict substitute for the unanimous YER
dict. since this principle would have involved
conviction at one trial and acquittai at the sec
ma