The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-19

London. July 1L-When the 4linss asNs
us to regard Mr.. chamnerlain's eondes-
cension in accepting the post Of colonial
secretary in Salisbury cabinet as con-
elusive answer to the "detraction' which
represents him as pursuing career OF
mere political adventure. it will hardly
1 think, carry many even of the nnionis's
with 1t. What better post for bringing
himself before the public and overshau-
owing his colleagues could he nave Sc
lected? He has declared himself raul-
cal on all home issues, and If he had
taken a department which dealt In sucn
matters he would have found = self in
collision with the conservatives. He was
intelligent enough, consequently TO see
that his determination to keep the hme-
light well on himself was only possible
by diverting attention from home issues
and by bringing to the fore scheme OF
merging the United Kingdom In a great
aggressive empire. He may, or he may
not, have believed in this scheme. but
there is no question that. not only has 1t
served it's purpose, but that 1t was the
only method by which that purpose-or,
as the Times phrases II. his Just ana
worthy ambition" could find its oppor-
tunity. The great empire" scheme mas
been exhausted as a method for gratify-
ing this Just and worthy ambition, ana
people are beginning to ask whether the
game was worth the candle. Home is
sues are again to the fore, and Mr..
Chamberlain was likely to be oYershau-
owed by other colleagues. In this state
OF things he launched his fiscal ''sugges-
At. - 1S1,.
him. He has now the pleasure of owning
an issue of his own; of bringing several
of his colleagues to heel and of showing
that the premier is mere putty in his
hands. When, therefore, the Times asks
us all to worship him as the incarnation
of unselfish patriotism. It Is not likely 10
convert many to this phase of hero-wor-
ship. The truth is that. although Mr..
Chambelain Is no statesman he IS an
exceedingly able political boss OF the
American type. He saw that the unionist
party was likely to lose the next general
election IL fought on Its past record.
Therefore he had to discover something
so startling that the record would not
be forgotten. Not only has he done this,
! but he has made the new issue one en-
tirely personal to himself If it be repli-
ed that the issue is not one on which he
can win he can at least reply that defeat
was already certain without new issue,
and that, even If the one that he selected
has the same result, the party will not
be worse off whilst he himself becomes
lose or win-the master Of his chief and
of his colleagues
There has been such an cutlery against
motor cars recently that 1t becomes ne
cessary to remind county justices that
II Is their duty to administer justice, and
not prejudice. Three fragrant instances
of rank injustice have been reported re-
Gently in the papers. Infinitely the worst
case of the three occurred at Melbourne
in Derbyshire. The Vicar of oremark
was found by Mr.. F. Lawson OF Fore
mark Hall, in a dying condition by the
wayside. He at once dispatched his mo-
tor for medical assistance. The pace was
twenty-five miles an hour. The machine
was under control. There was, so far as
| one can learn, no evidence tnat anyone
| was endangered by the speed But with
| the sapient remark that the public must
be protected the local solons mulcted Mr..
Lawsons driver in the sum Of e. rs 6. 1t
is written that Christianity is part and
parcel of the law of England but this ele-
mentary principle seems to be ignored
at Melbourne.
In August, 1901, a police constable ar
rested a deserter from the Worcestershire
regiment. and conveyed him to the lock-
up in a cab, in accordance with war office
instructions that deserters should be so
treated, instead of being marched
/ through the streets under arrest The
constable paid the cab fare, 3s, out of his
own pocket. Since that date he has been
| engaged in the long and arduous UNDER
taking of obtaining payment for that 3s
| from the secretary of state for war, or
| his representatives. A promise of salts
| faction has, at last, after the best part
of two years, been held out to him. He
is informed that If he will fill up GER
tain form, get 1t signed by two magis-
trates, and forward 1t to the adjutant
of the Worcestershire regiment at Ber-
muda. the sum of IS will be refunded to
him. Nothing is said, however about in
terest. Whether the constable will think
1t worth while to go through these elab-
crate formalities on the chance of at
/ last obtaining a settlement IL, / should
think. doubtful.
The Jewels of American women have
been much admired In London this sea-
son, and no one has a more magnificent
collection of gems than Mrs. Perry Bel
mont, who has been a guest this sum-
mer at all the brilliant social entertain
ments. The Belmont parure of emeralds
and diamonds is noted in this country.
At the opera at Covent Garden, where
Mr.. and Mrs. Belmont were the guests
of Mrs. Hwafa Williams on the occasion
of the state performance for President
Loubet, these gems were much noticed
and particularly described In all of the