New-York tribune., 1903-03-15
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Return of Mr. Chamberlain in Tr1-
amph-Interest in Russian Reforms.

Special TO The Sew-rork Tribune by cabie)
CCoryrisht: 1903: BY The Tribune Associaton)
London March 14.-Mr Chamberain's reap
pearance as triumphant cockatoo in full plum
age while the remainder of the ministerial
brood fas had hard time and lost feathers. is
the subject of one of F. c. Gould's funniest
toons. The ministers irrtated and har-
assed by the revolt Of the strong group Of in
dependent Tories against the costly military
and domestic policies. and also by the uprising
OF voters in Woolwich, a Conservative strong
hold. against them. and they have serious mis-
givings respecting the success Of the Irish policy.
which remains political mystery. Mr.. Ba1four
does not look happy. but careworn and stale,
he sits on the front bench. smiling grimy when
the Tory youngsters repeat his own tactics
8 member Of the famous Fourth Party. and Mr..
Brodrick requires time to pull himself together
henever fresh attack is made upon him. The
ministers not, however, In imminent dan
ger. while the Irish members are waiting for
them TO redeem their promises Of land legisla-
ton The government majority is not seriously
impaired by voting as long as the National
ISIS abstain from divisions. The crisis will come
when Mr.. Wyndha1n presents the Land bill.
The Irish members will then resume their po-
litical activities. The young Tory economist
will also have a new taxpayers account to au-
dit. for the reconciliation with Ireland will not
be cheap.
Mr. Chamberlain. meanwhile. has returned to
England a conquering hero. The Bir1ning-
ham delegation has met him at Southampton
Water, the Hampshire carabineers have lined
the decorated streets and the Corporation has
received him with loud acclaim His arrival
in London has been the signal for 1emarka-
hle outburst of enthusiasm and hero worship.
The proconsul who has held South Africa in
the hollow of his hand returns like victorious
general of the Roman Empire. There will be a
OF intense interes- on Monday. when he
reappears in the Commons, and the Liberals
cannot hope 10 rival 1t by introducing the new
"a Dor member for Woolwch and shouting them
selves hoarse. Mr. Chamberlain has shown
genuine English grit and is incomparably the
strongest individual force in British politics;
but there will be reckoning for him we'll as
for his colleagues. Already there COM
planning Tories who assert that he ought to
have bargained for hundred instead Of thirty
million sterling from the Rand. and that he
has given away British interests like spend
thrift. and the Liberals are preparing to cross
examine him closely when he resumes business
the front bench. The glamour Of to-day's tri-
un1ph cannot deceive the seasoned veteran who
remembers the return Of Beaconsfield and Sails
bury from the congress at Berlin with intense
popular enthusiasm for their offering Of peace
with honor. AS they were overthroWn by re-
acting public opinion. SO he and his colleagues
may be when the general election comes on
and the taxpayers reckon with them for the
cost Of the war and the increasing ornaments,
the Irish Land bill and the education policy.
With Mr.. Chamberlain again in the Commons.
the ministers have immense accession of de-
hating power and political authority. but he
must assume the full responsibility for costly
and popular policies.
The cars procIa nation granting liberation
t. all forms Of religion and the extension OF
local government to rural communities has been
discussed in the English press with close ap-
rroach 70 pessinnisn1- The Car receives full
credit for his enlightened mind and progressive
ro1icies hut the resources Of a single Will Tor
carrying the good intentions into execution are
doubted. since experience has shown that the
F3,,ssiar official class is capable of blocking the
hes. laid schemes Of reform through inertia
alone The most hopeful sign is the supremacy
Of ". de Witte. perhaps the greatest Russian
reforn7er Of the last hundred years. NJ de
PIehRe Minister Of the Interior. who has been
thra-tins him and undoing the work Of the ag-
rirultural committees has been disarned. and
rrer4 is now a chance of purifying the local ad-
nlinistration and placing corrupt. 1rresponsi-
he officials under restraint. The aoopton or
the principle Of religious toleratlon marks the
decline Of the influence Of NJ Pobedonostseh'
who was conspcuous for bigotry and stag
tt- Ia bors OF the agricultural reform commit
tees have been useful and practical ana 'na'
there has heen a steady growth Of liberalism IN
rh4 MINER and educated classes 1t also oHefs
- assurance that the Car Is deeply inter
ested in domestic reform. and Will exert MN
eelf 70 rrevent the outbreak OF war In the Bal
kans There Is also a vague promise that there
viii be- religious toeration in Constant1nople
end Jerusalem when the Russian dream or en-
r,ire is fulfilled and the holy places pass INTO
.hA nossession Of the only Christian race retain
ing zeal for piIgri1ages to Palestine
TIE Russian charter Of religious toierauon
has been proclaimed when the brltlsh Farhd-
men, is distracted with controversies arislhs
from what is described as conoitlon Oh aiioi
chv in the English Church Ihere were w"
cp,,rcb nar.ies in the Commons each with Its
own f-hurch Discipline BILL and there was
movement for referring both measures to a Sc
-e,, oo,,,o;.tee bur no compromise has been ar
,,-,.d and the drastic measure OF the protes-
,ar, Marty has been read the second time arter
on ac-inoonious debate. Mr.. Balfour opposed 1t
m ,b;e ground that IL involved the suspension
or the abolition OF the episcopal veto. but IL vas
forced along through the influence or strong
sr.eech hv Sir William Vernon Harcourt, VINO
carried Eras,ianism to its logical conciusloh'
and insisted that the bishops had not olscnarFeo
their DUTY and the laws established by the
Church must be enforced by the proper tribunal,
with the doors open for TIE laity.
The rival bill which increases the powers OF
the hisbops and in the opinion of the Church
Association will transform the relations Of the
clergy 10 the state and render Eng!ish lncum-
bents as dependent as French cures, is not ike
iy pass second reading. The bill favored