New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-30
BRITISH ANOMALIES.
4 Trimming Prime Minister, De-
pendent Upon Irish Support.
London. January 20.

rondon Port bill left from the last session;
:, amendment Of the Workmen's Compensation
A.. an Alien immigration bill and publicahs
MEASURE by which the power Of magistrates TO
vsfuse licenses will be suspended for I'VE years,
rn,n a scheme OF compensation can be devised;
hr, the Roman Catholic University bill viii be
,hs chief number of the programme. The dis
credited government is dependent upon irish
spnport ard must purchase 1t by legislation
with the Nationalist guard to protect the
ministers against revolts OF free traders on their
nzn side the dangers Of the session can be
faced with feeling Of indifference. What VIII
~ the basis Of compensation for Irish support
leather wear is a vexatious question. which fills
.hs Tory mind with prenonitions OF evil, Tor
,hsre can be only one remaining OF the Nation
,,st demands when the land is transferred to
she occupiers and Roman Catholic University
sss been created; and that is the home rule par
lament conceded by Mt. Gladstone and vetoed
nv the House OF Lords. The Prime Minister Is
not called upon TO look ahead further than SIX
months. He is confident that he can keep the
government in Office another year by allowing
Mr. wyndham to make a fresh deal with the
Nationalists; and this will allow an important
extension Of time for the Chamberlain cam
paign
Old fashioned Tories who read THE Standard"
DO not conceal their disgust and Indignation over
what they consider an unprecedented and dis
creditable situation. They have sensitive con-
Htitutional conscience. and regard precedent with
q feeling Of reverence; and they cannot tolerate
Prime Minister who renounces the responsible
tiles Of leadership nor accustom themselves to
such anomalies as unauthorized programmes.
campaigns conducted by independent mission
ers and the substitution OF private and ex parte
investigation for official Inquiry by a regularly
how If
the abdcation of the Prime Minister and of the
Indecent ''pushfulness' Of Mr.. Chamberlain, and
lament the decadence Of political manners and
morals They ask plaintively what would have
been said Of Sir Robert Peel If he had allowed
Mr.. Golden TO obtain complete control OF the
party organization and had ceased TO be self
respecting Prime Minister. responsible for free
trade legislation; what would have been
thought Of Mr.. Gladstone If he had remained
passive spectator in Downing Street while Mr..
Morley was leading home rule agitation in the
United Kingdom. Sluggish and querulous Con-
Eervatives who talk in this way are ridicued
by the new Imperialists alternately frog
iodytes burrowing among rusty presidents and
as fussy old women Of the primes and prisms
order. Mr. Chamberiain's lieutenants and press
fuglemen assert that all presidents can be vio-
lated with impunity by champions of the en-
pire who mean business" Mr.. Balfour," they
say with patronizng air, sis the necessary
man al Westminster, where his aHiabiity and
tact are Indispensable for keeping the party to-
gether; and Mr.. Chamberlain is the natural
leader in the country, who is ordering Alright the
issue OF the next general election" The proc
esses may be irregular. they are good enough
70 admit, but since the British Empire is with
out a parallel, they hold that there be no
precedent for the methods OF Imperialists and
enlightened men OF business In bringing about
its consolidation.
Is MT Chamberlain converting the country
while Mr.. Baltour. the trimming Prime Min
ister stands and waits after purchasing Irish
support? This question cannot be easily
swered, when the opinion OF the Industrial
centres In the north and the midlands has
not been decisively tested In by-elections. He
has conducted a wonderful campaign since the
delivery Of hts opening speech IN Glasgow; his
personality and genius for politics have been felt
everywhere: the party press. with the exception
OF The Standard" is on his side; the tariff COM
mission has been organized with constructive
ability Of the highest order; and the music halls
and theatres are his electioneering centres
throughout the United Kingdom. Probably his
most sanguine supporter six months ago would
not have ventured 10 forecast the progress which
has been made. The Unionist free traders are
nghting for their political lives IN every con-
sutuency upon which they are dependent for
support; the party organization is In the hands
Of the preferential traders and protectionists:
the tariff commission is employing trade ex-
perts, making use of local committees and asso-
Citations. and coming into touch with all the In
dustries OF the country; and tariff reform already
holds the field the only issue on which the
government can appeal to the electorate at the
next national contest. These results are little
less
e seven years fight with two general elections
has been reduced, according to the expectations
Of Mr. Chamberlain's leaders. TO a two years
campaign. with decisive victory for him. Lord
Beaconsaeld's supporters talked in the same con-
ndent strain when he returned from the Berlin
congress. and the music halls were resounding
with lingo songs but the general electorate knew
Its own mind and brought IN Mr. Gladstone with
q great majority behind him as soon ss IL was
consulted.
The Norwich election while a severe blow IN
the Chamberlain forces. could be explained awav
as protest against the Education bill. East
Anglia Ike Lincolnshire. has been since the DAVIS
OF the Furltans stronghold of dissent, and the
Liberals gained IN that quarter victory on their
own ground with the Nonconfornists united IN
opposition to the Education acts ara r,th
tariff reform subordinate issue in the absence
of important local industries. This defeat vao
less Significant than the GOODNESS Of Mr. Chew
berlain's reception at the Guildhail wbara -. hos
expected 10 close his campaign with an outhr.,
Of triumph. For the first time he seenoss -,
OF tough with his audience. He hogan r,,.. .
mistake in tactics. for he complained OF the trs
ditional custom OF passing perfunctory votes .,
thanks In that historic place without HAVING .
decisive resolution on the main question az Issue
and he seeH:ed to find It dificult to resist the