New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-28
MEN IN PARLIAMENT.
The Prime Minister-Thc Tsco First
Benches-Rising Men in Opposition.
LONDON. August Il

uNA ~
-. -. The Ministry has been kept in Office
.ebsa it lacks tho moral support of the country
rhis IS tire main result, AID il IS due 10 tho
,,-,roe Ministers 0cxterity an5 skill as a Marty
,,oser. Has reputation has grown. for. whiJe he
,-s moi led the fiscal reform movement with ;l,s
.es-sge al6 sense OF conviction shown NV si-
,.tert Peel TAen Cobdens policies were rorce5
ann the nation by the Irish famine he has
,rsysbted the premature collapse Of the Union
=, marty AS one bye election has followed an
,fser end there has been cumulative s,i6snca
,nst Mr. Chamberlain's proposals cannot he az.
.sn;ea by the electorate until there has b,ee, .
,rolonged campaign OF education. Mr.. Ralfo,,~
has rece red credit for caution and sasacitv d,
Railing hsf way and keeping his political forces
,s-sther While ne has disappointed Proter-
ilonists and Free Traders alike by what they
b,ve regarded ss weakness and vacillation. tba
.ar,g has rot been broken UP and re has "a
rg,a.a Tire only possible leader. The prime
yirisser is more conspicuous figure n frnr,isr
politics at the end Of the session than he -ras
8, tine beginning.
yr. Gladstone IN his time was Peellte hut n
N. leisure OF his old age he wrote al ESSAY in
which third party movements were condemned.
--ngs his convictions respecting Cobdenis,u
ZERO never cloudsd with doubt he perceived
fss eiss dvsntage OF carrying on political agfta-
,,uus outside the regular lines Of double party
,.-znization He admitted shat the Peelttes had
hasn inspired by high motives and had sue
,sessd n their wsrk. hut he considered It in
.,4tsble that they should have impaired their
,nausncs by separating from one party and
y-ahuziiy approaching the ether Re declared
,Aa. these who were connected with third party
uoyerenrs might be acting honestly and use
.vllv set .hey excited suspicion and resentment
n beth political camps, and net infTeaUently
rsssrees the development Of good causes. Prob
ssl~ h had the Liberal Cnionists in mind when
he reached the conclusion that third parties and
usutrsl organizations we're objectionable but
his comments were based upon the independent
rcurse adopted by Sir Robert Peei's coaserva-
tive followers who were lea across the lines into
ths liberal party Mr Balfour might have
iustihed MS own attitude toward tariff reform
nv Nr sls6stone's reflections on the evils or
third party movements He acted on the theory
that the cause with which he was in sympathy
would fail unless It could command the support
of the party in power. and that il would be OBJ
strueted and retarded IL its psrtisans like the
Peelites were in undue haste and insisted upon
separating from the regular organization. Er.
Chamberlain apparently acQuiesced In this view,
and has been content 10 conduct his movement
within the party lines and not as the leader OF
inQeneuCefT
show signs Of conversion TO the new policies but
the Conservative party is sin fairly well united.
and Mr. Balfour il the only leader in sight who
car take up tariff reform N tir early future
WITH reasonable chances OF success.
While the Prime Minister Is without doubt a
mere necessary. II not greater. party leader
mar be was six months ago l. Is not equally clear
nat there has been any growth OF reputation
snnag his colleagues en- the front government
A&ach. Nr George vyT1crars close innItstor
~ Mr.. Bzlfour speaker and tactician but
he has not gained ground during the last six
months. a fluent and plausible debstsr. with
tslen; for window dressing when his stock in
trade IS exposed 70 view, he lacks earnestness
sne conviction. TIE Irish Land Act. which was
passed year ago through his energy. hexioility
ard tact, has not operated so well ne ex
pseted end this has impaired his Political su-
thoriEy: snd. while he has spoken sggressively
on one or two occasions when Mr.. Balfour
could not lead tbs House. he has not come on
during this session ar. Austen Chamberlain
has been equally Disappointing except in the
Budget speech. when he oisarmed criticism
from the Opposition by increasing the Income
tax and reasoning Ike q LIBERAL Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. His debating resources have NOT
increased. and or social occasions when leader
ship was required he has stamnlered and spoken
listessly and feebly AT. Arnod-Ferster, who
seemed the ideal refornsr OF the War Once
Thsn the session opense. has not fulfilled ex-
peatstiens Possibly he has been harnpered by
She opposition Of LORD Lsnsdowne. Mr. Brod-
reg s-i sfr Vvyuneharn within the Cabinet; but
his scheme 81 army reform has not justified his
promotion 10 the War once. The Colonial
searstsTy Is almost the only member or the BAL
.aur Cabinet whose reputation has been IN
creased BY TIE wcrk Of the half year Ar.
Iytssiten's legal training has enabled hiin 10
prepare himself thoroughly for debates on al
ousssious relating 20 his department, ana ne mas
had the clevsrness TO avoid the usnneIisIns Oh
English advocates. which ere offensive 10 mem
bers es the Commons. He is the exception "Il'eii
proves the rule OF shTinksge o. regulations on
the froat government bench. II is most aim
cut Cor frsqueatsrs OF debates in the Com
mons 20 select successor 20 Mr.. BaIfour on
hat brncb Al the close c, the session Loro
curzon "a considered the mast probable SUD
sit1l,. far IN. Prime Minister as the leader OF
the Conservative party. IL Mr.. Balfour's hearth
breaks down and he be forced 10 retlre from
public life
On the Liberal side there has been little prog
ress b Insiv,sual regulations Sir Henry
csusheu-rsnperrnan has not directed the Up
por,ion With either skill or sagacity. ana WhSH-
s~e- .Ns-e nas been q vote OF confidence he mas
spote, baalv not infrequentiy reading his notes
Mechanically. and always humping me .a e,
hoisly IN efforts TO emphasize his 'ioIi
Ee laekz the incompatible gift OF excitihg en-,
thurasn,. snd oldtir=e Liberals shuo1sf sA4
sgh ahen his rightfEl claims upon 'ne
ship or the next government are rec-1eo. =.
Asqrlth "a TIE best denater on the LIoeI@i 81
saa he is most effective IN his arguments IL
,e.ea :, r-r.n -r-aae ard unless all signs fail ne