New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-04
A POLITICAL DICTATOR.
Mr. Chamberlain's Commission and
Possible Descent Upon the Colonie,
London. December 10


quarters Staff has halted az a safe distaroo -
the rear. he is drawing the army after him ars
directing the entire campaign. In his sneacb -
LEEDS he had announced the appointment q, :
commission OF experts under the auspices Of tn
4arlE Reform League. 1t is not to be d ROYAL cor~
mission, nor is it to be sanctioned officially, -
tHe government Of the day II is to be Mr.
Chamberlain's commission. created by the repra-
sentative organization Of his movement; and 4, 4,
TO include representatives OF India, the SELF
governing colonies and the Crown colonies a,
we'll as the important groups OF British indus
tries; and after witnesses have been examined
respecting the conditions of national and frnns
rial trade and the remedies for existing evils
II is to form model tariff" concerning which
the constituencies can express an opinion in tina
next general elections. The ordinary processes,
or official investigation are suspended; the Prms
Minister and his associates in the Cabinet ara
dismissed as people OF no Importance Birminv-
ham is converted into the capital OF the EN-.
pire. and the great imperiaIst. by means Of A
commission Of his own. is to dictate the preciss
form OF the tariff issue. on which the general
electorate is to be gracioUsly allowed to vote
after the dissolution Of Parliament The au-
dacity is magnificent; yet it is war IN a most
aggressive fOrm-war conducted by veteran
statesman who is in a hurry
MI. Sambourne has copied N Punch" one "a
Leech's famous cartoons OF 1915. representing
Papa Golden" as taking Master Robert for
a free trade walk. when the youngster, held
under strong grip. Is dancing at his heels and
cannot keep pace with his long stride Mr..
Chamberlain IS good substitute for Mr. Cob
den. when history reverses itself in a Protec-
ZIONIST walk. and Master Arthur Balfour' Is az
comicaI a figure as Peel was In the original car
toOn; but there Is a flaw IN the parallel Sir
Robert Peel was convert TO Mr.. Cobdens
ideas. but he carried out the Free Trade policy
in his way and never ceased to be the re-
sponsibe Prime Minister. The measures were
his own; he reorsanized his Ministry in order to
carry them through Parliament, and there was
no abdication OF political authority and leader
ship. Mr.. BalfOur IS not self-respectIng Prime
Minister like Sir Robert Peel. He is a natural
trimmer" who faces both ways and is content
to have a statesman outside his Cabinet con-
duct the political campaign, organize commits
sions OF inquiry and formulate the decisive issue
for the general electorate. LIBERAL journals
coarsely exaggerate the situation when they
print proclamat!Ons from "JOsephus I. DEM
agogue and Defender OF the Protectionist Faith"
appointing his vassals and henchmen as CON-
nissioners under the imperial seal; yet II cannot
be shown that Mr.. Golden. IN the anti-Corn
Law agitation. ever undertook TO disarm tho
Ministry OF the day and 70 conduct personally
the policies OF the country: and Il is also GER
tain that Sir Robert Peel could never have been
induced to play kumiIating part Mr..
BaIfour has taken in the present fiscal move-
ment What has become" asks The STAN
dard." particularly. of the government Of the
country and the authority or the Crown?" Ie
Mr.. Chamberlain be political dictator. It 10
because somebody must lead. and Mr, Baltour
has abd!cated
A less experienced campaigner than Mr..
Chamberlain would have revealed exultatioR
over the results OF the Lewisham and Dulwich
elections. which had gone heavily IN favor OF his
fiscal proposals. He contented himself with q
vague reference to the triumph OF the two candi-
dates, who had been prescribed by the Duke os
Devonshire as unworthy OF UniOnist support
Such seIf-restraint and reticeuce were politio
when II was evident that his coup OF announce
Ing the organization OF a commission OF expert
business men would not have been attempted
II the two South London constituencies had not
offered convincing evidence that the Missioner
OF the Empire was making great impression
and comma nding public support. A more VIM
6ictive antagonist would have taken advantages
of the opportunity and have punished the Duke
OF Devonshirs for futile attempt 10 ex-com-
munlcate him and his followers from the ortho-
dox Unionist faith single polished sarcasm
about an encyclical letter. which lacked ponti-
hcal authority. sufficed for his purpose This
keen thrust at the expense Of the duke. whose
bubble reputation for political sagacity has been
suddenly priclzed was a fine Illustration OF Mr..
Chamberlain's skill IN sword play; and there
were also hooking limitations OF Mr.. Asquith's
Law Courts manner and scOrnful gtbes at the
expense Of Mr.. Ritchie's iHexperience as a hnan-
cier Lord Rosebery's soothing syrup OF CONNER
cial repOsa and Mr. Haldanes Charlottenburs
remedy for dumping. Mr.. Chamberlain. hard
hitter as he is succeeds IN amusing his audi
ences with ironical banter without revealing In
hrrnities Of temper and ignplacabls resentments.
His seIf-restraint when he can be so destructive
IN attack is an Indication OF his Inherent
strength OF character.
II is when Mr.. Chamberlain replies to the IN
sidious enemies OF Imperialism that he Is on his
rnettle and n dangerous antagonist. Nothing
could have been more effective than his chas-
tisement of the leaders Of the Free Food League
In his speech at Leeds. They were willing, ne
said to accept retaliation snd 70 put on duties
which would injure foreigners; cut as soon - .
preference for the colonies was proposed, Their
orthodoxy was rigid and they were ready to
hound from political influence and representa-
ton colleagues whose only difference with them
was on this single point of helping brothers and
fellow citizens within the empire. More DIS
tfnctlve criticism than this could hardly be de-
v!sed and it was well deserved. The retaIa-
tionists who have shrunk from the RESPONSE
biIity Of taxing food and giving preferences 10
colonies. have been most Illogical as we'll as un-
patriotic: and they are condemned out OF thelr
own mouths Not one of them has been able TO
explain how they can punish the United States
and Germany without taxing food and putting