New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-11
BAILIFFS IN POLITICS.
Who Cannot afford to Sell Ont
Their RiUaIs.
london. Novemher q


political assets and able to sell out Mr. Balfour
at any moment Mr.. Austen Chamberlain, pos
sibly prompted by his father, has retorted that
the Irish baif is in control OF the Liberal house
hold-a very persistent and strong man There
is no effective reply to the Chancellor Of the
Exchequer, for the divisions in the Liberal party
Oh the question Of Home Rule are as sharp and
apparently as irreconciIable as those on the
UHionist side respecting fiscal policy. There is
indeed a close paHalle between the two political
situations Mr.. Balfour and Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman are the official leaders empov-
cred to proclaim party policies; and Mr. Cham
berlain and Lord Rosebery are the unofficial
leaders whose support and cooperation are in
dispensable in an aggressive campaign. There
must be an agreement between the Prime Min
lister and Mr.. Chamberlain. II the Unionist
party is to be rallied for decisive struggle
There also must be harmony the Liberal side
if the Opposition are to return from the country
with a majority so overwhelming as to be indie
pendent Of the Irish Nationalist. One compro-
mise is difficult as the other but the Unfonst
rivals have a marked superiority in tactical skill.
and are more likely to agree than Lord Rosebery
and Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
The baiifr in either instance is the strong
man whose hand controls the party organiza-
ton. Mr.. Chamberlain has the party workers.
the local leaders the newspapers and the cam
paign subscriptions his side. There is a for
nidable minority which has not been convinced
that any departure from the traditional free
trade policy is advisable; but the majority ac-
cept him a fighting leader who knows what
he wants and does not spend his time in beat
ing the air. Whether his views Of imperial
policy and tariff revision are sound or unsound,
he has been sincere, courageous and consistent
in upholdng them, and these qualities com
mand respect and excite enthusiasm. The rank
and file want definite. positive leadership. which
enables them to know what they are fighting
for; and this is what Mr.. Chamberlain gives to
his followers Mr.. BaIfour with all his clever
ness and dexterity as a tactician in Parliament
has not the art of meeting the plain. untutored
men of his party their own level and making
public questions clear and Ineligible. In his
anxiety to keep the party together and to pre-
vent assertions among free trade Unionists ne
has refined his phrases and concealed his mean
ing with such subtlety that nobody has under
stood where he stood It has been a brilliant
display of dexterity and resource at West
minister. but for the workers IN the local
ganization it has been blind and confusing
leadership; and in their bewiIdermeut they have
turned to Mr.. Chamberlain and have been re-
invigorated by the bracing effect Of a positive.
clearly defined policy.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, while a
poorer tactician than Mr.. Balfour and less
magnetic leader than Mr.. Chamberlain. is the
baiIif in possession of the Liberal estate. Rich.
enfeebIed in health and indOIent by nature. he
might be expected TO have slight inclination
for undertaking the harassing cares of leader
ship and high office. He Is, however a sturdy
Scotsman. and that explains everything.
Scotsman is not disposed 70 give up anything
that he has honorably earned. Sir Henry Camp
I-Bannerrnan did not want the Liberal lead
ershfp when it was forced upon him; but since
he has done the work. brought upon himself
much criticism and abuse and now has supe-
rfor claim to the succession to the Prime Mn
ister's Office, he is bent upon having what be-
longs to him. Since Lord Spencer has been dis
abled by illness the Liberal leader in the Com
mons will inevitably receive the first summons
to form new Ministry. after Mr. Balfour's
resignation or defeat in the general elections
His claims cannot be contested without a dis
ruption of the party, and on this account the
workers accept him as the necessary leader
He is the in possession of the responsible
tiles of leadership; and since Gladstonian Home
Rule was the supreme issue in two general cleo
tons. he has taken it up as one of the assets
Of the Liberal party. He has done this when
Lord Rosebery. Mr.. Asquith Sir Edward Grey
eally declared that Home Rule must be kept in
the background as a disturbing issue and that
nothing must be done to repeI or discourage the
return OF Liberal Unionists to the Liberal fold.
1t is not good tactics, for it has forced Lord
Rosebery TO separate himself at once from the
Home Rule revival. and has created a dangerous
dissension the free trade side. Yet the
bailiffs will is law if he be bent upon enforcing
it, and thereby inviting Irish support at the risk
of alternating free traders and Liberal recruits
on many questions of the day.
Lord Rosebery is not bailifr in possession
nor is he an absentee statesman in the lonely
furrow. He is a power in reserve with oratori-
cal gifts uErivaed in either political party. with
an attractive personaIits and with the prestige
of high character and Independence Of thought
He has the power of discerning the trend OF
public opinion and of saying with authority
what the country wants TO hear. Poor tacti-
clan as he is in comparison with Mr. Chamber
lain or Mr.. Balfour. he has unique influence in
public life. Radicals dstrust and dislike him.
yet no do more than any other political
leader to bring about the reform most urgently
needed-the restriction of the legislative powers
of the House of Lords-something that lies at
the basis of all other reforms. While It IS
doubtful whether stable ministry be
formed by Sir Henry Campbell BannerTuan
without MS acQuleSCenCe, IL is certain lndL WITH
a unanimous summons to the leadership Lord
Rosebery can bring together a coalition Of tai
ents which will command respect His closest
friends in politics consider his ultimate return
to the Premiership inevitable after Sir Henry
Campbell Zimmerman shall have served for
short period; but they admit that he must first
be prepared to make sacrifices and to take the
Foreign ONCE under his rival: and then In due
time will come, they add. the Ministry OF all the