New-York tribune., 1906-06-17
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN AT 10
In W0d Haste for 4nother Election
Like Another Grand Old Man.
London. June g.

London June 6.
Mr.. Chamberlain on the verge of seventy
shows only one Sign of age. His senses are
Keen; he speaks with oldtime concentration of
mind: he is alert in movement and vivacious
In conversation; and while the youngest looking
man for his age in public life, he has not out
grown his enthusiasm for great causes. With
all these evidences of vitality and elasticity of
spirits, there is unconscious confession of
advancing years. Like Mr.. Gladstone. he is in
a hurry He was eager to have Mr.. Balfour
dissolve the last Parliament two three years
before the general elections came on; and that
was because he knew there must be cross-voting
and Liberal interregnum before his issue
of tariff reform could be taken up decisvely
The Liberal government has been in power only
few months but Mr.. Chamberlain is perfectly
certain that the Education bill cannot be enacted
and that there will be another general election
next spring. He had made these forecasts in a
vigorous speech at Birmingham and since he
has always been candid and straightforward in
his dealings with the home constituency it
cannot be doubted that he has faith in his own
predictions; but men of every age find 1t easy
to convince themselves of anything they want
to believe. With hostile majority so large
that the results of by-elections cease to have
significance. he perceives the hopelessness of
| continuing the work OF uniting the empire
der existing conditions; yet he is unwilling TO
call a longer halt than twelve months. The
Lords will reject the Education bill and the gov
eminent will be forced TO appeal to the country
against them! There is nothing he exclams,
1--WE have tried our hands at in the past-edu-
cation social accommodating which Birming-
ham has declared TO be the right thing and has
determined TO assist that we have not carried,
and we going to carry Fiscal Reform
Mr.. Gladstone was in the same frenzy of haste
for completing the work of Home Rule. and
success seemed within his grasp. for there was
a majority in the Commons large enough TO
carry his bill; yet when the Lords intervened
with a veto he counted his years and accepted
with serenity of sprit.the limitations of an
wrought career. Mr.. Chamberlain has not
reached that philosophic attitude OF mind. He
feels that his Iifes work is unfinished and is in
mad haste to go on with 1t. He cannot restrain
his impatience over delay. He must have an
other general election within a year with the
tendencies of cross voting and political discon-
tent in his favor and then the battle for empire
will be hand over hand! How hazy a
dreamer the most practical and astute politician
becomes at seventy, when the SANDS are running
out! The Lords may throw out the Education
bill, if a compromise be not arranged in COM
: mittee stage of the Commons but what warrant
is there for the assumption that the Liberal.
/
and so TO tAe country? Are not ministers more
IE-.ly % take fun advantage of their majority
aId % broaden and popularize their appeal
s;gainel the Lords by trying enact series
o1 .e-orn measures? If Mr. Gladstone. with
small majority in the Commons, did Hoe revolt
against the Lords veto OF the Home Rule Dill,
Sir Henry Campbell Bannern1an. with his big
majority, viii be equally reluctant 10 bring on a
general election prematurely over the Education
- So q h.. -4sr,ff
when trades uuionists. land reforners. the mu-
nicipaI councils and the Advanced Radicals are
cIanoring for legislation, and what proof has
there been in recent events that the Prime Min
ister lacks either fexibility or a true instinct
for leadership? Mr. Chamberlain without doubt
would welcome general election early next year
over the Education bill but the Liberal min
listers are not likely to accommodate themselves
to his advancing years and his devotion to Fiscal
Reform.
What Justification. moreover. is there for the
ccinion that the country will be more hospita-
bile 70 Mr.. Chanberlain's tariff policy next spring
than il was last January? The Labor party Ger
tainIv has not been converted to the reimpOsi-
ton of food duties, and the working masses are
as hostile as ever TO what they roughly describe
as bread taxing The Unionist minority IN the
Commons may refrain from blocking the pas
sage of the new law OF combination, ana the
Lords NAV even consent TO sanction II Win q
few verbal amendments. but the labor mem
bers will be less grateful 70 the Opposition Tor
acquiescence than 10 the government for revis-
ing the judge-made law trades unions The
tariff reformers canpot hope for the support
of working people until they have something
substantial To offer to them, and Mr. Chamber
lain himself being the witness in his Birrning
ham speech. there is nothing but the possibility
Of making sacrifices for the colonies for the sake
Of drawing them into closer communication with
the mother country. Let US trade with
another" ne exclains. with our relations
sooner than with foreigners who may be com
petitors and even foes. Let treat them little
better than those who are not near and dear
TO US and they will reclprocate, and with The
bond of commerce binding Us together We shall
soon fnd all the rest following" The privilege
OF riskng something in the price OF daily bread
and Of giving up some 'trumpery prejudice
that is already too old 10 live can hardly inn
press the labor members. who have their own
programme OF social reforms and know that
they must keep together and have the full
strength OF trades unionism behind them II they
are ever to carry IL out. They are in less haste
than MIR. Chamberlain. for they are in their
forties and fifties and have a full conscious