New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-08
TACTICS AND PRINCIPLE
General aspects of the Political
Struggle in England.
London. December "a.

London, December 20.
Can a great party live by tactics alone. or IA
principle it's life blood? This Is the broad
est question of political science to be set
tied in the approaching general election. The
official leaders each side have taken opposits
views of this fundamental issue Of party policy
Widely apart as Liberalism and Unionism nav
be- there is analogy in the two political situa-
tions. There sharp lines OF cleavage in each
partv The Unionists are torn asunder on the
fiscal question and have been kept together by
evasions articles and tactical manceuyres. The
Liberals are also divided Gladstonian Home
Rule and imperial policy. and have been dis
abled during ten years in opposition by rival
groups and divergent opinions. Each party ap-
peals powerfully to disaffecton the opposite
side The Unionsts have an attractive power
for Liberals who are disconnected with the
GIadstonian heritage of a separate Parliament
in Ireland and with the narrow tendencies OF
Little England feeling-a relic Of Cobdensm
The Liberals also command the sympathetic
support of Unionfsts who have been repealed by
Mr.. Chamberlain's onslaught Free Trade and
by Mr. Balfours evasive neutrality in playing
with the question at each end. The problem for
each leader is virtually the same. On the tao
teal side it is that of minimizing far as pos
sible the differences within the party. broadening
the common basis of agreement and attracting
the disconnected from the opposite camp On
the strategic side it is that Of rallying the forces
and effectively recruiting them by giving them
principles to fight for instead Of cautiously
manoeuvring for safe positions. Each leader,
taking up the problem in his own way. is trying
to work it out from opposite point Of view,
whether as detail Of tactics as a matter
OF principle.
Mr Balfour is a tactician who believes that
anything can be done by sheer dexterity Hav-
ing been in Office for a long period. he had ar
rayed against him many elements Of Opposi-
tfcn, and was at the disadvantage OF conduct
ing defensive and disheartenng campaign. He
boldly manoeuvered himself out Of Office so as
to avoid making a direct appeal to the country
end drawing the massed fire of the opposition
batteries. He anticipated q renewal OF faction
strife in the formation Of a Liberal government
and apart from Lord Rosebery's outbreak
against Home Rule he has been disappointed
in his expectations. He also shrewdly calcu-
lated the advantages OF forcing his adver-
saries TO proclaim their policies, and IN this
respect his judgment has been justified. If his
defensive operations have not been wholly con-
verified into an aggressive campaign the tactical
teneft Of attack has baen fairly neutralized. If
the Liberals now make general assault upon
the Unionst positions and achievements during
the last decade. he can head a similar attack
upon the course of Radical administration
which the new Prime Minister has frankly and
definitely outlined. There will be as much TO
talk against on one side on the other. Parti-
san diatribes against protection. war taxation,
wasteful expenditures. legislation for publicans,
UNCONVENTIONAL education without public control
and Chinese labor in the South African mines
will be met with countercharges of a separatst
policy for Ireland. Little Englandisn, encourage
ment of municipal extravaganza, taxation Of
land values, trades union plcketing and all sorts
Of Radical vagaries Liberals as we'll as Union
lists will be placed on their defence by this
clever manpuvring. and there win be fighting
ground in the eneTny's territory. 9Ir. Balfour.
with his usual tactical skill. has also sought TO
mass his forces on common ground. His speech
at Leeds was designed to reassure Free Traders
In his own party and to restore unanI1nity OF
action by a renewal of dilatory tactics on the
fiscal question. He does not repel any wavering
section in his own camp: he invites recruits
from disconnected Liberalism
What this astute tactician neglects to do is to
give his followers something to fight for beyond
the recovery of power. He maneuvres them
into a safe position where they attack the
Radicals and not be forced to expend all their
energies in seIf-defence; but so far as definite
policies of their own are concerned. they are left
to beat the air This may not be good general
ship when a large majority Of his followers are
weary of his bewtdering equivocations and
fnesse and insist upon having straightforward
fight for tariff reform. Certainly there was little
in the Leeds speech to encourage belief that he
was heartily in sympathy with Mr. Chamber
lains cause. Every sentence on that great issue
was double edged and inconclUsive, and the Cd
dress as a whole conveyed the impression that
he was still undecided and did not know his
ground. Mr.. Chamberlain is left at liberty to
conduct his campaign in his own way. and he
will not lack ammunition and aggressive fOrce
but while he is fighting with all his might, Mr.
Balfour so far as fiscal reform goes. is playing
an idle game of blind mans buff. In these cir
cumstances it is an open question whether sin
cere tariff reforrners who are convinced that
their policy is essential for the defence Of the
home market and the fusion of the empire may
not take more interest in defeating Free Traders
their side than in fighting over again
the battle of Home Rule. Indeed, they can hardly
be expected to keep up strict discipline when
they are ordered to run away from a great prin-
ciple which they consider worthy of the supreme
effort of a high minded. imperial party.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannernan on the other
hand, cannot be described as a nlasterfuI tactl-
clan. He allowed himself to be InanuuvTed into
office which he could not hold for month Win
out appealing to the country for heavy rem
forcements. He became Prime Minister after
making an unnecessary declaration GA Home
Rule that deprived him OF Lord Rosebery's CO.
opera ton, increased the difficulty Of drawing
the Liberal League vice. presidents into his
cabinet. and repealed Unionist Free Traders who
were hostile to the Nationalist cause Having
formed a government conspicuous for represen-
tative character and general efficiency. he has
ordered an immediate suspension OF the impor-