New-York tribune., 1906-04-10
VETERAN VS.. Y0UNGSTER
"A Due[ an the Commons scith In
gratitude Behind 1T.
London. March "a

-n. most dramatic event since the opening of
-,..,,sr,snt has been a duel in two rounds be-
-, 9 veteran debater and an ambitious
,ester Mr. Chamberlain was the veteran
.o-,ansing IN the first instance the appointment
:, roval commission OF inquiry respecting the
ter, Of indentured labor IN the TransvaaI
,6 defending later in the evening Lord Milner
-roi,st a vote OF censure for authorizing the
aoreing OF Chinese laborers In violation Of
.-satv obligations: and the youngster who re-
fsd 20 him on each occasion was Mr.. Winston
cburchiU. Mr.. Chamberlain was for the moment
~ less interesting figure although he was in
,,s hest debating FORM speaking With his usual
rrencv and lucidity yet with exceptional force
=. a or,estness His skill as debater and the
,.r-ness With which he answers interruptions
ra as familiar as the white orchid worn in
..s cost. the preoccupied expression of the pale.
.,4afec+ual face and the play OF light accom-
-,,vfng his soathing sarcasms and reproaches
sor what he considered despicable attack upon
great public servant. Mastery as was the
-s-.ornoance-and nothing better could be wit
-,seaa ~ westnlinster-there was no comment
q, ,he gallery except that he was at his best his
,o,ce vibrating with indignation and scorn- ana
resistance from the hostile Government oenches
,,ereIv eoading him into more destructive criu-
-, ., what he denounced as a cowardly as
ssuif In eSC0 TOGQQ Ol Allc AN~A A4-NNA
,non the youthful defender Of the Government
.,.s r,,te5 against SO formidable an antag-
.,s, If was { supreme test of debating power
"a -esdiness Of resource. II Mr.. Churchill could
ia bis Ground against Mr. Chamberlain no
so-acast NJ his political future would be unsafe;
ne might aspire TO the highest distinction unoer
Che Crown and his noisiest hatterers might nan
him as future Prime Minister
=. must he admitted that the youngster passed
,b-ourh this ordeal extremely well. He had a
crowded house for each speech. and was re
vrarde5 with sympathetic cheers whenever ne
rojnted his forefnger across the table at MI.
Chamberlain and attacked him impetuously
His furry Of nervousness passed when the nrst
outburst Of applause came; and he spoke with
.hs ooolness and self-possesson OF an old Par
famentary hand. seeming 10 know 1ntultlNe4y
what partlsans on his own side wanted him to
saw ana heing indifferent 10 the responsibility
~ replying In detail TO the closely reasoned
criticism which had been heard. He knew his
ground when the Labor group cheered his
theatrical expression of abhorrence for an alli-
snce between cosmopolitan capitalism ana the
unmeasured reservoir Of Asiatc cheap laoor-
One round Of applause invited fresh reference
10 the English workingman. who had nothing 10
sell hut the sweat OF his brow; and as the voices
around him duivered with excitement he deIlV-
cred one slashing blow after another while the
veteran opposite stared at him with stony glare.
One reproach followed another; Mr.. Chamber
lain was taunted with wantonly provoking de-
bates On Chinese labor and with infiaming pub
ro feeling IN the colonies by forecasts of a fear
full catastrophe. then he was charged with ruin
ing South Africa and throwing it aside with
frivolnv when he was weary of history; and
finally he was caricatured as marplot plunging
into mad fiscal enterprise and politically de-
etroying himself Mr.. Churchill knew what the
Liberal benches wanted. was proved by the
peals OF laughter: but his audacity did not quite
overlap itself There vas a reversion TO official
responsibility when he declared that the Govern
Iuent would DO its utmost to promote the well
fare OF the mining interests and TO prevent any
deadlock between the colonies and Downing
Street; and in his second speech he refrained
from attacking Lord Miner, and, while con-
demning the f1oggng Of Chinese laborers as an
Official act declined TO pursue a political op-
ponent into private life Altogether It was an
amazingly clever performance, worthy of his
fathers most brilliant period. When Mr.. Cham
berlain speaks again in his most aggressive
spirit it will be Mr. ChurchilFs voice that the
Liberals will want TO hear.
Meanwhile Lord Miner without being named.
has been virtually oensured and Inundated for
g single act In a protracted career of most ardu-
Gus and brilliant service Mr.. Evans, the official
protector Of the Chinese went to him IN South
Africa and in the interest OF the laborers them
selves suggested that corporal punishment
should be substituted for court proceedings and
imprisonment in certain cases. Lord Milner
might have justified himself by declaring that
he had followed the advice OF a Just and hui
name official. whose duty It TO protect the
Chinese laborers but he has assumed entire re-
Eponsibility for action which he did not under
stand at the moment. and. candidly confessing
Tor il The matter might properly have been left
there, especially when he had been eight years
IN South Africa and had spent lifetime IN the
public service. Yet a single flaw in an honorable
career Of devotion and self-sacrifce has been
nagnifed into offence against unctuous recti-
tude as Mr. Rhodes would have phrased It. and
e great public servant has been subjected to the
not treatment from Parliament which will en-
courage viceroys and administrators to do their
duty for the empire in times Of storm and stress
hereafter The vote Of censure becomes little
short Of outrage when Lord Miner, after
twenty years Of exhausting service, has retired
10 private life, as Mr.. Churchill himself has ad-
mitted poor, and honorably poor" without
supporting the dignity OF his title. The due
between the veteran and the youngster in-
deed dramatic in interest. but the contemplate
question over which IL was fought has brought
with il the reproach Of national ingratitude.