New-York tribune., 1908-04-23
&C B" AS A LEADER
SOME PERSONAL NOTES.
By Henry ". Lucy C''Toby VI. P.D

L is a slight incident. attesting the personal
popularity of the British ex-Prime Minister,
that he was famIarIy known by a dimlnu'lVe
name To friends and foes alike he was ever
.C-B" Familiarity in the designation Of public
men IS not 50 common in this country as it Is
in a country where the Speaker of the House
Of Representatives is commonly known as
Uncle Joe" While he Yet with US IN
fighting form. Mr.. Chamberlain was usually re
ferred TO in the conversation Of political groups
as Joe" But the tone and manner Of reference
did not always indicate friendly feeling. Mr.
GIadstone's nickname. The Grand Old Man
originally bestowed in a moment Of ecstasy by
an enthusiastic admirer, was promptly adopted
by the enemy as an expression Of contumely and
scorn. In his own Cabinet circle the Premier
was formally and respectfully alluded TO as Mr..
G." Dizzy" was not exactly a term OF endear-
ment. But its common use was friendly fash
ion Pam" which eXhausts the list Of familiar
sobriquets popularly assigned to premiers Of
recent time, was a term Of almost afectionate
regard
Since PaImerston's time there has been no
Prime Minister personally 50 popular as "C-B'
came to be in the brief course of his incum-
bency Of the Office The condition of things was
the more strongly marked by comparison with
earlier stages. II would be impossible to eXag-
gerate the difference between his position in the
House Of Commons while he sat on the left
hand Of the Speaker and that almost Immediate
Iy conceded 10 him when he crossed over to the
Treasury bench To those who knew him from
early years. and had enjoyed full opportunity
of estimating his sterling worth, there
something painful in the treatment he received
while leader Of the Opposition. If demOnstra-
tions Of disregard and something approaching
personal dislike had been confined to the poIit-
icaI party opposite there would have been no
ground for complaint. The leader of the Oppo-
sition, however small may be his following. is
entitled to be treated with respect and courtesy.
If failure is made in this respect the RESPONSE
bility and the discredit lie with the offending
party
The bitter pill "C-B" had to swallow almost
nightly during the last Parliament was admin
istered by the hands of Liberals. He was habit
ualy wounded in the house of q friend. a de-
lightful conVersationaIst, admirable speaker
in sharp debate. he on field nights probably op-
pressed by d sense OF responsibility, formed a
habit Of writing out his speeches and. in def
ance of Parliamentary etiquette, reading them
at the table. Mr.. BaIfour or Mr.. Chamberlain
following in debate rarely refrained from a
sneer at this certainly unfortunate and, as was
frequently proved. unnecessary custom. Had a
taunt animated by a similar spirit been flung at
either OF these right honorable gentlemen there
would have followed instant angry shouts Of re-
sentiment from their partisans. "C-B" received
no such qualification on the contrary. when
he appeared at the table with his bundle of
manuscript the benches behind him and below
the gaugway began 70 empty. This state Of
things was made more painful to a sensitive
nature by the fact that when Mr.. Asqutth was
put up to speak the Opposition mustered in fun
salient points.
This was with slight variation the chronic
condition Of affairs under Obs" leadership of
the OPPOSITION. trial borne with marvellous pa
tience and no sign OF resentment. Within four
months Of his accepting the thankless post Of
leader OF the Opposition things in the House Of
commons had reached a. condition unbearable
nv any other man. 4 fussy group of Radicals
below the gangwsy were in open revolt. They
daily nouted the authority OF their leader. and
occasionally went out TO the division lobby
against him. In a signed article appearing under
p familiar title in a Sunday newspaper 1 com
rnented sharply upon this procedure "C-B'
wrote TO me: u do not foam and fret about 1t
ae much as YOU do. though I vince internally.
7 do not blame the active parties when self-con-
ceit leads them into these unruly courses be
cause they are acting only after their kind
blame rather the decent. quiet, well disposed
rank and file. who do not see the harm they are
doing in following them" When six years
later "C-B" as the result Of a general election,
found himself master of legions, dispenser Of
places and titles the member TO whom yelled
sllusion is made in this passage humbIy ap-
nroached him with petition for office in the new
ministry Had he been man OF the stamp
from, which ministers made no personal
memory of earlier days would have unfavorably
Influenced "C-B." AS he was not, ONCE was
,,-itbbeId But "C-B" benisnly bestowed upon
him a knghthood.
When in 1896 the UnionIsts we're routed at the
r,,Ils and the liberals installed in power by an
over,, helming majority it was 10y no means Ger
tain that Sir Henry Campbell BanneFman would
be Prime Minister The prize was his by right and
custom. But the group Of eX ministers long
seated on the irons Opposition benc: we're no