New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
POLITICAL OPTIMISM
sigzs Of Wholesome Progress Ap-
parent IN England.


..,r,-;cians substitute dexterity for high minded
.--.esnanship. For a long time England has
49, ruled by tacticians bent upon outmanoeu-
.-,-r their opponents and winning advantageous
,,stiors for one party or the other; but in these
--ovs-7her days the u1ists have suddenly cleared
srsv snd higher levels o< political action and
stronger moral forces Of public opinion have
hAs7 disclosed Great personalities are not
missed in public life whsn the higher obligations
~ national welfare and moral issues are recog
-f-ed by leaders OF smaller stature Dull and
-ssrsorre as Parliamentary debates and plat
@,--, orsto-z nay be there is practical evidence
.ha- England is making enlightened progress
s-5 gaming increased prestige in the world
one r-oof Is the continuity of foreign policy.
g. F=v-z-d Grey has taken up Lord Ians-
s,v,es YORK and conducted II on the same lines
e. ~ tHe same tolerant spirit Foreign affairs
rsva bae- taken completely out Of party politics
A. psrf7ur speaks SIS warmly in approval Of the
,,,--e-- strlo-nacy q the Foreign Office as he
nigh II colleague Of his own were directing it
---- 7s--v system Is not allowed to impair the
x---z n The nations foreign policy Sir Edward
,-s- rzs horr political parties behind him L
r-;-fss -stlsr than Liberal diplomacy. and. as
:. z.-s rt-,self II creates abroad an impression
r ----s--ro-rh--sss stability and strength The
s-z-z- elections NAV come next year cr the
1sss- z-s75-5or that there viii be any change IN
=. s----- methods and objects Of British diplo-
- n there were sharp divergences Of party
----o- ~ foreign policy u-heu Paluerstor
.ss-,-s1sI5 and Gladstone we're alive there Is
- o-e 5-uIo--acy for al parties The moral
60 - un5re5 county Is behind y. and its
7s-s-zzs tas r4en enormously increased
& t-1s q 5tpIou1scv also holds good fer
-, 7or.-- There nay be teuds among The
zz-s-ziz z-5 navz. writers but the front
benches II rhz Commons are not divided or the
question q sea rc7ve- TIE supremacy q the
r-t-lsr nz--- = accepted bv leaders on both
sf5zs = essential - national safety. There IS
= s=-ee-,er- even CT the phrasing Of the for
--ulz---z- the nav must be equal 70 The com
tt-s5 ze=-s e rhe strongest Two rivals with Z
margin = Il pe- rant added Certainly the two
-zr=-- standard could ard ought 70 be applied
---= rac-tu-.v and less eggressivslv than II IS
v-=- -re rsvlsS of -he Tinted States and Ger
many z-e grouped for purposes q comparison.
81 -hz- IS 1o- n effective method Of proving
g Edward Crews contention that sea power Is
maintained for selt-r-orecrior- and not
menace o. any other cou1r-v But i IS great
Ez.- 70 have -re maintenance Of the navy &C
~e--=- ze --7a-I- hv one parz- bv the other
p --- supreme -zrcuzI interest Sea power -
-r= -=s----e behind British diplor1acv Fresh
reserves z-e u r. constantly supplied there viii
r ~ part divisions u impair The force cf
-zrz- n--l-v- z-5 foreign nations are 70 be i'm
pressed ----r -he stability and increasing
E--=---- ~ British ornaments ~
E7-= encouraging even than these exhibitions
e -z--lr-ls-- and non-ParJisaushiP in support
e foreign and naval policy IS the recognition Of
t1e --c-z obligation 70 have : concordat in edu-
cz-1o-z- strife Details gre not yet settled. and
t5=-= . nezE-e allowance Of time for carrying
ne- e[--z-Icn blu g the tag end Of the ses
sa-. azr unless al Signs fail. there viii Re
rezce aSre- prolonged enbittered controversy.
s-5 extremists so far apart as d. WAGE and
-c-5 Halifax and Lord Hugh Cecil will be
r-ze--esz - p-s-snr i The agreement which
-o5z-z-e srd peaceable men ct al religious
tc5-=s ~-z-t- Is coming because tolerance has
scr---=1 the dignity and force Of moral issue
TIE Archbishop Of Canterbury. the Bishop of
Southwark -he incoming Archbishop Of York.
n BISHOP II st Asaphs. and Other broad
--t-5== p-elates Of the English Church have
-=== --e movement Irresistible By meeting the
lzs5E-g Free Chu-chrren IN : generous spirit Of
s------0dztion. L-ntorist whips, who have per
c=5--e= The political advantage Of keeping the
QUESTION ope1 for the general elections. are
b-uz-e= aside IS blind guides Extremists may
-zzs z-5 imagine vain things until the com
--o--fse IS ratified b. both Houses Of Parlia
-s-- 5ut practical politicians are finding our
t-z- II Is dangerous thing 70 be o. the wrong
sz5e e z moral issue
tl.e Prime Minister has been most adrott IN
holding this compromise back while the hcens-
t~z Ill was under consideration Negotiations
Rave been conducted without observation and
2 gz-rT=-,en- has beer reached On give-and-taks
r----l-Les without public knowledge Of the oe-
sz--z n the end there is z new bill 70 De IN
t-o5uoed and carried through two houses, but
strn n a-7osphere Of Cancellation in and out Of
Westminster. II ought rot 70 be impossible 70
ts--le re question The Free Churchrnen VII
gs- popular control Of all rate aided schools and
- appointment by educational authority OF all
tszche-s without religious tests and they viii
have ne sEsu-ence that the cost Of such re-
lg.9w teaching Is may be allowed viii De leVleo
upo- TIE denominations and not put upon the
rates TIE Church q England viii receive in
eEcaz-ge f7r The control Of country schools and
t-e s-pct-c-nerr of teachers the right OF entry
s-C q giving religious instruction in Council
s-hcols where there is z distinct demand fer II
q -he ps-r y z considerable percentage OF
parents TIE Ronau Catholics viii have special
Ez1cs fer schools OF their OWL probably larger
81 AMOUNT than were originally contemplated
These are ne principal features ot the settle
rent IN which deno-inational losses and gains
ere ec---zblv adjusted NJ Asouith Il me CON-
Promise Be- sanctioned. VIII have credit for set
Ing the controversy after the failure OF two
bis, and 4Ir, Rurctrsn vii divide the political
hcno-s with hin, bv virtue of his fexibiltty and
tsct = dealing with SO many contentious and
casct-ate conuroversiaIsts and partissns- They |
hsvs been clever politicians, but behind them
have been statesrnanlike prelates and Free /
Church leaders Who have discerned the trend Of
the forces Of public opinion. and made peace /