New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-18
Mr.. WINSTON CHURCHILL
An Interview with the Author of
"A Modern Chronicle"
n The London Daily Chronicle.

Perhaps" he said. the actual politi-
cal situation in America is not very well
understood on the European side of the
Atlantic, and perhaps it is worth eX-
planning. for what may follow. A moral
movement, expressed more or less in z
political form, is convulsing the country,
Ike nothing We have had since the Civil
War. It has sprung from the people and
IS making rapid. victorious strides every
where. ] think il might be likened to
your national uprising, the English re-
form movement Of the sos. It is not a
party cleavage, but something far deep
er and far bigger than that. The issue
Is as betW the generous, progressive
causes for which men like Mr. Roosevelt
and Governor Hughes stand and the
'selhshnesS Of the trusts which have
always sought to control the political
machine. The policy Of the timocracy,
as, thinking of an old Greek word. one
nay call the plutocracy. the business
trusts, has been to get hold of whatever
party happened to be in power, to capt
ure that party and use il for selfish
business ends. 1t is against this thing
that the country is rising in it's wrath
! oh certainly in its wrath.
! The people in general don't care
which party they vote for. but they know
what they want and if they dent get it
! from q Republican they will support a
Democrat a Struggle is going on be
tween the progressive section OF the
Republicans and the other section, and
much viii depend on its result. The peo-
pie have been asking. what vitaIly affects
the cost of living in America. that the
tariff shall be lowered to point where
il simply protects home labor. They
think they have been cheated on this
matter by the Republican leaders. and
they are stirring up the party. If the
progressive section of the Republicans
get control, good and well; if they don't,
[ q -s-f.r IF .1,-axx inc
its strength from both the existing par
! ties, and from all quarters will probably
arise. Until recently Americans, as
whole, have not really concerned them
selves with politics They have let them
drift. left them TO the professional poll
ticians. But the great waters Of citizen
ship are now moving, and the peoples
will has got to find its expression in an
organized Way-by dominating the Re-
publican party or by creating a new
party. There is no fundamental differ
epce between progressive Republican
and progressive Democrat of my age
we see the same road of advance the
same hope of public reform achieved at
the end Of it.
You would be astonished at what has
been done within the last five years or
so. Why, IN that time, in New Hamp-
shire. we have got most of our reforms
passed into law. 1t will take longer, of
course, to influence the legislation Of the
commonwealth as a whole, but it is only
a question OF time. Perhaps it should
be made clear that the demand for a
lower tariff in America is not to be con-
fused with the larger movement on foot.
The tendency of commerce in this age
is toward organization, combination and
that is clearly realized. People win diff
ferentiate between trusts and their pur-
poses. But we say they shall be regulat-
ed by the federal government in such
way that while they are able to make q
legitimate profit. they shall not be able
TO rob the people"
The name of Mr Roosevelt came into
the talk again, and of him Mr.. Churchill,
his friend and admirer, said: ct think
he represents the American mind and
its aspirations. There is, at q given
time. nearly always a man who stands
for and interprets the forward march OF
people He and second to him Gov
ernor Hughes have been rallying points
for the new forces at work in American
life. Mr.. Roosevelt is a man with great
power and influence, and no doubt these
have grown. rather than anything else,
while he has been away"
Now to Mr.. Winston Churchill the
novelist. only we shall find that his
writings are associated with his actiyi-
ties In American public life. He is, as
Mr. Anthony Hope said the other even
ing, the first of that company of Amer
lean story writers who have been reveal
ing TO america the greatness and drama
Of her own bistory. He has also been
revealing them to us, for Mr.. Winston
Churchill has won a sure and enduring
place in the esteem of English readers.
81 believe il to be the function of the
novelist he said, ito mold up the mirror
10 his countrymen, and have tried TO do
that-yes. I have tried to do it, More
oyer, ii seems to me that the aim of the
anglo Saxon novel has always been
character, tie presentation and, If you
like. the gloTifcation of character. Char
acter is the basis Of Anglo-Sax sue
cess, and naturally Anglo-Sagon novel
lists have constantly dwelt on Il. What
set out to do was to write a series of
books which should present as many
phases as possible OF American life. right
up 10 the present day That was and
is my mission, and the novel a Modern
Chronicle which I have just published
fell logically into this series; for in
America We are undergoing a tremen-
oous intellectual awakening, what might
I&irly be called q renaissance. It is q
very remarkable phenomenon, Of which
the political question is only one quick
eflifs. one aspect, one evidence. You
may see IL "a our literature, in our archi-
lecture. and we have even begun 10 see
& OF the stage: in fine II is showing
Itself IN dozen ways. IL is q national
ripening. leap not ia the dark but In
the light-yes, renaissance. Well If
may say so. ! have always felt very
close TO nay countrymen. thought IN par
2liel lines with them, and 7 have in nv
novels endea~ored n give g voice to all
tbat"