New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-07
TWO COM M0NERS
Gladstone and Chamberlain
Tariff Reform and Home RUE
London. January 70

London. January 70
The parallel between the career =,
Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Gladsteos :,
close. Each entered public life a. co,
WINGED and fervid partisan Of one sar,~
and finally passed into the service ~ -.
other party. 1fr. Gladstone convs-zJo, +.
was a process OF 9 oIutlor from narra7,
minded. unfinchiag Torylsm INTO Bra.
zressive. democratic TSadicalism. NJ
Chamberiains TeversiOn from Radical
ism 10 Conservatism was more asrun.
since he became a strenuous opponsr,
OF Home Rule after negotiating se-rss4,
with the Irish group and attempting "a
force unauthorized programmes uuea
the Liberal government, get, havlp-
faced about. he did not pause FOR De-
liberation. but passed rapidly into tss
most commanding position - fasE.nes
in the party % which he had b~en a
rnerciIess critic and determined sdvsr-
sary Mr. Gladstone, after an exhaiIs,.
ing career OF public service. undertook
in his declining years Home Rule as an
act Of Justice and policy % racial re-
the champion OF tariff reform when :.
lacked physical strength for conducting
A great national movement. and he vas
sTayed By d noble ambition for uniting
the self governing states % the empi-s
Each was in hot haste % crown MS ca
reer with a splendid work for clviliza.
zion. Each was stricken with bodily IN
age before the supreme undertaking
could be carried out
In each instance there vas the pathos
cf a great career ending in 2 hopeless
struggle with physical limitations 5I-.
Gladstone could forssee clearly the In
pending struggle between the privileged
and representative houses; but Re zss
conscious OF hts falling powers and with
drew from public life when II vas
forced TO admit thar his WORK vas 1ons
He expected 20 have a decisive voice in
the choice OF z successor, and Eished 70
. have Lord spencer take Up the Home
Rule leadership. with honest John Nor
leg and Sir William Hs-court IS chef
Iieutenants; but Queen Victoria did not
ask his advice, and OF hs- own iniriatiys
sent for Lord Rosebery- I1r. GladStons
remained silent while the great YORK q
/ his old age fell into the background.
Priam-s last battle had been fougst
when he resigned the leadership He ID
not force his counsel upen younger var
riors. who were reluctant 70 take HD
sword and shield in defence Of his pria-
ciples. With serenity O. spirit he de-
voted the evening OF his life 70 co.,
genial literary occupations. enduring his
fnf-mitiss and diSa ppointnents Ike
veteran soldier Of the state and Isaving
the unfinished work, which vas close 20
his heart 70 the future with uneloutsd
faith that II would ultimately be carried
out By one political party Or by the
other.
Mr. Chamberlain, who successfully 81
structed Home Rule, mas destined 70
have the same hopeless bsttls with
physical weakness Thea ne required re-
serves Of power for converting English
men TO the cause OF tariff reform and
drawing the self-gov erning colonies into
close relations with The mother country.
trumpet for z generation was reduced
10 a whisper; the arm which had been
so powerful in aggressive political var
fare was paraIvzed: his sish- failed him,
and he was compelled 70 live as sn IN
valid either az Highbury o. n he r.
viera. He lacked Mr.. GIadstene's So
renity o. mind and faith in the ultimate
triumph OF his imperial policy. He vas
another Grand Old Man. but IN 2 greater
hurry so have the work 80 On While y
was still alive He could not stop; sCcf
life as remained was pIL INFO The csuse
From the retirement o. his library ne
kept in touch with the organizers snd
workers OF rs tariff movement Whsh
the crisis arose over the budget he gave
the signal for its rejection By The LORDS
and when the elections came OF ne ia
what he could 70 rally his followers D
an eloquent address 70 the electors q
West Birmingham and By a daily budget
of letters and dispa tches 70 candidates
throughout the kingdom. Priara vas
disabled and unable to venture OUT Oh
his tent but his indomltabls, teari7's
spirit was felt al along the fighting hhe-
Small and meanspirired was the pe
iitical opponent who was not touchel
BY the pathcs Of NIr. GIadsJons's roro-
tude when he was overtaken by physlcA
suffering and overwhelmed with co'-
sciousness OF political failure Edush
ccntemptibis must be the enoitte's'
partisan whose sympathy - not com
manded BY the heroic efforts q NJ
Chamberlain 70 rise above his ailments
and disability 70 secure rhe TRIUMPH
OF tariff reform. 50 strong vas the w
GRAMS appeal 70 the fighting instincts
EngIishmen that the local Lieersi OF
ganization refrainsd from putting up
candidate against him IN West Sirn1ins
ham. and he was elected without opp''
ton. When the general elections cAH'0
on. Birmingham in its eight cl7lsA'-
stood sOudly for tariff reform Win "
largest majorities ever polled there; sl.-
the MidIands generally rendered tri0e.'
70 the great leader BY supporting -
principles with increased ardor ana .
fectivensss.
As the careers OF the TWO great gun"
moners. the most resOUrcetul de'@'-
of their time. are analogous in many
spects. so also the Iabors OF their ei0S.-'