New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20

berlain chiefly as orator and debater.-
a master Of words II he had been only
that and nothing more his name would
not have meant to England what it still
means after five years Of eclipse. What
he has said has often been admirabl
but it is what he has done that has
given him his unique place with the
English people I will try 70 sum up in
sentences some Of his achievements and
begin with one which may commend
him 10 people who set a high value on
what they call practical politics.
He is the best electioneering agent
ever known in England l don't refer
now 10 those speeches on the platform
by which he converted TO his own views
great multitudes Of voters 1 mean that
he had no equal in devising and handling
election machinery. He founded. l be
neve-at any rate. he developed-the Ma
tional Liberal Federation a superior
kind Of caucus and q vast improvement
on the American caucus. which was sup
uosed 10 have served but did not, as its
model He established a permanent
control over Birmingham He extended
that control through the Midlands res
cued great constituencies from his OPP
ronents. kept what he recovered, and
the Midlands are still his First Lib
oral and then Unionist victories through
cut England were due in the first in
stance to him ana his power Of organ
ling political forces
he defeated Home Rule ir 1886 and
seain in 1898. In both cases he had
powerful allies. but I'm neither is it prob
able that without him either of Mr..
Gladstone's Home Rule bills could have
been beaten. The best TESTIMONY 1 ever
heard 20. M Chamberlain irmness
came from Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph said
Mr. Gladstone offered such conces-
rions 10 Mr. Chamberlain that / never
understood how he could reject them. l
should have given in. And l should
have wrecked the great cause which Joe
saved
Joe" is the name given him by both
friends and enemies, a name Of affec-
ton. and Of hatred that tried to be
contemptuous and failed.
He was the first Engllshman TO con-
celve. adopt and carry through that wise
colonial policy which has made the great
Colonies at the same time independent
end loyal AS Secretary If State for the
Colonies from 1898 to 1903 he gave effect
n the imperial idea which underlay all
his dealings with the Colonies. In pro-
1-orti-n as their control over their own
affairs became complete their relations
IN the Mother Country became closer.
They became, in a new sense. integral
r5rts Of the British Empire. They
ceased 10 be Colonies. and became Com
mouwealths or Dominions momen-
tous change. II was Mr.. Chamberlain
work He planted and he watered. and
the ripening harvest of to-day when
these great States meet in Imperial Con-
ference IN London. the Prime Minister Of
Great Britain presiding. and debate
great questions Of Imperial concern on
even terms, is "Joes' harvest ASK
Canada. in the pride Of her Dominion
v-5s- she thinks Of Mr. Chamberlain.
Ask Australia. now q Commonwealth.
ASK whom YOU will take it no name
stands higher. no Englishman Is recog-
rized as a greater benefactor
7 can think Of but one man who has
done a work comparable 10 Mr.. Cham
herlain's. and that is Cecil Rhodes not
n South Africa only, for the example
and inspiration Of Cecil Rhodes were far
reaching. The two men wrought TO-
sether. equal partners in the great
enterprise of Empire building. II has
been the fashion 10 say that Chamber
lain brought on the South African war.
I have denied that more than once on
The authority Of the late Duke OF Devon
shire
1T was no more Joes war than IL
was nv war. We were all Of one mind.
Il was the Ministrys war
And IL had to be fought II the Empire
was not TO go 10 pieces. Kruger and
the Kaiser between them would have
turned all South and Central Africa into
& German principally.
He was the first Englishnan thor
ougr 10 free his mind from the worn
out fetch OF Free Trade, 70 adopt for
himself and. after years Of struggle, 20
force upon the Unionist party policy
~ Tariff Reform. OF all his acts this
was probably the boldest. You must
have lived long in England before you
can feel. even imperfectly the hold
which the superstitions Of Free Trade
still have upon the English mind, or
MEASURE the effort still needed 70 eman-
cipate not merely the multitude but the
leaders of the multitude from their
slavery 10 the economic fallacies which
Golden taught. The struggle Is not
over. victory hangs in the balance; Is
sues even greater have delayed its com
ing. the leader Of this movement Tor
free thought about free Trade is
stricken by the wayside but he has
never doubted that TarIR ,eform will
t-iyrnpb In that worldwide war OF
Tariffs. which is the greatest Of modern
wars, England ls not AoIeNci ~
alone Of all great Powers, defenceless'
When she arms herself with the weapons
by which only a great economic battle
can be fought she VIII owe them 10 Mr..
Chamberlain: Alone among great Eng
nshmen. or for a long time alone ne
looked across the Atlantic. learned the
lesson Of Protection. and Prosperity the
child Of Protection. in America; and
fanght n 20 bis countrymen. He con-