New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-23
THE TORY Leadership
IntriguaS Against Mr.. BaIfour-
"DItChers'" Revels.

I lament bin was passed with the ba,,
OF Unionist deseTters, who considered 4,
/ public duty 10 prevent the derrada,i,,
Of the peerage by creations on lavga
scale. faction feeling ran hirh md .he-o
/ were outbreaks of bad temper in ,s,
/ Conservative clubs. and fierce denuoeis-
I tions Of traitors and time servers r,
was expected that these vagaries ~ MA
summer madness would speedily ras.
and that Hedeers and Dltchers woyld
unite with oldtime ard0r Boz an agzras-
sive campaign against Home Rule pr
tiaans have been however in a wsi,s
/ heat OF excitement from which IL hs,
/ been impossible % cool off, Lord 4ais-
burys followers. when the constitutional
struggle was undecided. angrl.y resan,es
/ the imputati0n Of d.sloyaity % SIR Raj.
four. but now that the supremacy a.
I the Commons has been accomplished Nv
statute they are agitatiug for a chanzs
tn the party leadership. Thwar,ed /,
their iusensate folly ~ forcing the r,ulf,.
pllcatlon OF peers they are now whisper.
+ ing in secret and proclaiming In publlc
that Nr. Balfour must g0.
The indictment against Mr Bal,our
framed by an aggressive D!tcher In Tn.
Fortnightly Review has the rriac,pal
count that ne has NOT known his own
mind on public questions and is forcing
his guidance on a party which has lost
confidence in his fighting capacity. Hs
vacilatiOn was apparent when the
Chamberlain proposals for preferential
trade ami tariff reform were made and
he was NOT prepared 90 support them
. with earnestness and consistency. lie
PLAYED with these questions on the pre-
text that it was necessary first % an 10
/ keep the party united and 90 prevent the
secession Of the Free Fooders. and when
+ the Liberals came in with an overwheln-
ing rush IN 1906 the disastrous results
Of faint-hearted leadership were dis
closed. An organized movement Tor his
deposition would have been the logical
sequel 10 his lukeWarmness and hesita-
ton over tariff reform. He was allowed
90 retain the leadership and 90 discuss
colonial and fiscal questions with aca-
demc suhtlety. without convincing friend
or foe that he believed IN his heart that
a change Of tariff policy was either nee
essary or exped.ent The trouble was
! not that he failed 20 know his own mind,
but that he was conscious OF his lack of
faith in the Chamberlain policies and
TOO honest and sincere 20 make false pre-
fences.
Abdication might reasonably have been
imposed in consequence Of the leaders
agnosticism respecting what had become
the cardinal doctrine OF Conservative
faith That would have been the nau-
raj effect Of what "The Fortulghtly"
writer describes as MI Balfours habit
ual position OF inactive and moderate
Conservatism II is less reasonable
however, for opponents TO demand his
/ retirement in consequence Of his tenn
/ perameutaI slugsishness respecting
Home Rule and the Parliament bill
There has been no proof OF his i1stabil-
U
/ contrary. the conference OF eight broke
Up because he insisted upon having the
irish issue submitted 10 the general
| electorate and would make no compro-
mise on Home Rule ell around" Equal
ly futile is the assumption that he did
not know his mind and blundered hope
lesslv In the constitutional iub-oglo.
When IL was announced that the Prime
Minister had the guarantees ar Bal
four acted decis,vely and without hesi-
tation in supporting Lord Lansdowne
against the Ditchers.
Nobody thought Of describing 1Ir Bal
four as a wabbler when he headed the
Fourth Party of fearless free lances.
ard his force of character was conspic-
ucusly displayed when he was Chiet
Secretary for Ireland and leader 81 the
Commons. during the Boer war; Il
was not until the. Tariff EetCrm"rs az
tempted To- drag him against his convic-
lions into courses Of action which ne
considered unwise that he was Re-
preached for being tim0rous cautious
and inactive in leadership His preju-
dice against unpopular food taxes and
his dlsapprovaI Of the rejection OF me
budget by the Lords. and also OF me
reckless adventures Of the D.tchers'
have estranged many OF his most stall
wart followers and created a demand
for q leader with less personal charm
and sof-ress Of manner and more M
flexible viii in offering resistance -
progressive Radical.sm. The carto'@
makers. who have been car.catur.ns hin
for many years as am oVerero"n chlu
with a vacant. rabbi-.iEe face ara
homeless. elastic spine have succeeded
ir clouding his reputation as a states
man OF combative power There is
widespread revolt against hm as d
clever tactcian who seldom 1sa.s anu
is unsuited for the defence of the con-
sututon end the privileged classes DO
new period OF democratic warfare "N,"
Radlcausm is cheek.by iow with S'cl"i'
ism.
What is the leader of the new Tory
ism expected % do I'm tho coming cl.sS
Apparently he is 90 proclaim rslen'.s1a
and uncompromising warfare 's"N''
Home Rul. and To- excite religious iana,
ir.sm and racial hatred between Ne'A
and south. He must refuse 90 be ia.
vrirled into another conference. o'
be drawn into che slough OF oproriun'']
or ro the master heights OF palosopny'
There must De BOO surrender @. Che N,I
rond coalition with Labor and Riai11
ism. even If the passions Cd, 'a.
Professionalism are iuGamed and ci'n va"