New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-04

IT, or would not act upon il. and so
the dispute" developed into tedious
and ruinous war For this war Mr..
Chamberlain WAS blamed By his enc
mics and by some of his critics; but,
whatever the degree OF his RESPONSE
bility. his conduct in respect to South
Africa was at least exactly in line with
the policy which he had enunciated in
1885 in respect to lreland-to main
tain the integrity OF the empire and
the supremacy of the crown.
The creation of the Commonwealth
Of Australia and the preparations for
laying an sll-British transpacific cable
are TO be credited TO him. So in large
measure is the success OF the sugar
conference OF 1902. in providing for
the abolition Of the bounty system.
In brief. he applied TO the worldwide
tasks OF the Colonial Office the same
general principles OF adaptsbility. en-
ergy and enterprise which ne main
tanned in the screw factory and in the
Office OF Mayor OF Birmingham. His
evolutionary processes were a. consist
ent as the growth Of sspling into a
tree.
In 1902 Mr.. Chamberlain gave an
added display of his originality and
disregard for precedent b. making a
personal visit to South Africa for the
purpose Of obtaining al first hand the
facts OF the situation in that imper-
fectly reconstructed colony, and OF cf-
fecting. If possible. real reconcilia-
ton OF races after the war with the
Beers which was not fought 10 a
finish, but was ended prematurely.
Tariff Reform.
When Mr.. Chamberlain began &C
tively TO prepare for the fight over the
lntra-empire Zollverein he came out
boldly as an advocate Of the restora-
ton OF tariff on imports, with either
free trade between the component parts
of the empire or at least such prcferen-
tial duties az would shut out foreign
competition. In seeking TO carry ou.
this ambitious programme he net only
had 10 encounter the varying condi-
tons and conflicting interests in the
scattered portions Of the empire. but to
face split in his own party at home.
He found the Unionist party. as a
whole, unwilling or unable to adopt his
remedy for the evSs from which the
country was suffering, or to accept it
as the price that must be paid for pro-
spectivc benefits to be procured j.
soon became evident that ne could not
carry the Cabinet with him. Several of
his colleagues were strong Free
Traders: others. like Mr.. Bslfour, we're
willing to adopt the attitude Of an
open mind; but against the Cabinet,
which was divided against itself. were
the ants. Accordingly, Mr.. Chamber
lain, feeling that il he were out Of the
Cabinet he would no longer have to
fight with his hands tied and would
have full liberty to conduct the cam
paign according TO his own tactics, -e-
signed.
His action did not serve in he lcss:
TO loosen his hold on the popular imag-
ination. II there was anything else
needed to commend him to the people,
irrespective Of party, il was the
mingled apprehension and aversion
with which he was everywhere re-
gardcd abroad. save ir America. and
the profound and undisguised satisfsc
ton expressed in every capital of Con-
tinental Europe on the receipt of the
announcement Of his withdrawal from
the Balfour Cabinet.
The Minority Leader.
After resigning from the Cabinet Mr..
Chamberlain found himself leading one
faction of his party. while his oldtimc
associate. Mr.. Balfour. was at the head
OF the other. II was again eminently
characteristic OF Mr.. Chamberlain that
he should offer TO unite his branch
under Mr.. Balfour's leadership If Mr..
Balfour's branch would accept his tariff
proposals. Between them. accordingly.
they patched up a true which proved
to be effective enough for offering,
under Mr. Balfour. united opposition
TO the Campbell Bannerman govern
which meant that if Mr.. Cham
berlain had not obtained all he wanted
he at least gained some advantage.
His SEVENTEEN birthday was cele-
brated the following July with great
fervor throughout the United Kingdom.