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

Rule" plan in course of preparation
would be likely to contain some provi-
eions contrary to Mr. Chamberlain's
stipulation. Accordingly. when at the
end of January MIR. Gladstone invited
Mr.. Chamberlain to accept a place in
his Cabinet, the latter wrote him frank
ly that he could not do so unless he
might have UNLIMITED liberty of judg-
ment and rejection" concerning forth
coming Irish legislation, since II had
bean minated 10 him that Mr.. Glad
stone was framing proposals TO which
he could not agree. NJ. Gladstone as
sUrcG him that he might have such lib
crtv in the fullest degree, and upon
that understanding Mr.. Chamberlain
entered the Cabinet.
As is well known. Mr. Gladstone.
when preparing his great Home Rule
bill. took no one into his confidence
but John Morley. the Chief Secretary
for Ireland. end presented il TO the
Cabinet in its completed form only n
few days before It's introduction in the
House of Commons. Mr. Chamberlain
thereupcn pointed out to Mr. Gladstone
that tn bill. in his opinion. tended to
impair the integrity of tho empire and
the supremacy OF the crown, and that.
1884. already quoted. he would be unable
10 support the measure. There was
nothing for MIN TO do, therefore. but
to exercise that liberty Of action which
Via. Gladstone had promised him. This
he did. resigning his place in the Cabi-
net. The whole proceeding was con-
siStent and straightforward, and the
epithet Of Judas" that was hurled a.
Mr.. Chamberlain for it from the Irish
benches on two memorable occasions
in 1888 and 1898 was without justif-
cation.
The UniOnist Leader.
The change wrought in Mr.. Chamber
lain by his split with Gladstone was
twofold. One part Of il was the MAX
ing him the leader Of an Independent
party. instead Of the follower of some
one else. The ether, and subiectiycly
the more important part. was the turn
ing OF his attention from insular to i'm
verial affairs. Just as he had expanded
from parochial into a national states
man, he now expanded from an insular
into an imperial statesman. For some
time after his resignation from the
Cabinet Mr.. Chamberlain stood very
much alone. Between him and the
Gladstonians there was open war. Be
tween him and the Conservatives there
was little sypmathy or confidence. Even
the other Liberal Unionists preferred
10 regard Lord Harrington as their
leader, until the death Of the Duke OF
Devonshire promoted Harrington 10 the
Upper House.
Then, indeed. NJ. Chamberlain as
sumed the leadership without chal-
lenge. The Conservatives also began
to make overtures 10 him, realizing
that he was both force to be recf-
oned with and man TO be trusted. He
was sent to this country in 1887 on
diplomatic mission to adjust the fish
cries dispute between Canada and the
United States. On the face of i. his
work was not successful. Congress re
fused 20 ratfy the terms proposed by
him. But his mission had two results
of great Importance; II increased his
interest in and knowledge Of colonial
affairs, ard it brought him into closer
and more intimate relations with the
Conservatives. opening the way for ar
actual coalition Of the Liberal-Cnion-
lists with that party n 1895. IN that
year. largely through Mr.. Chamber
lan's mastery political management.
the Conservatives and Libcral-Union-
ISIS carried inc EfTf'h' tltNAlbllN " an
overwhelming majority; and when. un
der the Premiership Of ord Salisbury,
Mr.. Chamberlain again returned 10
office he appropriately took the Sec
retaryship Of State for the Colonies --
the pre-emincntlv immortal portfolio.
Greatest Of Colonial Secretaries.
In that place he forthwith aggres-
sively began TO undertake for the
whole empire the beneficent works he
had performed for Birmingham and
had strivcn 10 perform for the United
Kingdom. His plan of "cultivating the
neglected estates Of the empire IN
dicated this, and he set himself about
its execution with Characteristic car
nestness. In doing so he FLASHED with
more than one, and incurred some or
those cnmities from which he never
shrank.
In the month Of June. 1897, the pres
cnce in London of the prcmicrs OF the
solf-governing colonies during the Jubi-
Ice celebrations suggested confer
ence for the discussion Of the political
and commercial relations between the
mother country and the colonies. sew
eral meetings were held at the Colo
NAL Office. under the presidency of Mr..
Chamberlain. and their success ~
largely attributable 10 the active IN
terest that he gave 20 them.
He laid down the principle that
within the different parts Of the en-
pire protection must disappear, and
that duties must be imposed for revc-
nue. only, and not for the protection
OF the products OF one part OF the
empire against those OF another part.
Bat the greatest Of the difficulties that
MIR. Chamberlain encountered IN MS
administration Of the Colonial once
were those arising from conditions IN
South Africa. At an early date he rea J.
Izcd the salient feature OF the trouble
there. Speaking in January, 1895, just
after the wretched Jameson raid, for
which he had been blamed but for
Which he was not in tho slightest de-
gree responsible. he said:
"ln the Trsnsvaal Republic the ma
iority Of the population pay nine
icnths Of the taxation and have no
share whatever in governing the coun-
,rv This il an anomaly that does not
exist in any other civilized community.
I believe II can be removed without
danger to the independence Of the re-
Dispute with Kruger
That was the gist OF the whole DIS
mute, but Mr.. Kruger could not realize