New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-10

English papcrs still report the talk IN Par-
lament. and American correspondents in Lon
don cable home columns from those West
minister debates. But Parliament IS actuaily
in a deep sleep. and the source of influence IS
no longer situated either in Commons or the
Lords. Horatio Bottomley said the other day;
travelling a good deal in the train OF late
we have been amusing ourselves with ne"
game. We get into conversation with our
companions. ascertain where they live and
then ask the name of the local VI. 7. And
scarcely one Of them can tell US, That IS
how. in the words Of Mr.. Asquith. the House
OF Commons represents the considered Judg-
ment Of the nation
The men who create and carry through leg
islation to-day who run" Great Britain, are
expert civil servants. trades unionists and
journalists. \ sketchy article on prominent
Members OF Parliament would be of as title
value in revealing the leaders OF modern Eng
land as a character study Of bishops. But 10
tell what bits of public opinion the English
papers reflect is to show a cross-section OF
the prevailing and dominant popular mind.
Chesterton, the Journalist
II is fairer TO tell the story as a record Of
personal impression. because that is all it 49,,
anyway. So instead Of writing this like so
Geological report. ! will tell what like and
dislike about British journalism. | like Ches-
terton's paper. "The New Witness" since G.
H. c. has taken it over. Other men who write
like him have always annoyed me, as an
echo in the auditorium annoys audience
who want TO hear the speaker himself. | like
"The New Witness" because Gilbert Chester
ton seems to ne the best thing England has
produced since Dickens. like the things he
believes in, and | hate sociological experts
and prohbitonists and uhlan officers, which
are the things he hates. feel in him that d
very honest man is speaking, so | am glad OF
his views even when differ with them. He is
a useful corrective on public opinion, too. He
dislikes the servie state, by which he means
the coming orderly regmented Utopia, scien.
tfcally managed by Sidney Webb. That is
the kind of talk we need, because we-all of
US in social work (and who isn't a social
worker to-day ?)-are forever hunting and
marrying the poor. itemizing their food sup
ply. shading off the proportion of caloric diff
ference between starvation and undernour-
ishment And when we catch just the line
where the poor satisfy US that they can pull
through we are going to impale them with a
minimum wage. ] like his impudence to
NorthcifTe. because Northcifre is a danger
Gus sort of man in a modern democracy. He
is dangerous because he does so much good;
but ! will get around to him in n moment.
As a journalist Chesterton gets only about a
quarter Of himself into action. But even a
quarter of ChestertOn is a good measure. He
leaves out all Ills overtones. the lifting verse
and jolly stories and Incompatible essays
those flashes Of good criticism and eXultation.
He works very hard at his journalism. That
is why he doesn't do it so we'll as his care
less things. which give him fun. But for all
that there is no other editorial page in Eng
land or the United States written with the
snap. wit and honest humanity Of his para
graphs. | hope he won't blunt himself by
overwork. It would be an international loss
if that sane. jolly mind is bent TO routine.
England has need Of him. There is something
cosmic about English plans OF reconstruc-
ton. something Of the weary load of destiny
about their imperial commonwealth. It is a
pleasant thing to be able to remind ourselves
that the same race that produced Curzon and
Miner and Carson, heavy men. with a sense
Of predestned seriousness, after all pro-
duced ChestertOn.
pep" in Ireland
have TO jump the Irish Sea in order 20
find anything so much in earnest and gay as
THE New " ltneSS IN these months OF man
agement by one who tells me that he is the
worst editor in the civilized world, perpet.
uaIlv busy without ever being businesslike.
| think the little independent spirited Irish
weeklies are admirable. They sass the censor
and the Lord Lieutenant and the Castle. l
met some of the editors-poor men and nom
est. editing and writing papers in which they
believe. They seemed to me worth all the
sleek. timid New York crowd put together.
They have the same pep" which Golfers
Weekly" used 20 have. They speak their
heart out. then take the galley proof around
TO the censor and he slashes on: "seditlous'
paragraphs. and they publish about half their
heartful have seen these carved-up gal
levs. and the pleading, warning, threatening
lotters Of the censor. These journalists are