Last Saturday at Birmingham the celebrations began in honour of
Mr. Chamberlain's seventieth birthday and of his thirty years' representation of the city in Parliament. A procession, which included Mr. Chamberlain and the members of his family, went through seventeen miles of streets, visiting five of the city parks, where over sixty addresses of congratu- lation were presented. At the luncheon in the Council House Mr. Chamberlain made an admirable speech dealing with his municipal work, and emphasising the importance of local patriotism. On Monday he received a host of congratulatory telegrams, including one from the Queen, and addressed an audience of over ten thousand in Bingley Hall, when over a hundred further addresses were presented. For the general tone of Mr. Chamberlain's speech, his modest survey of his life's work, and especially his insistence upon the unity of all patriotism, whether municipal or Imperial, we have nothing but praise. The whole proceedings were marked by the highest enthusiasm, and to have earned such a place in the hearts of his townspeople is praesidium at duke decus for any statesman. Mr. Chamberlain's stoutest opponent will not grudge him such tributes, but will gladly join in testifying to the worth of a career which, however men may differ on some of its fruits, has been a shining example to all witnesses of the true civic spirit.
Previous page
