THE FUTURE WINSTON CHURCHILL.

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1906, Page 4

THE FUTURE WINSTON CHURCHILL.

"Indomitable pluck, . irresistible push, and the cheek of a Yankee book canvasser" are the distinguish ing characteristics of the new Under Secretary for, the Colonies, Mr Winston Churchill, according to one ol his least unkind critics. His appoint ment to the post vacated by th: Duke of Marlborough has occasioned some surprise, for Winston Chur chill is scarcely the sort of man tr whom the atmosphere of Downinr street seems likely to prbve congenial. His brief but crowded car eer is probably known to most o.' our readers. He is only thirty-one and it is said, remarks our Londoi correspondent, that only his youtl barred him from taking Cabine' rank. Ten years ago he entered tlv British army, but he first saw ac tive service with the Spanish force in Cuba. Afterwards he fougM with the Malakaland Field Force took part in the Tirah Expedition and the Nile campaign, his descrip tion of which made a name for hie as a brilliant journalist. Then h went to South Africa as a war cor respondent of the Morning Post an<became quite famous by reason chic ly of his capture by the Boers, am his' escape fyom' Pretoria prison, and his subsequent book on the war Whilst his name was still f amiliato the people's ears, Winston Chur "' chill made his debut as a politician and at Oldham, in 1899, he march ed in victorious to the House of Con Dions.- He started politics ostensibly as a Tory, but he was at heart v Liberal, if not a Radical, and very soon found the Tory camp "impossible," He was continually at vari j ance with the leaders of the partj and last year openly crossed to tht Liberal side, and immediately de clared war on the Tariff Reformer; and their policy. He has certainlj proved one of the ablest champion;, of free trade, and as a debater har shown himself a match for any of the late captains of the Treasury Bench. His friends say he is "the coming man," and prophesy thai he will some day be Prime Ministei | He has certainly intellectual ability enough to fill that high post, but i ( may be doubted whether he has sufficient ballast to keep him on an even political keel long enough to gain for him the full trust of his party. (New Zealand Times).