Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-19
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Not only workmen, but employers also, are feeling Chinese competition on the Pacific coast. Hop Kee & Co.,, of San Francisco, are said to have as complete machinery for shoe manufacturing as can be found in the United States, and at recent Crispins' meet ing in that city it was stated that the above firm, together with Hop Wo Go. and Hue Kai, are offering higher wages for the best skilled labor than are paid by the native American manufacturers. The American superintendent of one Chinese factory is paid $6, 900 year. and man who had re- ceived only $35 week recently went to 8 Chinese factory with wages of $50 week. The Chinese employers make contracts with their best workmen.
 With the return of winter comes @ revival of Russian fears of nihilism. Of the re- newed activity of the nihilists there are con- stant rumors in St. Petersburg. The author ities are said to be once more alarmed and are taking extraordinary precautions to pre- vent any surprises. Divers are kept at work dragging the canals to search for explosives that may have been concealed under the bridges which connect boulevards and main thoroughfares. The Gatehina guards have been doubled Although no immediate at tempt upon the life of the Czar is feared OF thought probable, there is, nevertheless, a feeling of insecurity which is shared by the police and by the members of the Imperial household. We'll informed European corre- spondents affirm that the revolutionists are ;e&1x hot of their misdirected but determined energy are occasionally cropping out.
 The largest torpedo boat afloat left Eng land for Copenhagen a few days since, hay ing been built to the order of the Danish government by Messrs. Thornycraft E Go. Her displacement is 55 tons, or 40 per cent. more than that of the largest torpedo boat in the British service but her dimensions are still within the limit which will permit her to be conveyed by rail from one part of the coast to another. Her armament is exceed ingly formidable, consisting of four of the largest Whitehead torpedoes, each of which carries charge of 80 pounds of gun cotton in addition to which she mounts Hotchkiss revolving gun. She has 8 coal capacity of Is tons, estimated as equivalent to 1,200 miles at speed of Il knots, and her full speed, as shown at the trial, as well during run of three hours as at the measured mile, is 20 knots, whion is two knots in excess of the stipulation.
 The Independent Republicans of Pennsyl- vania are thoroughly in earnest. They held a conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday and appointed committee of seven, who were empowered to select 8 committee of 251. which is to consist of one member from each Senatorial and Representative district Of the State. Independent Republican clubs are to be formed, and the people are to be invited to take active part in the election of delegates to the State convention. The ob- feet is to secure control of the State conven. ton which meets next year to nominate can didates for Governor and Lieutenant Gov ernor. The leaders make no concealment of their purpose. They say they are working for reform within the party, and that they will not bolt if the machine secures control of