New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20

the foregone conclusions were TO De brought ABOUT
we have no clew, and are likely to have none
| -
The car now building for the exclusive use of Mr..
Barnums white elephant is to be sixty feet long,
No one elephant needs so much room as that. so
perhaps Mr.. Bamum could be induced to rent half
the car to another white elephant Here is hint
for the Democracy for the disposal Of the tariff
| issue.
A French Government officer IS represented as
stating that if China should oppose the cap
ture of Bac-Ninh, France would be in position to
demand heavy indemnity for the cost of her Oper-
atoms undertaken TO maintain her rights in Ton
quin There is no reason to dOubt that this is fair
expression of the dominant French opinion, for
almost identical declarations have been made in the
Chamber, and by members Of the Government. At
first it was modest question of trade then came
the alleged insult to the French Republic and so
from step to step the aggressive proceedings have
gone until at last NJ. Ferry himself does not hest
tate to declare that the annexation Of the whole of
TOnquin is aimed at. As study Of the evolution
Of international rights" where one of the parties
is weak and barbarous and the other strong and
civilizedpOwer this case possesses partcularnter
est, and it is evidently the final resolve to make
China paw the cost of this bold robbery of one of
her provinces. The whole proceeding has been one
fortunately there are plenty of presidents for it, the
pretence of rights" acquired by such methods is
little extravagant.
A Boston musical journal has offered a prize of
50 600 for the best opera. If it dirge instead
of an opera that was wanted what a chance there
would be for Holman.
The new Governor-General of the Dominion Of
Canada announces in his opening address to Par
lament at Ottawa, that the expenditures Of the
Government have been less and the receipts
greater, than during any previous year. This gives
the Dominion the largest surplus it has ever had
since the policy of Confederation was carried out
Now, a national surplus may have its inconvenience
when it is very large and offers temptations to cor
rupt0n, but in the present instance it is an I'M
mixed good in political sense. During the early
years of Confederation there constant deficits
in the budget. Financial success was essential to
the permanence Of the new political experiment.
When the Protection schedules were adopted, the
recurring deficit was converted into surplus and
this has been steadily increasing since 1879.
few more years of Free Trade would have led to the
dissolution of the bonds Of Confederation. PrOtec-
ton has been, in a real sense, National policy for
the Canadian provinces.
John r. Mclean is credited with having per-
suaded five Payne men to vote for General Durbin
Ward, in order that the latter might lead Pendle-
ton in the Ohio Senatorial race, and thus make
PendIetons defeat more humiliating. The vote
stood: Payne 48, Ward II, Pendleton Is, scatter
ing q Mclean was for Payne, but know he had
the votes to spare and manipulated them to crafty
his dislike to Pendleton.
One member of the Legislature has introduced a.
bill providing for an amendment to the Constitu-
tion prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intox-
lcatng liquors. Another member has introduced
what is known as the high license act which aims,
By putting up the price of licenses, TO curtan the
proportions of the liquor business and deprive il of
its worst features A third temperance measure,
which is now being perfected by two well-knOwn
lawyers of this city, proposes a reduction in the
number of saloons TO one in every five hundred of
the population and an increase of the license fee TO
$500. II will De remembered that the last Legisla
mro-DemOcratic in both branc hes-shOwed what
1t thought of temperance by amending the excise
law 80 AS to give additional freedom to free rum.
To be sure it wasn't very pleasant overhead yes
terday but it was simply adream of ecsatic delight
under foot. New-YOrk may not be a large city nor
possess much of harbor but it's phenomenally
clean.