The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-10
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Our news columns are very full to-day,
and will well repay perusal. We bring up
our dates to the ID instant.
The House Of Representatives refused
10 suspend the rules and pass the Grant
r. tirement bill. This was an ungraeious
act, as the old veteran who saved the
Union is reported to be in a dying con-
dition. Although he might not live long TO
enjoy the bounty of the country, il would
be cousolatory TO him 10 know that Il had
not forgotten his services.
The small majority which the Glad
stone Administration secured in the want
of confidence motion in the House OF
Commons is an evidence Of their great
weakness. But inasmuch as all the Far
nellites voted with the Opposition, the
Ministry think that they will be able to
pull through the session. We are dis
posed to think they attach too little sig
nlhcance to this vote. The Irlsh National
party happened TO be in accord on this
question with the public sentiment, and
their support Of the Opposition is not.
therefore, an exceptional proceeding. II
they had voted with the Government their
sincerity might we'll be doubted. Glad
stone disclaims responsibility for the
death OF Gordon, but the country will not
exonerate him.
The respondent tone Of General Gordon,
when he found himself apparently aban-
doned by his country, and foresaw his
inevitable end approaching, is very. pa
thetic. The survivors of the garrison OF
Khartoum had lost heart and hope, and,
under the circumstances, the detection OF
the Egyptian leaders is not to be WON
dered at England will reap o harvest Of
blood for the culpable lack of energy and
purpose displayed by its Governments in
this Egyptian business. II almost seems
as if the Whig-Liberal party were played
out in England. The Tories would fight,
but they are not in accord with the Demo
cratic spirit of the English people. The
successful Administration of the future in
England will be composed Of men Of the
advanced Radical school, who will main
tain the prestige of the Empire at all
hazards.
The death of General Stewart, wounded
at the battle of Abou Klea wells, is to be
regretted. He was a fine soldier and
daring leader. The position of the Eng
lish army in Soudan is very critical.
" Don't scatter your troops" Gordon
wrote to Wellesley, but the latter strung
them out in vain attempt to throw them
into Khartoum, and now they are forced
to retire, lighting for their lives at every
hating place.
A war cloud is gathering in Europe.
France and Russia are backing the Sultan
in his opposition to Italian occupation Of
ports on the Red Sea, while England re-
fuses permission to a Turkish squadron
to enter the Suez canal. Italy, mean
while, has an army corps ready to embark
for Soudan, in addition to 5000 already
there, and is getting it's navy and army on
a war footing. England has called cut
the militia and reserves, and is shipping
immense quantities of munitions of war
and supplies to Egypt. In Afghsnistan,
the Indian Government is brought face to
face with the Russian eagles, and an
Anglo Russian war seems probable. On
the whole, there is not any very speedy
prospect of a mdlelium of universal
peace.
Two moro war correspondents have
come to grief in Soudan. One gentleman
was wounded in the last affair between
General Butler and the Mahdi's forces,
and second is missing. Verify, it is not
ehild's play to be a newspaper corre-
spondent cat the 'front.' in Central Africa.
The conditions are such that every man
must be a combatant. Poor Burnaby
ordered a cavalry charge which broke the
square and resulted in his own death. II
almost proved disastrous to Stewards
command, which was glad to fnd shelter
at Korti.
Germany is increasing its colonial pos
sessions by the forclble seizure of addi-
tional territory in the Gulf of Guinea.
Apparently, the colored races have no
rights which the powerful military mon
arches of Europe are bound to respect.
The day may come, however, when the
fob rvfli ha E,,S
this will not happen in our time, we need,
not speculate upon the probable conse-
quences.
There is some hope that the Pacific
Mail subsidy will be granted by Con-
gress. The Senate has inserted clause
in the Post Office Appropriation bill au-
thorizing the Postmaster General to con-
tract with American steamship owners for
the carriage of the American mail by sen,
at rate not to exceed 100000 year,
but the House must assent to il, and It
has already stricken out a similar clause.
We shall know the result on the arrival Of
the Toxic next Thursday. 1t is Of the ut
most Importance to these islands to keep
up steamer communication with the
colonies.
General Grant will probably soon die
Of cancer IN the throat. This incurablS
disease has been induced by excessive
smoking; yet men will persist in using TO-
bacco in the hope that they may be among
the exempt tfremen," as it were.
The composition of Cleveland,s Cabinet
was unknown when the Mariposa left, but
II Is stated that he had determined to pass
Thurman by on account Of hiE age, This Is
great mistake. The accession of Thurman
to Office would have strengthened the Adj
mlnistration, but the railroad corporations
are bitterly opposed to him, and Cleve-
land is known to be g a corporation man.
Cleveland also opposes silver coinage,
as his Republican predecessors did. This
is mistake the second. The coinage and
issuance of silver money in the United
States will continue long after his Presi-
dental term.
Another outbreak against the Turks in
Yemen is reported. 1t was a small affair,
but IS not without significance. The
Arabs are stout adherents of III Mahdi,
and they despise the Turks, who are not
any better in their eyes than 4" inhdeI
dogs" Should FL Mahdi obtain a signal
success over an English column, il would
probably be the signal for general rising
of the tribes In Arabia.
Police Court.