The Washington critic., 1885-09-07

taking part in it. The idea of Spain
alone fighting Germany, country of
formidable military and naval strength,
always prepared for war, Is absurd.
The only nation that might join with
her i'm war against Germany, under
certain circumstances, is France, and
there seems TO be not even a remote
possibility Of that. The circumstances
do not exist. France does not care to
enter upon such q colossal contest just
now Those who are familiar with
her history know that one of her char.
actcristics is never to engage in war
fare unless she is out of debit and she
has not yet paid off in full the OBJ
legations which the Franco.Prussian
war thrust upon her.
The backbone of Spain is best shown
by two recent occurrences. A Spanish
man-of.war was at Nap when the Ger
man expedition arrived and her com.
mandcr had not even hoistcd the flag,
for which purpose he had gone so far.
lie allowed the German forces to take
possession, although the Governor of
Y0p asked his assistance in resisting
the seizure. Then the Spanish Council
of Ministers sent what is called an
"ultimutum" to the German Govern.
crnmcnt, requesting that 1t cvacuate
the Caroline Islands, Spain in the
meantime rcfraining from any material
occupation, "thus aifording u basis of
further parlcying.' The incident at
Yap and the ultimaum show the kind
of fighting Spain Is going 10 do.
MIR. Villas NOT 10 RESIGN.
The various rumors about the rcsig-
nation of Postmastcr-G General Villas and
his appointment as Minister to Austria
or anywhere else are as groundlcss as
they well can be. Mr.. Villas is going
TO stay; the country needs him in her
business.
According to the New York Times
these reports which pop up about
twice q week, are circulated for pur-
pose, and that purpose is of the stock
iobbing variety. The Times says that
Wall street is in much more eXcitnblo
state than at any time for n long while.
Outsiders have not, however, to any
great extent trusted their money to the
current. Under these circumstances,
says the Times, "thc withdrawal of
Mr.. Villas would have some influence
upon the mercurial temper of the
gentlemen who deal in Pacific Mail
stock" Ii is a good thing for public
officer to get himself dsliked by the
Wall street gamblers.
GOVERNOR HoADTY opened the
Democratic campaign in Ohio at Ham
ilton on Saturday in cain, judicious
speech, far better calculated to arrest the
attention and exact the approval Of the
country than the incorporate counsels
of his competitor. If we do not mistake
the drift of public opinion, this is no
time for Republican candidates to be
pitching hand grcnades and bomb-shclls
into the South as though it were still Il
great Confederate camp. Judge IIoadly
believes in the Administration because
it is for the whole country instead of
piece of it,
WE HAVE comparatively few of those
delicious stories about the Presidents
catch of fish that regaled us when cX-
President Arthur went out with the
rod and reel. But then the cX-Presi-
dent managed such things better than
Mr.. Cleveland does. lie knew the
fertility and genius of Colonel Mike
Sheridan, and took that gallant officer
along.
IN THE New York .Saadoy Gyapajc
of yesterday will be found page of
striking sketches of scenes along the
lower Potomac. Some of the Armenia's
passengers who "cXcurted" down the
river last week on that popular steamer
will recognize at once the felicity and
accuracy with which the work Of the
artist is done.
\ PARTY Of Bostonians travelling in
Switzerland saw an injunction 10 buy
their furniture of certain Boston
dealer written on one of the bouldcrs
of the Alps These Boston people are
so literary and highly cultured that
they must be writing about something
at all times and in all places.
--------------- -
GENERAL SHERMAN thinks there is
no more appropriate place than New
York for II monument to Grant, but
that it's all nonsense TO tall, about
spending million dollars on it; hun
dred thousand will do. The Generals
head is level. He wants to live to see
the monument finished.
As waste be expected the Govern
ment failed to prove its case against
John Dickcrson, the late custodian of
the Pension Building Mr.. DickersOn
and the old flag are thereby vindicated.
Mr.. HENRY WARD BEECHER is out
in the yacht Norma to-day to see the
great international race and bets on the
Puritan.