Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-05

ticians.
It is expected that the debate over the admis-
sion of Dakota will be resumed after the Senate
meets, and it may prove to be one OF the fea-
lures OF the season in both houses of Congress.
The democrats have not forgotten that the adj
mission of Colorado, In 1876, gave the republi-
cans just enough votes to eject Mr.. Hayes, and
they do not wish TO risk similar experiment
in 1883. Moreover, to admit Dakota would
seal the Senate TO the republicans for four six
years longer. Hence, they are disposed to look
askance at the claims of the territory, and will
not yield to them until the pressure becomes
imperative.
Were the Inhabitants of the territory more
united in their desires the question Of admis-
sion would be far simpler. And doubtless these
divisions are more or less incIted and encour-
aged by democrats, who see In them an excuse
TO postpone action. We shall soon have the
matter argued shrewdly on both sides. Some
of the hardest battles Congress ever mad were
over the admission of new states.
It Is rumored that Parnell has pledged him.
self 70 support the tories in their scheme of
home rule for Ireland, but it will be wise to
wait till something more authoritative appears
before putting much trust in this report. 1t is
not likely that Parnell and his friends have yet
signed treaty with either party.
Meanwhile, in the prevailing anxiety on all
sides to reach u satisfactory peace the English
politicians might do well TO consider seriously
The points of Mr.. Ruskin's letter on the stua-
ton to the Pail Mall Gazette, an abstract of
which is contained in our special cable dis
patches to-day. Mr.. Ruskin suggests that the
Irish are artistic, and hence should not be
treated like clumsy boobies; that they were
witty, and could not be governed by fools; that
they We're affectionate, and could not be ruled
by cruelty. And Mr.. Ruskin might have added
hat fHat-a a H,l
The experiment of grand opera under perma-
nent home auspices, which is now interesting
New York. bids fair TO develop prosperously.
Last evening the opera of 1.-THE Tanning of the
Shrew was rendered at the New York Acad-
envy Of Music by the American opera company,
and the verdict of the critics this morning is
very favorable. 1t cannot be said that the
opera was exactly domestic in author text or
performers, but ii may lead to productions that
smack more strongly OF our soil. Theodore
Thomas, who conducted, is a good American
citizen by adoption, and many of the perform
ers may call themselves Americans. under the
liberal invitation this country extends to the
capable and well-intentloned natives of all
lands to find home among us.
The promoters of the new enterprise base
their claim TO support largely on patriotic
grounds. They cite the example of the far
smaller communities of Europe which support
native schools of lyric art and render the mas
terpieces of composers with fidelity. But in
most, IL not all of these cases. local talent finds
Its inspiration in national music. And i'm like
manner, If we are TO have n successful school of
opera ii must depend upon the development of
national composers. Even in England where
there Is a very large and wealthy musical pub
, lie, there is not only school of opera but
scarcely any opera at all. Last season in Lon
don was almost barren of the ordinary attrac-
tion of imported opera of either the Italian or
German school. This languishing condition of
the art is due, unquestionably, to the absence
OF English operate composers of the first rank
For, while Covent Garden and Drury Lane are
deserted and the high-priced exotics OF song are
silent, the national music and wit of Gilbert
and Sullivan crowd their snug little theater in
the Strand from one years end TO another
And nowhere do miscellaneous concerts espe-
cially OF sedate and semi-religious character
flourish more than in England. In q word
then, IL the American school of opera wishes to
1ntrench itself in national favor, it must not be
content with rendering foreign operas by the
aid OF foreign artists, but must develop native
composers who will have the same hold on the
popular heart that Verdi has in Italy or Gou-
nod in France.