The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-11
LOOKING FOR
A LEADER.
English Conservatives in a
Dilemma.
The Cars Proposed Visit to Germany.
Strong Opposition of FranGe-BOOm-
Ing Chicago In London.
Special to THE MoKSINs CALI.

NEW YoPK. Oct. 1O.-A London CORE
spondent Of the Tribune says: "The death
OF William II. Smith, First Lord of the
Treasury, is a real misfortune for Lord
Salisbury's Government. He was one of
those men Of whom during their lifetime
some evil was spoken from purely political
motives and after his death nothing but
good. The final testimony is the true one.
No Enghshman, no English statesman, need
desire better euogy than is bestowed on
Mr.. Smith by his opponents. They recog-
nize, do not say generously, but fully, his
sterling worth, his good traits. his sense Of
honor, his devotion to duty. his able con-
duct of difficult affairs and the total absence
Of rancor in his dealings with party matters,
his fairness. his moderation and his invari-
able courtesy. To replace him will not be
easy. Probably no successor will be ap-
pointed just yet; perhaps not until the
house resumes next January.
If Balfour could be spared from the
Irish Office he would be the next leader of
the House. But to govern Ireland and to
lead the House of Commons at the same
time is burden too heavy for any man.
Bafour cannot well quit his present post
until he has carried or failed to carry his
bill for local government in lreland-one Of
the most complex of measures. bristling
with difficulties in every clause. The
chances are that Sir Michael Hcks-B
Will succeed Smith. He is perfectly COM
petent man. but with temper not always
under control
THE CZAR's VISIT TO GERMANY.
1t seems rs certain as any future event
can be which depeuds on imperial caprice.
that the Gar will visit the German Em-
peror in Berlin somewhere toward the end
OF the present month. This visit, should ii
occur, will be visit more of convenience
than Of ceremony, and is most unlikely to
have any bearing or influence whatsoever
on the relations between Germany and Rus
sia. The French press, however, seems to
think that the Car ought not to consult
even his own convenience If it takes him to
Berlin. Thpydiscuss this possible journey
as II 1t were kind OF inhdelity to France
and speculate upon it in style which the
Partisan press long since made its own
style, which too often combines high liter
ary merit with a total absence of common
sense. There are some positive rumors also
of secret treaty alliance between France
and Russia The President and his Cabinet
are supposed to be preparing this document
the time comes to disclose it to the world
True or false, the story has no great signif-
canoe. The attitude of France to Russia
will Lot depend on any written document in
the event of war, nor will that of Russia to-
ward France.
HARCoURT's AMBITION.
"Sir William Hareourt's speech at Glas-
gov shows not less plainly than GladstOne's
at Newcastle how near he believes general
election to be. Sir William Harcourt is the
candidate of the socialists and other more or
less red radicals in England for the future
leadership OF what is now the Gladstonian
party. They do not think him either So
cialist or a radical, but they believe his per-
ception of the political exigencies keen
enough to convert him when the time comes
10 any doctrine that to him seems likely to
command a majority.
BOOMING CHICAGO.
"The people of Chicago will be pleased to
hear that the existence of their city has at
last attracted the attention Of the most i'm
portent journal in Europe. The Times has
begun publishing n series of articles on
Chicago and its coming worlds fair The
first was devoted TO an account of Chicago
itself. The writer's tone is a little like that
OF Alexander Dumas when he discovered
the Mediterranean but his letter is full of
admiration and of statistics such as will fill
ChicagO's breast with pride and the English
with envy. The same vastness in style is
presented in discussing the fair itself, and
there is now a prospect that the English
man, slow as he is to accept novelties, may
understand something about Chicago and
be convinced that the big show will be held
there in 1898. There are signs also that the
English manufacturer will not hold entirely
alo0f."