The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-26
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Ex-Nlnister helps article in "Harper's
Monthly " on the Behfins Sci controversy ably
supports the position assumed 10y Secretary
Blaine. " These animals" says tile eX-yepre-
sentative at The Court Of ST. James in his allu-
sons to The deprepatiOns of tile sealers. " as has
been pointed out, are large and valuable prop
city, an established and proper source of Teve-
nue. aud of useful Industry, all soon to perish
unless the protection which humanity demands
can be extended TO them. Why should they not
receive it ?" Tins statement is amply substan-
tated by the recent reports of the catches Of
Canadian seaIers " Ii Is said" he adds, "that
the Government is prevented from discharging
This obvious duty because tie sea Is free; that
no nation can undertake 10 close the ocean
against The ships Of any other nation, nor TO
exercise over them, beyond three miles from the
coast, any paramount jurisdiction. This general
proposition viii not be questioned. The Secre-
tary of State In his correspondence with The
BRUSH Government on this subject, has under
taken TO maintain that these waters are not, as
between that country and the United States,
part OF the high or open sea; that by The former
treaty between Great Britain and Russia, right
Of jurisdiction over them vas reserved TO lhe
latter country and was conceded and acquiesced
in by the former, ana that the same right was
virtually set forth in the treaty of 1924 between
Russia and the United States. The British Cow
srnment, while denying this conclusion, admits
that whatever right Of This SOFT Russia had under
that treaty as against Great Britain, passed TO
The United states when they purchased from
Russia the territory to which it attached" Re-
ferring to Blaine's argument the ex-Mmister de-
clares that Ill depends principally upon his
torcal evidence, which must be closely exam
ined TO be understood, aud that evidence GER
Ianly tends very strongly to support the result
that is claimed by tie Secretary. II in TINS po-
sItion lie is right il is the END of the case. Be-
cause il brings these waters, as against Great
Britain at least, within the territorial jurisdic-
ton of the United States, not by heir geographic
cal situation alone, but by The virtual provisions
of the treaties among the high contracting
powers concerned"
The approaching session OF the Canadian Par
lament promises TO be unusually exciting and
the proceedings viii be watched with consider
able interest on both sides OF The Atlantic. The
Liher ais, it has been OF emily charged. are consid
ering a proposition 10 move a vote OF censure on
the Government for not disallowing the Mantle
ba school law, hoping by this move TO secure
more titan a party vote from the province OF
Quebec and consequently The defeat of The ad-
ministration. When the Legislature OF Manitoba
passed AN act ab0lIshng The existing separate
school system and substituting therefor the pub
lie school system of the United States 1t was
charged that 1t violated the British North Amer
Ican acT which expressly declares that provin-
ciaI legislatures have not The right TO deprive
the Protestant minority OF Quebec or the Roman
Catholic minority IN other provinces OF any
rights or privileges with reference to education
which they enjoyed al The time OF union. Such
proposition as that now attributed to the Liber-
ais would stir up The old race issue and the de
bates in view of recent events would be more
Than usually exciting.
Under the last silver act passed by Congress
50 o95, 900 has just been covered into the Treas
ury rs profit on the silver coinage. So far about
$4,000, 600 has been disbursed In Treasury
notes Ia the purchase Of bullion. and about
100000 ounces have been monthly coined into
silver dollars, the profit on each dollar coined
having varied from to 20 cents. Had the Free
Silver Coinage Bill become law this segnior.
age instead of being available for current ex-
peBdlures, would have been turned over to the
owners OF bullion deposited al the Mint for coin
age. The regular issue OF silver certificates
under the Bland act ceased with the suspension
OF coinage under that act, but there remain in
circulation $500 100000 OF these certificates
This amount, If tie views OF Treasury officials
are correct, may be slightly Increased by the Is
sue of certificates on the silver profit fund, now
roughly estimated at S5,0o0,000 year. or
course rise in the value of silver bullion would
diminish the Governments profit.
Although Germany sent forth larger number
OF peopl TO other lands than any Other country
of Europe. excepting the British Isles il was not
till seven years ago that she made an effort to
acquire colonial possessions. The colonial en-
pire, now greater in extent than the mother
country, was chiefly acquired through the me-
dunn OF diplomacy. Much OF the stock OF tile
colonial companies WAS taken from patriotic
motives, and now that The enthusiasm has sub
sized these enterprises are lanculslng. The
Reich stag refuses to be liberal with the public
funds, and investors fight shy OF colonial