The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-25
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Prominent Democrats are beginning to regard
the reciprocity policy with respect Don M.
Dickinson, Cleyeland's Postmaster General,
while iu Washington recently. expressed regret
that the Democratic administration permitted
such an opportunity to slip by without taking
advantage OF II. 1--WE made a great mistake"
said he, when We let the time go by without
starting reciprocity. i can see II now. We had
everything in our hands. too" As we'll known
Washington correspondent declares: THAT Is
fact. Congress provided for and President
Arthur appointed 4 South American Commits.
Sion. The three gentlemen. OF whom the late
Ex-Governor Thomas c. Reynolds OF st. Louis
was one, travelled all over Central and South
America investigating the existing aud possible
trade relations between the United States and
those countries. The Commissioners returned
and made an elaborate and an exhaustive re-
port That was in the first year OF the Cleveland
administration, but the dull, p0nderous mind OF
The head Of The Government wholly failed to
grasp The situation. He had Seer etary OF State
whose mental grasp was even then failing. and
he had no one In his Cabinet 10 point out the
possibilities. Down al the other end OF Penn
syvania avenue the strong men OF the party
were suking because OF the snubs they had
ceiyed At The White House. The late Richard
w. TOwnshend, better man than he ever got
the cream of being, hammered away on this
reciprocity idea with all his might, but he was
four years ahead OF his parry, and nothing was
done. lie next logical step after the South
American Commission report was The Pan
American Congress, which That report recon-
mended. but The whole Cleveland administration
slid away without a move"
1t Is interesting to note, in these days OF prep
aratiOn for the coming campaign. the struggles
OF The Democratic press of the interior 10 keep
up an appearance of inteligenIly discussing the
political situation, while the editors at the same
time avoid that unpleasant and impoiitic maneu-
yer technically known as putting ones foot In
it." The editors have difficult task to perform.
and the pitfalls that beset their way are numeT-
Gus. With Grover Cleveland and the Democrats
Of the East arrayed against unlimited coinage,
tie rural editor who was wont 10 entertain his
constituency with alluing diatribes on free coin
age and Government loans on turnp-lot securi-
ties now finds lie has been treadinC upon deli
cate ground Should he come out for limit ed
coinage and sound money he is warned that such
utteTances are Offensive to the solid Southern
Democracy and dangerous TO party interests.
Unable TO accomplish The feat of sQusrely strad-
ding these Issues. lie leaves ihem aud resolves
TO coniine his attention To demonstrating tie fall
lacies OF our present tariff system. He no sooner
attacks this, however, than he finds himself sud-
denly brought up standing BY the indignant
people OF this Coast, who recognize in The tariff
the only protection of their growing Industries.
he subsidies once more, aud thereafter contents
himself with sounding the praises of the ex
BufaloniaB. whose No. hat, No 10 collar and
No. II shoe are expected to lead the unterriied
Democracy to victory In 1892. The Democratic
country editor has fallen upon hard lines and
has our sympathy.
The law apportions thousands OF clerical ap-
pOintments under the operations OF The civil
service regulations 10 the States according 10
population. Each Individual upon entering the
service must be credited 10 some State and
POuniel States The
charge thai many have wTongfuly claimed resi-
dence in State which had not NIL its quota
may be well grounded. An attempt was made 20
guard against the evil by requiring an affidavit
as 10 the place Of residence and d certificate
signed by three reputable persons OF the locality,
but these precautions, 1t is asserted. have been
fraudulenlly defeated. Two Stale associations
have already begun systematic work to secure
their quotas. Lists of appointments accredited
TO thfir States are being prepared and where The
claim OF citizenship is not well founded alien
ton VIII be officially directed 10 the fraud. OHIO
is one OF the States now engaged In overhauliDg
lis quota. There are about 200 Government
clerks Claiming residence III Cincinnati and not
100 OF them. it is boldly asserted, ever lived
there. as II Is claimed the further West the State
the greater the Injustice California may profit
by searching inspection Of the appointments
credited TO her.
II the disposition OF Federal grand juries to
overhaul transgressors of the laws governing in
terstate commerce continues 10 gain strength
many shippers who have unjustly suffered from
the Illegal methods of grasping corporations
nay have the satisfaction of airing their griev-
ances and starting the machinery OF justice In
motion. In The course OF time much light too,
may be thrown on the methods by which large
commercial centers are deprived OF the benefits
Of competition by land and sea. Orders to pro.
duce documents and books would very often
have very startling effect.
There are some very odd shipments In the
commerce of China. according TO report made
by Minister Denly. The trade OF Ichang last
year included 1900 pounds OF tiger bones,
inVoced at $4,000. As celestial medicine they
are accounted tonic which puts into the IN.
valid degree of tiger strength, but II the in-
demnity claims growing cut OF the Ichang and
other riots are not all soon paid some OF the tiger
may be knocsed out OF the subjects OF "Kwang.
su."