The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-22
EDITORIAL Notes

| Australia Is getting up quite fleet for defense
purposes. Years ago ii was pointed out that IN
the event OF England becoming involved IN war
with any maritime power, the enemy could send
three OF Icur wat-shlps to eXtort ransoms from
the Australian cities under threat of lombard
meut or to capture her merchant vessels and
fleh shipments OF treasure. BY The agreement
made With the mother cUuniry. Great Britain
agreed 10 provide certain war vessels. There
are now regularly Ia commission as ships OF war
the Wolverine tue Cerberus, the Victoria, the
Albert Tue Palma, the Gayundah and the Pro
tector. 1 he first, wooden corvette was pre-
sentet TO the Government of New South Wales
Tie Crrberus Is an armed turret ship, carving
Tour 4-lnch eighteen Ton guns and forms the
nucleus of an armed fOtila for the defense OF
Melbourne. The guuboats Victoria and Albert
are armed with long-range breech loading guns
The Protector, belonging to South Australia Is
regarded as one OF The most powerfully armed
cruisers Of her tonnage aiioat. The Palma and
Gayundah. belonging TO Queensland are two
well-equipped gunboats. Besides these vessels
there are number OF torpedo-boaTs and armed
steamers now utilized for various purposes.
Many of those who claim that Salisbury made
Grievous diplomatic blunder in The Behrlne Sea
controversy by attempting TO bring The matter
before Tie supreme Court have recently pom
aeied over decision written by Chief Justice
Ma shall, wherein he declared: III those de-
parlmeBts which are intrusted with the foreign
intercourse OF The nation, which assert and MAIN
lain lis interests against foreign powers have
unequlFocally asserted its right of dominion over
country Of which 1t is In possession and which
IL claims under treaty; II The Legislature has
acied on the construction thus asserted IL IS NOT
IN Its own courts that this construction il 10 be
denied. A question like this respecting the
boundaries of nations, Is, as has been truIv
stated, more political than a legal question
ana III us discussion the courts of every country
must respect the pronounced will OF the Legisla-
lure IL Is consequently claimed that the In
terpretatlons placed upon rights OF soyereIgptv
ana dominion by the political branch OF the Gov
eminent are thus conclusive upon the judiciary.
provided 1t does not involve a violation of some
provision Of the Constitutions
If the report that President BaImaceda ia nra.
pairing Tor flight is true, the prospects are mat
me Chlleah feVolHtGnists VIII triumph without
o'oousheu' Inc blockade inaugurated by the |
, ,. gents mas no doubt crippled the Govern
-, N,au eIaily' Oy cutting of the revenue de.
i"eu from the nitrate trade TIdinys ~ tho |
satisfactory termination of the revn1, 80 |
piVf' acceptable news at home and abro,a |
DIS american and English capital Is deenly ,nta |
ested IN the shipment OF nitrate the exnarI 49,,
iquique reaching about 1000, 600 anmailv
The mystery surrounding the death OF ,sa
Duke OF Bedford, one Of England $ richest neers
has been cleared M by the announcement maj
lie committed suicide. The possrssor OF slm,st
lnps OF a peaceful mind and good bealrh His
possessions embraced 11S acres of land in Lon
DON on which were 29l2 houses. for which
enormous rents were paid, and estates in the
nilodie and west OF England almost as valuable.
.he royalties from the mines on his property be.
ing very great IL Is estimated that he left about
soo'oooooo for the benefit OF his heir.
FRANCES desire TO secure possession n, |
ripoIi Is ever gratiiied, the country would be |
iAeIy 10 start on an era of unprecedented pros |
perity SO far the constant succession OF Turk
Ish Governors with their ever-varying policies
mas been fatal to the material prosperity of the
country. TripoI Is the last surviving center of
the caravan trade to Northern Africa. being at
least zoo miles nearer the great mats of the In.
terror than either Tunis or Algiers
. one OF the measures lately discussed nv the
House Ways and Means Committee PROMISES tn
impose discriminating duty OF 10 per cent on
go 20 ,'porled from points west OF the Cape of
iiope. Inc blll Is designed to head of i'm
po'iatlons OF tea Via Great Britain and m n,ea, .
s'il'iinaiion OF 10 per cent which Canada
States. way vi Tue ohiteu