The morning call., 1892-06-29


At last Lord Salisbury has dissolved Par
lament NOminally it is the Queen who
disselves Parliament, ana it is the Royal
Commissioners, II her Majesty he not pres
ent in person, who pronounce tie words OF
extinction, with prayer 10 the Almighty
for favor IN gratitude for patriotic services.
But ii is really he Cabinet which scatters
Parliament and sends the Commons 10 their
constituents, faithful or otherwise. The
writs have now been issued for general
election, and a week or so viii decide what
the b0TOughs mean 10 say on the hOme-rule
question. The counties VIII speak out
later, but a fortnight will be sufficient to
indicate 10 the observer bow the tide runs
in Great Britain on the mOmeutOus Irish
subject. Scotland viii probably be home
rule for Ireland, eXceptin fractional sense,
and England ought 10 give Mr.. Gladstone
substantial majority. As 10 Ireland, the
struggle there is unfortunately war or
factions. two Of which have the same end in
view, but differ about the methods. Ulster,
of course, will stTenuGusly sustain It's
ancient pIetenslOBS 10 supremacy IN any
thing irish.
An allusiOn occurs in Queen Nict0ria's
speech disSOlying Parliament to foreign
relations. In the customary formula those
relations with al powers are friendly. Com
ment is made upon the reference to aTbitTa-
ton Of tie Boring Sea difficulties. This is
simply an official claim 10y Lord Salisbury's
government, but IL deserves credit fer the
uegO tiatiOus. That Is a matter OF argument
for English constituents, and q matter OF
opinion for American critics. As matter
Of fact, Tie Queens 81 eech Is VIGOROUSLY
not a composition by the royal hand, or
c0gitated ln The royal mind. 1t Is an emaDa-
ton from tire brain Of the Cabinet, and is
rot an ideal. pure aud simple, from the
mind Of the Premier, but a twisted rope 10
which various heads OF departments con-
trii ute documents. When the digni6ed
document is finished the Queen hears it
read 10 council, and signs II as q cO1stitu-
ti0nal sovereign. Should she object TO pas
ages they may be modified, but she does
not alter them Of her own will. Alterations
have to be cOnsideUed by the Cabinet, and
would be very seriously considered II there
were anything in these documents beyond
formal statements committing nobody 10
anything, and in the main stere0typing the
piatitudes Of precedent Hence, on these
seemingly solemn occasions there are only
a few persons to look on at the ouietus Of
legislative senillty.
A battleship has been launched for the
United States navy. II is a modest infant
Of its class, and in tonnage at least ranks
poorly against the greater ships of other
countries. But the armament of the Texas
is decidedly formidable. and it may be
doubted whether her moderate displace-
ment exposes her TO much disadvantage
when pitted against apparently superior
vessels. The steaming power is respectable.
and the radius Of steering endurance is not
inferior to that OF many strong ships belong
ing to other countries. Battleships are even
yet huge experiment, aud Il is very doubt
ful whether smaller vessels, with high
steaming power and strong armament.
especially Of quick firing guns, are
not vastly superior aud preferable TO
she WeightY hUlkS sent 10 sea as floating
arseuals. The biggest vessels are no match
for cruisers, because cruisers can keep out
Of their way. The guns Of the biggest YES
sells also are so heavy that the service is
afraid TO fire them, ana not one OF them
could stand 30 rounds. They are in fact
Just as dangerous 10 the vessels that fire
them as TO the vessels at which they are
aimed. The general conclusion IS that no
ton guns are costly farce Oh board ship.
They look awful, but whether al the breech
or at the muzzle IS another matter.
Cholera appears TO have excited scare 10
Russia. The famine has swept over great
districts which are in the direct track of the
plague from Asia. 1t is needless to inquire
whether that famine should have been as
intense as it was, owing to the fact that a
vast quantity OF grain In Russia now seek
ing an export market might have kept an
emaciated population in good health had
the Government so wiled il. 1t is sufficient
TO recognize the fact that a stricken-doWn
population lies in the path Of the scourge,
and once cholera gets hold the havoc will
be frightful. Inevita bly, the well-to-dO and
respectable classes Will be bitten by their
own neglect Of charity and clemency. St.
Petersburg will pay toll for its remissness,
and the rest Of Europe may also be in
vaded by a calamity which Muscovite
bureaucracy might have mitgated if not
aveTted.
The japanese are appearing in the light
OF cOnquerors in the Hawaiian groups.
They are driving out tie Portuguese, and
the Portuguese are coming here as the
nearest port Of refuge. The explanation is
simplicity itself. Tie japanese are glad to
accept 0De-half the wages and even less
that the Portuguese receive on the planta-
tons, and believing their position may be
improved the Portuguese are coming 10
California. Unless something is done the
Japanese may follow them. They are land
ing on our shores at an undesirable rate
The fire which occurred yesterday morn
ing in San Francisco is good advertise
meut for the insurance companies. Nobody
should neglect insurance, for nobody knows
when fire may not sweep away property.
Hugh Flynn loses by the destruction OF his
c0ayard and stables 1000 and has no In
surance. A year ago he stopped paying
premiums. and quite lately he stopped en-
pl0yiBg q Waterman. just as he had
stopped these securities against disaster the
disaster came, and Mr. Flynn must now
lament that prudence deserted him in his
later wears of buSinnSg