The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-10
Being a RamblGr'S Observations on Things
in General.
English Eleotions-Raees in Colonies-J Judges
and Shorthsnd-Some New
Steamships.
written for THE MORNING CALL


edge of the worlds tsttle and news. Hence
we are all worked up into alarm about the
progress of the cholera in Russia, although
it is 5000 miles distant from California.
We take not only profound interest in our
own elections, but in those of Great Britain
and Ireland, and almost listen to the voice
OF the Grand Old Man Eloquent as he sInites
the Tories hip and thigh in his Mid
lothian campaign. The Parnellites and
RntiParnelliteS are also moving
spectacle of foolish antag0niSm In the
Green Isle, and ii may be said that millions
of people of Irish descent on this side are
rather discouraged at this bitterness. The
quarrel between Bismarck aud the En-
perOr has likewise had a deep interest for
the TeutOnic portion Of America. Italys
finances concern people who VIII never De
called upon to pay her debts. The reported
partition of Morocco is also matter which
agitates some people. Then we have
troubles in the Sandwich Islands and In
Canada and the Eastern States in over
Whemlng multitude, ana II Is All because
the telegraph and the newspapers WIZ IN
sist upon making the world kin. Until the
beginning OF this century there was time
for a good deal of passion 10 simmer down,
for it took weeks and months for news 10
travel. and it was by ne means accurate
when il Id arrive.
The English elections have fuctuated
somewhat and have NOT been the decided
march TO victory desired by the Liberals
from the very moment poll was declared.
II IS good Thing for every country TO have
al least Two strong, almost equally balanced
parties. for by wholesome criticism the
affairs of tie country are kept in an honest
condition. Nh Gladstone has probably OBJ
tanned a sufficient working majority in the
House OF Commons and that will encourage
task OF his life. To fail at this moment
means the RELOCATION Of the inevitable Irish
settlement 70 an uncertain future. lmme-
diately upon his death there Will be a fight
for the honor OF wearing his mantle. Mr..
joseph Chamberlain would ike TO claim ii.
but lie has behaved in so daslardly traitor
ISh a fashion that lie has hard pull to the
front as leader. One cannot help marvel
lug at MI. Gladstone,s activity in this au-
rumn Of his life. He has, according to
Beaconsfeld's phrase, long been renowned
for "eXuberance Of yeTbOsity," but il must
also be admitted that lie is first in line as
young man in old age, capable OF endurance
that few young men could 60 through.
Never before has the G. O. NJ delivered
so many speeches on a campaign. He is
not now engaged in the dreary task Of Gust
ing the bold Buecleugh" from the repre-
sentati0n Of Midlothian, but he is speaking
to the whole country from the Midlothian
platform. He has done the unexpected by
visiting Glasgow. and stirring up Liberal
ism, Radicalism. Orangeism and Catholicism
there, and doubtless at way side stations he
has raised his nelilfuOns voice in a saga
clouS way TO incline voters TO his fold. The
spectacle OF all this energy in a man So
years Of age Is magnificent. II might al
most be spoken OF as the ruling passion
strong ~ death. We're 1t not that the meta
phOr IS inappropriate, seeing that should
(. u
prove a rejuyeneScence Of his vitality
Nor is the old man at this vital moment
wholly occupied with politics. He finds
leisure TO think about the system Of the
medieval universities, on which he soon
proposes to lecture, and a recent magazine
article IS on whether Dante attended Ok
ford. What man Is this to lead a nation,
ana how tall will his monument be?
The Hen. Edward Blake OF Canada has
been Invited by Justin Mccarthy, John
Dillon, Michael Davitt, T. Healey and
William O'BrieD to stand for an Irish con-
stituency, and has accepted. Quite what
The honor means can only be guessed at this
distance from tie center Of action, but MI
Blake is very able man. and if he leaves
Canada for the old country he makes sun
dry sacrifices usually dear 10 men Of respon-
sibillty. The Canadian humorous paper,
Grip. says OF him: Though he will enter
party, no Canadian doubts that Mr.. Blake
will soon be recognized al something broader
and greater than that So far as we know
the men now to the fore, we have no hest
tatlon in saying that Blake would rank
first, after Gladstone. as a parliau entariau
and in such an arena he would shed more
glory on Canada than he ever could at
Ottawa. This Is certainly encourage ment
from the country in which you have dis
tlngulshed yourself In another part OF
,Fin hi al
rulers Appeal:
Come across, Teddy Blake. sure HiDernia's waiting
TO welcome you warmly and dad you a safe,
Aud 70 give to your gaHus its Wei-deserYed rating
In the very first rank Of the gallant great.
a recent article in THE CALL on the
French-Cansd Of Quebec. the French in
Louisiana and the French in Alsace-Lor-
raine indicated various processes of as
similatiDg foreign people under a change 0 {
government. The Canadians are French,
still the French Of Louisiana are Ameri-
cans. The French Of Alsace will i'm time
become Germans. There are three Islands
illustration. Jersey, Guernsey and SaTk
have long belonged TO Great Britain, and
to-day are, If possible, more English than
England. They are so close to the French
coast as to be within sight of it, and
1t Is good days steamiBg from S0uthamp-
ton or Weymouth to reach these islands
The native population is undoubtedly Nor
man or Breton by descent. The native
tongue, still spoken among the peasantry
On the orchard farms, is ancient Norman.
perhaps not very different from the French
of William the Conqueror's time ANY one
who can follow Rabelais or Brantome intel
ligently can pick a meaning out Of this
island French. Yet IT is language which
IS fast disappearing. Good French is spoken
ia the courts. and for any other purposes
English is preferred The channel island
ers also resent being referred to as French
They are proud of being English, although
their patronymlcs are never Smith or Rob-
ins0n.
Although so close to the French coast the
inhabitants of the Channel Islands are in
tensely British. The reason may be found
in the fact that they have been left alone
They have been allowed to do as they liked
with their own local affairs. They have
their own courts, their own land laws and
local customs; they are free from imperial
taxation. and they have no tariff upon i'm
ports. except as they themselves decree
This delightful freedom TO do as they please
has resulted In positive attachment to the
country that leaves them unmOested.
Were they Il part of France the Channel
Islands would be taxed in the same fashion
as the adjoining main land, and the newt
able military servltude would cause every
man to curse the fate which makes him
useless during three years. The islanders,
however, have their own militia under
pretty strict conditions of serYitude. but
then it is all on their own account, and a
man who will not fight for his own is no
man. Otherwise the islanders find their
best market in England for all they can
produce in early potatoes, vegetables.
grapes and flowers. Jersey, the largest
island, is just about the size of the county
Of San Francisco. SO thrifty Is 1t that land
produces three crops year and rents fire.
Guently at 500 an acre per annum. In
England landlord Is glad to get from So
to 81 30 an acre. But jersey has more sun
shine than any other part Of Great Britain,
and is noted resort for tourists.