The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-13

way. An informer he will not be. Mean
while he is keeping cool in British Column
bia, and possibly writing book on the
secrets of smuggling by Custom-honse
entry. Some Of the firms who VIII thus be
benefited by his silence could well afford to
present him with a nice villa on Vancouver
Island 10 solace him for the eclipse Of his
fortunes in San Francisco
Tenniel, in a recent cartoon, represents
Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Balfour in bathing
costume undecided about plunging into the
cool water at their feet, labeled General
Election Budget day has passed and
there are still no signs Of plunge. Ap-
parently Parliament is to have its Easter
holiday and is to return 10 work for an in
definite period. But there is very little
heart III the programme. except Tor tactical
purposes, and all eyes are fixed on the constit-
uencies in the effort to gauge what they are
likely to do. AS matters go the budget does
not help the Government much. A surplus
is easily earned by overestimating the eX-
penditnre, and when the taxation remains
at the old figure the taxpayer keeps up his
constitutional practice Of grumbling. The
lowering of the duty upon sparkling wines
Is only boon to the privileged classes, who
do not need relief. and that change is not
likely TO put the workman voter In good
humor. as bis potatlons are confined To beer
or spirits. But if the budget has no features
country is paying its way honestly, and is
exempt from the deficits which are the
plague Of French finance.
The gambling in wheat which has been
entertaining Chicago and electrifying the
country has become less feverish and the re-
suits are not what was expected by the ring
of spectators, who endeavored to put the
head of the doughty Edward Partridge IN
der water. That indomitable bear seems
to have kept his opponents at bay on the
first day, as far as outward wincing went,
and on succeeding days he kept the market
turning in his favor until 1t rushed down to
the starting point and left him winner by
hundreds Of thousands. he can afford to
smile as he looks around at the discounted.
They intended TO run him to the wall, and
they find themselves sent Keeling back and
utterly routed. So the game Partridge re-
marks at the close of the fighting that he
feels ''l0yely!' Meanwhile the farmer reads
about this gambling in the wheat he grows
and knows well he has no participation in
the proceeds unless to make his situation
worse. The dealers and the railroads al
ways take their share OF a crop, and the
farmer often has little more than his labor.
The Ameer of Afghanistan is shrewd
enough to know the difference between
Russia and England as neghbors. He
openly says 10 his subjects that England
wants Afghanistan to remain as it is, indie
| pendent, as a buffer against Russian de-
signs on India. and that Russia would like
TO absorb it as a stepping stone to the great
prize in the south. AS the Afghans are
fiercely intolerant OF the foreigner, they
| possibly agree with their rulers preference
for England. Had Russia only possession
of ConStantInople-its real aim in diplo-
macy and intrigue being in that direction
very little would be heard OF an Invasion of
Hindostan. and the Amer would not have
much to fear from the northern colossus.