The morning call., 1893-02-25

The attack upon John w. Mackay yesier-
day is doubtless attributable to some craze
operating in the mind of his assaiant. some
fancied wrong that turned his brain. There
are few miiionaires who do not run risks of
assassination. Ii is one of the penalties
they pay for success in a community eager
TO push ahead in life and make money
SOvereigns and capitalists with colossal ac-
cumulatons have this tie of danger in CON-
mon. They both get shot a.. Only the
other day man who fired at Queen Vic
tOria manv years ago died in a lnnatic
asylum. He was sane on everything but
the right TO the throne OF England, and
doubtless had he got his liberty he would
again have loaded pistol 10 assert his title
Admiral GherardPs squadron of cruisers
has arrived at Fort Monroe. Virginia. to
make ready for the naval review. Except
perhaps Portugal. Greece and Turkey. all
the powers OF Europe will be represented,
and the spectacle will be unique in this,
that never before has there been such an
International muster. Bigger fleets have
been seen, but not so many flags.
The Pacific Mail is reported to have In
formed the Panama Railroad Company,
openly and not cOnidentialiy, that, unless it
comes to terms and gives all needful accom-
modati0ns at the isthmus, a connection will
be formed with the Tebuantepec Railroad
Company. In the latter event there will be
the important difference that the Mexican
Government will not permit it to be collu-
siye. As4ong as there ia no monopoly no.
body need care much what happens. That
has not been the system in the past. OF
the grasping principles of Mr.. Huntington,
some evidence has been given before the
Congressional committee. When IL was
proposed that the linus traffic should be
dfarvu lr.N... Tr.l,e al.
offered and that additional steamers
should, If required, be put on either by the
Pacific NJ all or the Panama Railroad COM
pany. the answer came from Huntington
that this arrangement could not be enter
tanned. The isthmus traffic was to consist
of just such scraps as the TranseOntinental
A ssOciation could afford TO throw away.
Judging from the revelations before the
whisky trust investigating committee. the
quantity Of adulterated grog going down
the throats of the American public Is sh anne
lessly large. Too much of good liquor is
unQuestionably n vile debasement 70 mind
and body. but when a victim is overcome
with concocted rubbish and has locomOtor
ataXia in bad form he is entitled to ask
why such fraud is permitted. The Govern
ment undoubtedly loses large amount OF
revenue by the tricks of distiiiers and
agents. and the evil shows no signs OF abat-
ing, there being always some investigation
Cd hand.
Il Is understood that Professor Barnard
of the Lick Observatory. while he may re-
turn to the coast after his tour in the East
and Europe, will not remain at Mount
Hamilton. His retirement is a distinct loss
TO tie prestige OF the observatory. AS the
discoverer of fifth moon TO Jupiter he has
attained TO great distinction. But should he
get command Of the 40-inch refractor at
Chicago he may discover a sixth moon to
our colossal planetary relative. A lens 60
inches ia diameter would open our eyes to
many wonders unTevealed.
The reciprocity negotiations with Canada
have been brought up in the Dominion
Parliament in rather an acceEtuated form.
An attack in vehement and virulent
language was made by ex-Premier Davies
of Prince Edward Island on Minister Fos-
ter for having presented a deliberate false
report on the terms of the negotiations. Mr..
Davies pressed his point by quoting from
Mr. Blaine's report and he fatty told Mr..
Foster that he had lied. This strong
language seems to have been taken meekly
by the assalIed Minis ter, who did not offer
any contradiction. There is no likelihood of
there being pistols for two and coffee for
one In the morning. The art Of harmless
French duels is not understood in Canada
ard it Is better TO fight with blood in the
eye, n Minister mus aTfdlBueO, however,
cannot remain silent on charges that he has
been recreant TO his trust.
Mr.. Gladstone has not been uniformly sue
cessful at the bye elections, but he has not
lost ground In any marked way. He is re-
joiced no doubt at having wrested seat
from the Conservatives at Cirencester.
While home rule is pending, and there are
ominous mutterIgs of wild defiance in the
north Of Ireland, the pulse Of the nation is
watched keenly for indications as to how
feeling aud opinion are running. Thus far
there is much distinctly favorable TO the
home-rule movement aud the bill TO give il
effect, but the real test of the Governments
position has yet TO be reached. Should the
Commons pass the measure, the House OF
Lords has 10 be reckoned with. Their lord
ships will, doubtless rejec. the bill. and then
crusade against the peers and their privil-
eyes will begin with much bitterness.
These periodical rows with the peers brush
away many political cobwebs.
Whether Arb0r day ever becomes vener-
ated by observance In California or not, It
is certainly desirable that ree-plantin g