The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-08

Again there is an eff ,rt to get the con.
sent of Congress TO the esiablishment,of a
gun factory at Benicia. Representative
Hilborn asks for an appropriation OF a
million for the purpose. The times are
not propitiOus for appropriations, and the
Pacific Coast has suffered from snubs a
trifie pronounced as the result of not hav-
ing powerful influence in Washington as
against the other States. but there are sew
eral reasons why this expenditure, even at
this moment, should be sanctioned. A
factory on this coast is indispensable as a
base of supplies for the navy and land
forces. it is absurd TO depend upon Wash
lnston for artillery. The factory is not
large enough and IL is too distant. The
factory at BeHicia should be complete
arsenal In all respects for guns, shot, shell,
carriages and SmOkeless powder, and to
make 1t complete 2nud deal more than a
million is needed. With Mare Island in
proximity We should then have in San
francisco Bay, in splendid location,
tirst-class naval station. This is a work OF
public defense far more mpOrtant than
the erection OF fixed notifications. If the
Nicaragua canal were open tomorrow the
gun factory would not be less necessary.
The crimes at the polls perpetrated III
Troy, \. Y, must excite widespread at
tention. not only 10 the frauds. but to the
murderouS deeds Dy which the rascals
were prepared to su port them. Repeat
ing at the polls should not of course, be
possible did this and that happen TO pre-
vent it. The trite saying that the judges
should be unswervingly honest, intelligent
and Impartial and the police yigilant and
everywhere present is doubtless in the
mouth OF everybody, but as matters turn
out these essential conditions of a fair aud
re puta BILE election are very commonly
evaded and frustrated. All the precau-
lions taken against fraud seem To be nuga-
tory ID some places. and when an election
Is carried by violence and imposition 1t is
friRhttul task 10 undo he wrong. The
publication of politics will never be more
than pretense until such practices are
sternly put down by the leaders of parties
local, State and national. Those who
prOht by SUCH scOuDdrellsm are more re-
spOnsible than those who commit the acts
1t is tyranny worthy of despotic coun-
tries Ia corrupt days not tn let voters vote
as they please. Public opinion is TO blame
for Its endurance of such gross abuses.
Singing in the street for nickels and the
hope of coins of higher denomination is
a peculiarly Objectionable form of begging.
familiar 10 the cities of Europe and now
making Roadway in American cities. The
singers sometimes are musical, and then
they are professional, and are well re-
warded haphaZard. But more frequently
they have neither voice nor cultivation,
and bawl out sound and gibbeIlsh by
main strength. Such beggars are NUS
ance whose only design is to call attention
To thelr position in manner eXcruciating
to the ear. In Oakland Yesterday there
was the spectacle near Broadway and
QHt of fal hal nln fall
well dressed. singing slaves of something
in rauc0us, click-nOted voice and looking
plteOusly aron"d at the Southern Pacific
passengers. His attire did not bespeak
poverty, but respectable comfort BE haa
OF REM In his well-fttlng clothes, which,
however, had seen wear for some time;
his boots were sound IL unpublished, his
linen was clean, his hat brushed, and he
carried watch. This was not precisely
the guIse to melt the public with SYM
pathy, but lie sang on. Perhaps lie would
have turned round on any one who CON-
mented on his proceedings, and, like the
Spanish beggar, have haugntily rejOined
that he asked Tor money. not for advice.
AS a rule the sons of great state smen do
not inherit remarkable gifts. Nome of
Gladstone's sons shows transcendent prom
Use, but If marked ability has come to any
of them 1t is 10 Herbert, who. as his father
IttiitS lIOu TIC Stdet. II JoN hppOluteu 10
the first very high office he has held. He
is made First Commissioner of Works. an
Office which sometimes entities the holder
to be in the Cabinet. That, however, de-
ponds on the eminence OF the person. But
some day young Gladstone will be in the
Cabinet. He is able, conscientious and
popular, aud holds the adva ced views on
most subjects that would commend bin To
the democracy. The Irish members like
him on his own account.
1t raises a grim smile to read of the
manner in which the King of Dahomey
sent a message TO bis father. deceased.
The King believes IN some form of i'm
mortality. When a royal death occurs
the superstitious of the Dahomeyans de-
mand frightful slaughter of wives and
attendants. There is lake of blood Ia
comfort the departed. Button this occasion
his Majesty simply wanted to let his
father know that he was going to patch