The morning call., 1894-01-20

In discussing the proper tax to put on
wine from abroad it is not at all necessary
TO assume that France adulterates her ex-
ports wholesale and retains good wine for
her own consumption. When the phyllox-
era had reduced the product of the vine
yards to very small proportions the French
were compelled TO drink any kind OF doc
tored potable as vim ordinaire. Cider In
the cider country and wine in the wine
country the French must have, and chem
IstTy and fraud came TO the aid of the
dealers. Some years ago not half the wine
of the restaurants of Paris was genuine.
Ii was concOeted from all sorts of sutsti-
tutes and was spoken of as colored water.
But this year France has recovered her
vintage and has double the product she
had last year, She can supply her own
wants and still have much genuine wine
Tor export. III the poorer qualities are
allowed TO enter the United States at the
proposed ad valorem duty it will be pos
sible 10 undersell the average qualities of
California wine in the Eastern markets
This is an injury which would have cruel
results.
Editor Stead still fingers at Chicago
preaching or the abuses he has discovered
in municipal government and not afraid
TO strike extreme conclusions. There is
method in his madness when he exhorts
Chicagoans TO look into the railroad fran
chises they have 80 profusely sQuandered
away for no equivalent but extortionate
rates in most cases. There may be some.
thing left for the public if they will search
the charter ordinances. but probably very
little. But there are charters, dou btless,
which should be revoked and ALI new in
struments should pay toll for the privileges
The reform OF the Aldermen is, however.
task quite stupendous. 1t means tins ex.
tlnction OF the boss In our system OF poll
ties. and no comb nation of virtuous and
honest citizens seem equal to that achieve
ment Tor more than short season. Boss
Tweed Is dead, but New YORK has had a
| succession since his day. Mr.. STEAD il
very obllglng In nosing out all these ex-
cesses OF municipal government, but in
London, which he has deserted for the
time Deing, he has many fragrant abuses 10
gird at. 10 DO him justice he has never
been chary Of denouncing the crooked
ways OF turtle-feeding London.
The tactics OF the sports who are defv.
ing Governor Mitchell of Florida will
result in putting the chief magistrate in a
nice embarrassment if ne means to sup.
press the fight at all hazards. If the Cor
bett and Mitchell crowd monopoliZe the
whole roIling-stock of railway and run
out into the country twenty or thirty
miles, how is the Governor to put the law
| into effect? 1t is now almost settled tina,
the meeting cannot take place in jackson.
vile. But the Governors prohibition ap-
! plies to the whole Of Florida, and If his
authority is not to be Bet at naught he will
! have 10 seize the locomotives aud cars OF
the company the night before the combat
That would give rise TO some pretty lega
questions, and very likely riot In addi
ton. Pri Ze-fgbters CT former days had &c
study these sirategems and had no grace
| allowed them. The ring has had many
! favors shown 1t in recent years under the
! belief that il could be rendered respect
| able, but the yarnish of seeming deceDcy
thrown over it is getting worn off, anC
| pugilists have again TO take to the woods
The news from a German source tina
Russia is driving a wedge of some kind IL
the Grecian Archipelago and wants pos
session of naval base on the island o.
Paros will set Europe talking on wha
may be the next step. Russia as a nava
| power in the Mediterranean can only NEAR
that she wants to su ppress the Turk anC
take possession of as much of the country
to acquire. The Turk Is beyond hope as
power IN Europe except to the extent o
setting the real powers by the ears. AM
such Muscovite movement against Turkey
| would asSuredly precipitate d general wa
| In the Balkans which might easily involv
Austria. Italy and Germany, and Franc
would then take the opportunity Of reveng
she is preparing for. England is tied q