The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-28

to be country councils, also some central
machinery to relieve Ireland of the neces-
sity of coming to England for her lesser
local legislation.
For the moment there is nothing new IN
the international outlook, save that 1t is
shade blacker and more menacing than
week ago. The text of the Franco-Chlnese
treaty turns out to be worse than the Eng
lish expected. and its eyasions OF what
was agreed upon in the settlement OF the
Siamese troubles are so direct and i'm
portant that it is taken for granted that
Salisbury will certainly refuse the British
sanction. There are persistent reports
in Paris that the Egyptian crisis Is to be
forced forward at once by the joint action
of Russia and France, while at vienna
they profess to be in hourly anticipation
of tidings of coup d 'etat in Bulgaria ana
of general eruption in the Balkans.
Whole columns of telegraphic CORE
spondence daily elaborate these and slml-
lar complications in the London press.
They make sure, at Least, that whether the
trouble arises first in Europe, Africa or
Asia, some one will be able to say: " told
you So"
The foreigners who have attended the
previous sessions of the International Geo
graphical Congress are already expressing
regret that they did not know before what
an ideal place London was for such gath
ering. In no other capital OF Europe at
the five previous meetings had 1.-THE OF
the trouble to entertain them been taken
which is bestowed here. The new 1mpe-
rial Institute offers unexampled facilities
and attractions as a meeting place, and the
list of fetes, receptions and special enter
tainments, to be led off by George Curzon
and his young wife, at their big town house
next Monday, is nothing short OF bewild-
eriny to Continental experience.
At the formal opening last night the
most notable feature was the oratorical
ability displayed by the Duke of York.
He had huge room to speak in, but he
filed every part of it with his musical
voice, and surprised all by the excellence
OF what he SAID, as well.
The principal interest of the sessions is
expected to be in Mondays debate on
Arctic exploration, when paper by Gen
eral A. w. Greedy will be read, among
others, and in Wednesdays discussion of
the African problems. 1t is not known
yet what success will attend Delegate
RockhilPs effort to secure the meeting of
1898 for Washington. Perhaps there may
be some geographer present who has
known something about this Island of
Trinidad, which the British have grieved
the Brazilians SO deeply by Selling. The
most profound, conceivable ignorance
reigns here on the entire subject.
Old records of voyages have been ran
sacked for brief comments of passing voy
ayers, but no mention has yet been made,
either by the press here or in the dis
patches from the other side, of Prince
James I, who was supposed to have ac-
quired sovereign rights over the islet, nor
has there been the slightest discussion in
the English papers as to why the island
was taken, much less as to the rights and
wrongs of the question.
The project of an international postage
stamp, which has been talked about for
some years, is to be brought forward for
the consideration of the Postal Union by
the French Minister of Commerce, his
proposition being TO establish q manu-
factory and clearing-h house for such stamps
at Berne and thence to have them appor-
toned among the several States on the
basis of population. Heretofore the OBJ
lection that countries with deprecated
currencies or units of value fractionally
under cents would profit at the expense
of other nations has been accepted as I'M
answerable, and how the French get over
it is unexplained.
Only at this belated date in the summer
comes the first report of cholera III Europe
this year. An outbreak of rather malig-
nant type in Volhynia, which is on the
Russian frontier district most in commu-
nication with Austria, affords ground of
expectation that it will work westward
into the latter empire, but the prospect
seems to disturb nobody Things have
indeed changed greatly since dozen years
ago. when the appearance of single case
anywhere plunged Europe into doleful ap-
prehension.
British military circles are greatly stirred
| up by the controversy which has arisen
over Stands biography of the late Gen
eral Sir Edward Hamley. Colonel Maui
rice, in two articles in the United Service
! Magazine, has attacked it mercilessly in
crushing detail, SO that now only q small
minority who enjoy abuse of Wolseley at
any price, stand up for the book.
The Chronicle to-day says that senior
serving officers agree with one consent
that the work is complete misrepresenta-
ton of facts. In other quarters it is limited
that the publication of the work is con-
nected with a determined cabal against
Wolseley as the possible successor to the
Duke of Cambridge. 1t is certain now
! that the old Duke must go, and the Times
unfeelingly warns him that his whimper
| ing over the matter can only lower his per
sonal dignity, but some Tory papers,
notably the Standard, are emboldened by
the huge party majority in Parliament to
clamor for the Duke of Connaught in his
place. This would be very unpopular in
the army and in the country at large, and
the suspicion that Wolseley is being black
ened as a part of the game to keep the post
| in royal hands would create more bitter
ness than either the crown or Lord Sails
bury can afford to brave.
The long-discussed Carlyle Museum,
finally opened to the public, does not
greatly appeal to the local Imagination.
Possibly enough American pilgrims will
pay the shilling admission to keep the
house open, but nobody believes in rush.