The San Francisco call., 1896-01-12

uDOU anu reprinted anu until TO-DAY the
advocates of some large and comprehensive
arrangement for permanent arbitration
tribunal have been having things much
their own way in the press.
To-day the Times, however, feels i'm
PEELED to call these people amiabIe vision
aries, and compliments It's New York cor
respondent on having poured on them
such wholesome shower of cold water
The dispatch alluded to explains at q
columns length all the minute difficult
ties in the way of such an arrangement.
This criticism is useful, no doubt, but
Lord Playfair much better reflects the
spirit of the hour, at least over here. by
more than a column of warm advocacy of
the general principle, which he does not
doubt, # once accepted, will readily sub
ordinate minor difficulties to their proper
place. Even the Times reiterates its call
for official papers on the boundary dis
pute, and also suggests that if President
Cleveland had asked for one arbitration up
to the Schom burg line, with the proviso
that if Venezuela won this England would
then consent to a second arbitration as
to that line itself, 1t would not have been
refused, but the whole debate is getting so
much in the air that it is hardly worth
while to follow its development.
A month from to-day. when Parliament
meets, there will be something tangible
from the British official point of view to
consider, and probably not before.
The arrest of Little Rosenthal. who by
the sheer vitality and energy of his native
impudence has been able to impose HIM
self on LIE Figaro and on Partisan journal
ism generally as an authority on foreign
politics, creates great stir in Paris. but
need scarcely be surprise For a long
time ] have been told this Jacques st. Cere
was swimming in queer waters and ulti-
mately would be landed high and dry. 1t
may be that there are some honest anti
English journalists in Paris, but it has
come to be the rule that the more violently
a Partisan writes and assails England the
more certain he is to turn up as a black
mailer and the creature of thieving syndi-
Gates.
1t is understood that some others equally
well known have been dipping their fin
gers in poor Max Lebaudy's millions and
[ hear also that the Dossier of the journal
lists who have been levying blackmail on
Monte Carlo are also in the hands of the
authorities, and this contains very noble
name, 1nQeeu- w lLn tQeSe rumOrS added
to the approaching opening of the Panama
lists, it may be understood why the Bour-
geois Ministry continues to hold more
than its own.
Although Paul Verlaine lived in his
most mature years as social ou tcast. his
funeral was attended by distinguished
literary assembage, including many
academicians, and Francois Coppee spoke
over his tomb of his Immortality being
more certain than theirs In England
this could not have happened, because
man of genius here must also be respect
able. Respectability has its penalties none
the less
To-day England has read with literal
amazement eight doggerel stanzas by the
new poet laureate on Jameson's ride.
which fail beneath the level of ordinary
country weeKlies' rhymes. The poem is
in outrageous taste from a public point of
view, but that is less noticeable than it's
grotesque literary demerits 1t turns the
authors appointment into national hu-
initiation before it is fortnight old. and
already the radical wags have shaped
questions from it to ask of Balfour when
Parliament meets. HAROLD FREDERIC.