WEST SHORE.
Washington has a good start in eilucntionul mat
ters. The generous gift of the government of land in
every township for the benefit of the common schools
gives a foundation upon which tho public school sys
tem may securely rest for all time if tho gift be wisely
handled. Hut, beyond this, the question of a higher
education Beems well settled.. A number of years ago
a generous and philanthropic citizen of Seattle, dona
ted a tract of land in that city for a territorial uni
versity, and upon this site such an institution is now
maintained. This tract is now in tho heart of the
city, and its valuo is estimated at half a million dol
lars. It is now proposed that with the joint consent
of the legislature and tho donor, the land Ihi sold and
the money realized therefrom 1m used as an endow
ment fund for tho state university, an eligible site for
which will be donated, covering a larger area and ly
ing alunit two miles from the city. This proposition
seems satisfactory and will probably lie adopted.
Washington will thus be splendidly equipped, both in
its common schools and university, for giving its
youth a good education.
Thero seems now no doubt that the Union Pacific
will push its lino through Southern Nevada to Califor
nia, as has been asserted so often. Engineering par
ties arc being made up for field work early in the
spring, and at headquarters in Omaha it is the com
mon talk. There docs, however, seem to 1h reason to
question tho statement that tho road is headed solely
for Southern California. It docs not seem possible
that San Francisco can be passed by and a terminus
mado where not one-half the business could bo secured
that awaits it in tho city at the (iolden (late. Its
route through Nevada is directly opposite the best
pass in tho Sierra Nevada on a direct line to San
Francisco, and that it will reach out for that city is
not doubted by men who view the situation critically.
Tho Southern Pacific is preparing itself against this
new invasion of its territory, ami will next year build
no less than four new branch lines in the great central
valley of California.
If royalty and titled nobility go to the wall in
England because of the repeated scandals with which
members of the royal family and leading noble houses
have lxH-n connected, it will not prove that royalty is
any worse in our day than it was in the "good old
times," but that the world as a whole is better. No
one can read of the protligacy, cruelty and contempt
for tho rights of tho lower classes exhibited in former
times by tho nobility, and nut be convinced that any
thing now happening is mild i comparison, but the
JHH.ple have been growing, and it takes much !'' now
to bring out a protest from them than formerly. If
royalty is overthrown it will bo berauso it has not
been able to keep pace with tho people in their intel
lectual and moral development.
Senator Mitchell has taken the first practical step
in the direction of excluding undesirable European
from our shore, by introducing a bill into congress by
which the passport system will be adopted in this
country. Every foreigner, immigrant or otherwise,
who lands upon American soil must jmssess a pass
port from the authorities of tho country from which
lie came. The time when America could Is' made a
" refuge for the oppressed of all nation" has gone by.
If we continue to do so wo will soon liecomo the worst
"oppressed" of all and havo no refuge to llee to, Hy
all means let us close our doors to nil but desirable
visitors.
Itcports of the massacre of a party of Silurian ex
iles in a most brutal in fart a thorough Russian -manner
incline one to talieve the recent declaration
that political exile to Sils-ria is to 1st almlishod, and
to the further liclief that massacre I to In substitut
ed. The time may come when the clvilied govern
ments of the world will consider it their duly to com
pel Russia to change her cruel ways, nnd let us hope
that Secretary Tracy will get enough Iron clads ready
so that Cncle Sam can take a hand in the good work.
l'rince Mural has lowered his price and will ac
cept Miss Caldwell' terms, trusting, ns ho naively
puts it, to the pride of his souso not to let her hus
band In'coiih financially embarrassed. This is by far
tho most disgraceful of all the case In which America
has added to her stis k of second hand royalty. It
would In well for the girls not to be in too much haste.
If England conclude to disM-nso with princes, there
will be a great addition to the crop thrown uxin the
American market, and price will tumble.
Washington ladie having decided that deeollettit
dress.- will Is- worn at receptions, emigre can resume
work after the holiday and tackle the lartlf question
without fear of domestic complication to divide their
attention. If ladie want to d.iollar their dresses,
no one should object and the phylelan and undertak
er should rejoice.
All Europe I holding It nose, not over tho Un
don scandal, but Imaus. of an epidemic of inhViua.
If they neexe hard enough to send ome of their
uruU-t acros the Atlantic to Wher the Isak of the
American eagle, she may bo complied to lift up her
vii in shriek for liberty from KurHn encroachment.