Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-23
RUSSIA'S POSITION.
The Cxar Equally Rendy Ter Peaee or War
The Latter tho Popular Thcmc-Pians
Tor the Nloytmenl Of tho Army.

The Cxar Equally Ready fsr Pence or Wa
The Latter tho Popular Thcmc-Plau
tor tho Nlovsmcni Of tho Army.
The London Morning Post correspon
dent Mt st. Petersburg writes rs follows
The imperial court returned to 81
Petersburg from the South. Tia mn
iosty, who, owing to the excitemcn
caused by political events, could deriv
but little benefit from his recent stay i
Ems and Livadia, is still said to be sui
feripg. Since tho departure OF the Du
chess OF Edinburgh, to whom the en-
peror is so fondly attached, the ol,
traces OF melancholy have reappeare,
and again given rise to reports that til,
czar will either entirely withdraw from
State affairs or nominate his son regen
for timo. Tho Grand Duke Cesarc
witch already exercises great influence
on the political decisions OF bis father
whose pacific tendencies he decidedly
opposes. Tho exorbitant conditions
elaborated in cabinet council in Lii
vadia, presided over by the emperor
which aro to be submitted to the Porte
by Ignatieff, have been communicated
to the other powers for eventual sup
port, but have met with only very par
tial oommendation. If these PROPOSE
tions are not materially modified the
Porte will scarcely hesitate iu rejecting
them--a step Russia evidently seems t(
desire, although in consideration of the
deplorable state of her finances one
would have thought pacific arrange
ment of matters must be her sole aim,
In order to obtain means requisite for ar
eventual war, since foreign bankers have
refused pecuniary assistance, q com.ul
sorry loan at homo is meditated. Rumoi
says that in consequence of the bod
state of Russian finances the oistel
Won Reutern will be forced Vresign.
Stormy alterations have already taken
place between him aud tho minister ol
war, General Miliutine, in which the
Cesarewitch is said to have taken up the
side of tho latter. The only possibility
of tho preservation of peace is the want
of funds experienced by the government;
but it is to be remembered that this is
no sufficient reason for preventing q
war, for even bankrupt States have be-
gun and carrieI on hosti!ities for some
length of time. There arc at present
merely 17O,O00.000 rubles in gold and
silver in the Russian exchequer, a sum
totally inadequate to cover obligations
or to redeem the paper money in circu-
lation.
According to reports from Russian
military circles, three armies are to be
formed in case of war for attacking
Turkey, with the Cossacks for reserves.
One army, consisting OF 10000 men,,
under the command Of the Grand Duke
Nicholas, is to march into Bulgaria and
besiege the Turkish fortresses on the
Danube; the second, OF 100000 men,
under the Grand Duke Cesarewitch, is
to be drawn up on the Turkish boundary
as far as South Poland; and tue third, of
24O, 600 men, under General Boris Nell
of or. .uFkey. ~ TIVE In View we Of tie 'Wasiife mea,
sures taken by the government the en-
thusiasm of the people has even extend
ed to legislative bodies and municipal
corporations. On the motion of Dimi-
trii Ssamarip, the so-calied duma, the
common council in Moscow unanimously
resolved to forward an address to the
emperor, in which the feelings OF bound
less devotion and complete willingness
of all classes to make any sacrifices ne
cessary to preserve Russia's honor and
dignity and effect the freedom Of the
Sclav brethren Oh the Balkan peninsula
were expressed. The officers of the i'm
perial body guard Of Cossacks, in cele-
bration of their centennial anniversary,
also assured the emperor, i'll loyal ad-
dress, that in case of outbreak of war
they would only be too happy to extir-
pate the enemies of Russia. "One
word of your gracious majesty, and we,
The Body Cossaoks, faithful to the ex-
ample given us by our ancestors, will
protect with our lives your honor and
glory"
Preparations instituted by the Russian
government and almost feverishly con-
tinued seem to signify that war is con-
sidered unavoidable. An order has been
issued to all officers on half pay to hold
III readiness for immediate
action, and even generals on the retired
list havo been asked how far their
powers may be depended on for home
service. Hospital have been command
I'd to increase their beds and attendants,
academies to precipitate their
course of studies and arsenals to furnish
new uniforms and weapons to the army.
provision in bandages has
been ordered abroad, aud oven railway
;raffic to the Eastern frontier is limited,
IN order at the right moment to suffer
10 want of carriages for transport OF
;roops. The armor plated turret ship
Peter the Great has been Geographically
ordered to start for Greek waters and
DIN the squadron cruising there. The
admiralty ihave taken precautions to
protect the Black sea against an invasion
,y laying in as short time as possible
. chain of torpedoes in all harbors.
The fleet in the Black sea is rather weak.
Il only consists of the Popoffka Novgo-
cd before Sebastopol, the Popoffka,
Vice Admiral Popof, on the wharf at
yikoiaiew, several ironclad batteries,
ix schooners, some gunboats and few
team yachts.