New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-25

submitted to the Divan, demanded two
months armistice on the part Of Turkey,
while it left the insurgents free to make
preparations for any future conflict. 1t
further required the restoration OF the
Christian houses and churches that had
been destroyed, the exemption of the
owners from taxation for three years,
and full supplies of food for one year. In
addition it required that Turkish troops
should be Withdrawn from all but six
towns till the complete paciication of the
country; and that the Herzegovinese
should not be required to lay down their
arms till the Moslems set them an ex-
ample in so doing.
1t is by no means marvellous that the
Divan hesitated to accept such humiliat-
ing terms, and that England openly, and
France covertly encouraged such hesita-
ton. Bismarck was in error when, two
years ago, he announced that Great
Britain had permanently Withdrawn from
all Intervention in continental affairs
The decisive action just taken by Disrae!i
and other statesmen Of the British Par
lament must have been a surprise to the
continental powers. 1t showed them that
they had been reckoning without their
host-that there was danger in sleeping
lion that could awaken, and efectualiy
shake the dew drops from his name.
Meanwhile the sofas and their allies in
reform had achieved bloodless revolu-
ton at the seat of the Ottoman empire.
Abdul Aziz was deposed and his nephew,
Murad Efendi, reigned in his stead. Fifty
boat loads of women, the wives of the
deposed Sultan, wept their regrets as they
elided into Punishment over the placid
waters of the Golden Horn. But the TO-
nance of their bereavement fades into in
significance when compared with the in
terest which attaches to the act out OF
which it grew. In the enforced dethrone-
ment of Abdul Aziz, together with his
subsequent death and the consequent
abolition of the seraglio as an imperia! in
stitution, the doom of Ismalism as a con-
trolling factor in Turkish politics is for
ever sealed. Henceforth political senti-
ment in Turkey is to be regulated less by
the Koran than by the code; the absolute
is to retire into the domain of the obsolete,
and an approach to representative respon-
sibility is to mark the era of new depar-
ture.
Thus it happens that while Turkey,
through friendly pressure from without,
and the spirit of political regeneration
which has arisen in her midst, essays to
place herself more nearly in line with the
great family of nations, the Berlin memo
randum has disturbed Europe's tradi-
tional balance, and the dock yards OF
England and of Russia respond to each
other with notes Of busy preparation.
Will the threat this activity implies cul-
inmate in war? We opine that 1t will
not, and though our material interests
might be benefited by a conflict OF the
kind threatened, we think that but few OF
our people really desire it to be precipi-
tated upon the world. Cloudier skies
than those now lowering in the political
armament Of the East have in times past
been dissipated into thin air, and we in
cline to the opinion that such will be the
case again. The "sick man" is not sick
beyond recovery, and the dream OF Peter
the Great is still nothing but dream.
But now, through the cloud, the hustle,
the threat and the clamor Of conflicting
interests come tidings of modification
Of the Berlin memorandum. Gortschakoff
has evidently had a serious interview
with Bismarck, and Germany exhibits a
desire to preserve the peace, endangered
by Russian intrigue on the one hand, and
an ;nconsiderate act of continental
diplomacy on the other.
Tie next act in the drama we await
with interest.