The New York herald., 1876-12-28
Contum acious Turkey.


Although the formal answer of the Sultan
as to his acceptance or rejection Of the re-
forms proposed by the conference was not
to be given until the session fixed for to-day
there are already some indications that this
answer will be an adverse one, and that con-
sequently the operations of the conference
will proceed no further, and that war will
follow.
1t is reported, for instance, that the Coun-
Gil established by the new constitution sat
yesterday for the first time and voted for
war. We are to presume apparently that
the Sultan in the performance of his part as
a constitutional sovereign had submitted
the proposed reforms to this body, rs re-
quired by the new law. Evidently, there
fore, if this body has in the performance of
its constitutional function advised him to
fight rather than accept the conditions it is
sought to impose, he is placed in q dilemma
by the very machinery contriyed in his
interest to take the wind out of
the sails of his European guardians.
He wishes to make it appear to Europe that
the constitution just promulgated is not
merely waste paper, and consequently he
cannot disregard or contemptuously put
aside the first application of its principles.
He must show the sincerity of Lis purpose
by acting on the constitutional indication.
Yet it is clear that he might wish at this
moment to be in possession of his full free
dom to accept the terms which united
Europe dictates. and thus his constitution
troubles him at the very start.
Our special dispatches also indicate that
there is little hope for peaceful answer,
the concentration of her troops in time as
affording the most substantial ground for
supposing that there will be no war. 1t was
expected that Russia would have three hun
dred thousand men in position ready to cross
the Danube by the expiration OF the
armistice--that is, by the end of the year.
There are that many Turkish soldiers,
it is believed, on the Danube be-
tween Widin and yarna, counting one
hundred and fifty thousand of the reserve.
These hold double line of defence, Of
which the second is the line from Shumla
to yarna and the plan of operations upon
which they are posted is said to have been
drawn up by General Klapka at Constanti-
nople There is no doubt that half of the
command on this line-one hundred and
fifty thousand troops Of the active force
constitutes first rate army. Prepared to de-
tend the country resolutely, this body is not
improbably also in a condition to make
f>~v orl cl
require, and it would be very unfortunate
for Russian prestige if the Turks should get
to Kisheneff before the Russiens at that
point got started for the Danube.
Considerations of this nature have evil
IDENTIFY moderated the vigor with which
Russia formerly made her demand for the
occupation of Bulgaria; yet, though she
may not push her case unduly, she certainly
cannot refuse to meet the full consequences
of the demands that the conference has
made upon the Sultan, mainly at her in
stance; and if, rs seems imminent, the
plenipotentiaries leave Constantinople be-
cause the Sultan refuses to indorse their
scheme, Russia, ready or no, cannot escape
the responsibility of her position.
It seems erroneous to suppose, however
that it will be even then strictly a case
between Russia and Turkey. The war will
then be to force upon the Sultan the accept
ance of the will of Europe Russia will be
the instrument Of that will, and if this in
strument should prove inadequate Europe
must supplement it with other Instruments
The Weather.