New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-19

community like Brownsville, it ought TO DE
made rather serious matter to treat with such
indignity District Judge of the United states.
Destruction by fire of about two-thirds OF
million dollars worth of property is reported
in our dispatches. The greater part OF this,
at Fall River, was insured in different mutual
companies of New-England. 1t is plainly APP
parent that the losses by fire for the latter
part of tins year will be in as large II not
in greater ratio than those of the previous
months, which were much III excess of former
years. Taking this in connection with the fact
that risks have been in general accepted at
reduced rates, there is little prospect OF large
dividends from the insurance companies next
January.
General Grants mOvementsin Europe, wnlch
had become stale topic, now take on tFesh
interest from the popularity of his present
postion i'm France After refusing, Tor lear
of political excitement, to visit that country at
time when his presence would probably
have done no harm, he now goes at time which
seems even more critical, is captured by the
reactiOnary Government, and, an ex-Presldent
of a great Republic holds himself aloof from
the only true Republicans in France. 1t Is not
clear that General Grant quite cOmprehends
what he is doing. but it is evident that some
body has bundered.
Our Washington dispatches point out hope
full feature in the composition of the present
Housc. The narrowness OF the Democratic
majority puts it in the power of any half dozen
n III, - Of q
to defeat their party, whenever they
think their party is going wrong. Here ID
the very first month of the extra ses-
sion, the Appropriations Committee mas
suffered a reverse by the loss of seven Demo
cratic votes on the Army Bill and hereafter,
when the Democratic majority proposes some
iniquity or some foOlishness too great to be
bone, it is likely that there will again be han
n dozen wise men ready to defeat It, With
the right on their side therefore, 1t ought not
to he difficult for the Republicans, when the
question is one of good government ana not
of parties, to save the country from the De-
mocracy by the help of Democrats.
Irregular divorces by Jewish rabbls and
Polish priests will cease to be fashionable
among the poorer classes if a few prosecutions
for bigamv are pressed vigorously against
those who are on with the new love before
tbcv are quite sure that they off with the old.
The case brought up in the courts on Saturday
would seem to afford "A fair test OF such divorces.
The husband paid good price for his release
considerably above the market rate Ill such
matters on the East Side, and told his new
wife of the whole transaction. But the first
wife has come from Germany, asserts her
interest in her husband, and proposes TO prove
her property. If the dual husband with the IN
pronounceable name is convicted, the divorce
business will, perhaps, be left hereafter to the
courts, to which it belongs.
The capture of Kars, which is announced IN
an official dispatch, Is a great triumph for the
Russian arms. The rOut OF Mukhtar at Aladja
Dach on the 18th ult., virtually de-
cded the fate o. the fortress. Surrounded by
q large army, flushed with victory, the Otto
man garrison was utterly inadequate to guard
every vulnerable point in defences which
enclosed an area of ten square miles.
The flight of Mukhtar, and the heavy defeat
he experienced near EIzerum, must have COM
nleted the discount ture of the besicged, since
f,rtune of war would bring them relief.
The sortie which they made on the 9th
instant was evidently a desperate effort to
break the lines which were enclrcllng them.
The surrender of Kars gives the Russians con-
troll of Armenia, from AlexandrOpOl to Ere
rum, excepting the port OF Batum, which
still defes its besiegers Holding kars,
the Russian commander may dispatch more
troops to Erzerum or wait lesuTely until next
Spring, when Its fall could be more easily ac-
complishcd. Whatever delay may occur III
reducing the capital and the seapOTts, the
Porte may date the loss of Armenia from the
moment the Russian standard doated over the
Kara Dagh. ChiStendOm may well rejoice
that an historic land has at length been res
cued from the despOiler.