New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-14


Rcdif Pasha not very strong as to the relative
positions of Batum, Kars and Erzerum Hence
shadow of diSpleasure rests upOn the great military
Of the age. and he is partly superseded by the
ridiculous permanent Council of War. Nav this
shadow increase. We hear stories every day of the
Sultan that not very complimentary to MIN, ana
| see that many of them get into your papers. They
are interesting if true, but commonly not as
truthful as they are interesting. The Sultan's life
is secluded from popular eyes that these stores
have slender foundations. He is well-meaning
man. who would do very well if he had anybody to
help him. But he is weak, morally and physically,
and the members of the Palace Ring befool him con-
stantly The otherday the Greek Patriarch had long
and rather PLAIN talk with the Sultan, andafterward
the Sultan told Mr. Lavard that the Patriarch had
told him more Of the actual needs of the people than
he had ever before heard. "My Ministers always
say that the people are happy" said he. Mr. Layard
by the way. The Sultan very often-nearly every
week-and ought to exercise good influence over
him.
The Turkish Parliament expires to-day by legal
limitation, but has been continued ten days by In
peral decree This Parliament is the poor fruit
of the revolution of 1876, and the people pas
sionatey fond of it, There is reason to expect
that at the last moment the people will III some eff
fectvc way protest against the dissolution while
it is true been "ror ct prGtred nhH" But the Parl
ament has been less of a bear-garden than was eX-
pected and it has proved the possibility of making
an independent legislative body even in Turkey It's
proceedings have not risen at any time to the Dig
nitv of debates but they have shown that there is
good deal of sterling commOn-sense among the pe0-
pie which unites Moslcms and Christians on every
question involving a fundamental principle OF re-
form. In a dozen cases the bills introduced by the
Teactiouist Ministry have been rejected by MoSlem
votes joining with the Christian votes in champion
ing the rights of the people This fact is fun OF
promise for the future, If Turkey has any future.
The fanatics and the bigots,who oppose reform, are
the Ministers aud the officials The people. without
regard to their Islamsm, ready to 60 along any
road which guarantees liberty and responsible gov
eminent and the leaders have been venerable green
turbaned Moslems from the interior of Asia quite "A
often as educated Christians from Constantlnopie
The people of the country are being pressed for
money contributions to an alarming extent. The
financial distress on the part of the Government is
something terrible. and that of the people is ptiful
to see. Here in Constantinople not a day passes
without some hungry-eycd woman or child appear
ing at our door and crying for bread. If You go in
the street with ever small parcel in your hands,
you are beset with offers to carry il, finally ending
in the imploring waI "Please let me carry it; !
won't ask much, but | want some bread TO eat"
There are well-tO-do families who have not eaten
anything but dry bread for weeks and are thankful
to get that There are mothers whose babes dying
of starvation there are families whose young girls
are being bcsought TO 90 the street to beg bread,
and whose young men wander about the whole day
in search of work, and stagger home wearied and
hcart-sck every night with the same cry Chi
kdar-l couldn't find IT," This is the condition Of
many of the Christians of this city The same story
comes mp from all neighboring cities with cries for
help and 1t is evident that help must come to them
from abroad, or many will 20 down to their graves
with the blackness of famine on their faces This
being the condition of the Christians, the state of
the women and children left behind by the Moslem
volunteers and conscrpts may be imagined. Their
wretchedness is hidden in the distant villages, I'M
reached 10y any highway, and the story is unchron-
icled in any public print. There is imminent danger
of famine and pesilence coming in the track of tins
war.
The Circassians are at their old trade of selling
their children again. Last week physician was
sent for by a Pasha who lives over IN Scutari. On
arriving at the house the old gentleman conided to
him the fact that he had just bought ClrcasNlan
girl of her brother for GlOO upon the condl-
ton that physician should be allowed to eX-
anime the girl. who was nineteen years old, be
fore the purchase-money should be paid. What the
doctor was wanted for TO make this physical
examination Of the girl. The doctor, who is an
Engshman, with position in society that ought
to have guaranteed his lending himself to no such
performance, made the necessary certificate after
seeing the girl. and the sale was completed The
Fnglshman said that the girl was not particularly
pretty, but was simply well-forined, healthy
Young woman who seemed quite elated at the
thought of exchanging her hovel for the old scoun-
dreps palace.
WAR SCENES AND TOPICS