The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-20

Congress can leave its business in such
shape as to avoid the necessity for an extra
session in May or June. The country will
regard this needless delay as trifing with
important public interests. The demo-
cratic party has gained nothing by the
foolish and laundering double recess, and
necessary legislation suffers. If the eau
Gus last night had brought the
democratic members to unanimous
agreement to keep faith and stand by the
decisions Of the commission the delay
would have been more excusable; but as
the party is as dissentient and distracted
as it was yesterday morning, or
even on Saturday, it is chargeable
with sheer imbecility and wanton waste
of time. Had the democrats of the House
acted in the spirit of the law the Louisiana
case would have been finally disposed of on
Saturday and the counting have proceeded
on that day until Oregon had been
reached and referred to the commits
sion. Had this reasonable course been
pursued the result of the Presidential cleo
ton might have been officially declared to-
morrow, leaving nine full days for necessary
legislation. The wasteful delay by which
the democrats gain nothing will damage
their party in public estimation.
Turkey and the Russian Policy.
Evidence seems to accupulate i'll support
of the theories of that party in Russia which
is understood to have urged that war is I'M
necessary for the furtherance of Russia's
views in regard to the Christians in the
Ottoman Empire. 1t was the argument of
these politicians that a condition of anarchy
was already initiated at Constantinople
which would so far paralyze the Ottoman
government as to leave it helpless to prose-
cute the Moslem purposes, and that thus
the mere opinion of Europe would prove
sufficient against it. As to the state of facts
contemplated by this theory-the anarchy
at Constantinople-th there is now no doubt.
Midhat's policy, which, under the cover
of constitutional forms tended to
the revival of the primitive system Of
absolute, was overthrowD by the energetic
dismissal of that statesman-an act in
spired, as he himself believed, by Russian
intrigues. He was followed by man so
much in sympathy with reactionary ideas
that it was thought necessary to announce
formally that his accession was not to
be contemplated as a danger to the
constitution. Now this man in turn
is followed by one whose policy is the
abrogation of the constitution, and the
evidence thus given of the domination of
opinions not in harmony with those of
young Turkey" has inspired again that
policy which has lately been SO effectively
applied in Constantinople of limiting
absolute authority by showing that every
Sultan has only one life On one
hand oil effort is against the most
vigorous party in the State, and the
effort of that party is to strike down success
sive sultans as they become the tools of its
opponents. Incapacity on the part OF any
one to organize and administer the govern
ment on any set of ideas is q necessary con-
sequence; for the parties seem so nearly equal
that neither can permanently prevail, and
they differ so passionately that compromise
is impossible. Every part of the public
service is of course crippled by this condi-
ton, and it should surprise no one to learn
that the Turkish army which wintered in
Bulgaria has probably 81 cred far more
from disease in two months than it did from
the Servians in six. But all the process to-
ward utter generalization which seems now to
menace Turkish authority would be suddenly
stayed by the vigorous prosecution of
Russian operations, and, therefore, Russia
is wise in making haste slowly. 1t may be
that condition will presently arise in
which the humanity of Europe will i'm
peratively demand that Russia shall advance
even to Constantinople in order to prevent
the determination of the Christian people by
mere butchery.