Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-06-09
VOLUME XVII,

shows that the number Of adhrrcnts the payt
year is $3.50, against i9,SOs the wear prc.
yi0uS.
The latest news from Turkey is of an
exciting character. The long threatened
revolt of the fanatical Softas has begun and
Constantinople is being put into a state Of
siege to protect is own inhabitants from these
unreasoning religious zealots, who are bent
on deposing the sultan. The Turkish par.
lament will hold an extraordinary session Ia
take what measures it can to suppress the
rising revolution. Events are lust proving
the correctness of the statements Of Lord
Salisbury after his return from the confer.
encc The government exists by yunerppce
at the mercy OF a fanatical mob and while
the sultan is virtually poweress to resist it,
there is no responsible authority that can
enforce obedience and perform obligations.
And now when the Russian armies are closing
in on Turkey from the north and east, Rou.
mania and Seryia and Montenegro and other
P'''iN'N' "i' D'V"n 'hS away III open revolt,
and the Greek parliament is preparing to
Join in the war, ltcertaniy look asthough
the beginning of the end had come And il
squite remarkable that the war feeling in
England does not increase, if il holds its
own, while there are strong reasons for think.
ing that Germany and Italy have agreed to
support Russia should England interfere
in Turkey defence.
NJ. Jules Simon, member of the dis
banded French ministry, publishes a letter
stating that its downfall occurred because
he would not agree to the substitution of an
authoritative for parliamentary govern.
ment. He has assumed the management Of
the Echo, and will defend the French re.
public against mOnarchcal coalition, par.
llamentary regime against BOnapartism, and
reason and religion against theocratic doc.
trines. He appeals to all those who, ab
horing civil and European war, desire to
make the republic beloved and powerful.
The last target firing with the eighty
ton gun at Shoeburyness, England was
rather expensive affair The target cost
$4,000, and each projectile weighing 200
pounds, with charge of four hundred and
twenty-five pounds of powder knocked to
pieces one-fo urth of it, or $500 worth Of
iron and steel, Great guns are remarkably
severe on taxpayers.
Adyices from Athens state that there
is great excitement among the population
of the islands Of Crete, and patriotic meet.
ings are being held. 1t has been decided
to wait twenty days for an answer from the
Turkish government to the demands of the
people, after which time an appeal will be
made by the Cretans to the great powers,
asking for the appointment of Mr.. Glad
stone under the title of Prince of Crete,
The Russians have una uestionably
thus far Outgeneralcd the Turks. The
Turkish boast, before hostiIities commenced,
was OF their iron.clad fleet. They failed to
use it when they could have inflicted the
most serious damage to the Russians. The
Singletrack railroad from Galatz to Jassy
presented an easy prey to them so did the
line from Galatz over the Sereth river, via
Barboschi and Braila to Buseo and Bucha.
rest. They could have destroyed these roads
and burned the bridges by prompt use Of
their navy. The Russians have secured all,
and can hold them, besides efectually
closing the Danube to the Turkish fleet,
Abdul Kerm has made no attempt TO cross
the Danube, when he might have done 50 to
the detriment OF the enemy, who has now
planted himself all along the Roumanjan
shore. Whatever credit the Turkish navy
is entitled to must be gwen to the British
officers, engineers and sailors who have
charge of it, With English brains in the
army also, the Turks ought to be able to
accomplish something. 1t is certain, how.
ever, that at the outset they possessed an
overwhelming advantage if their navy had
been been properly handled. 1t is now use
less, save for the purpose of destroying
villages and landing troops at isolated points
in Asia. The Russians in the meantime
having closed the Danube, are preparing to
cross the Balkans, and in Asia are slowly
advancing on Erzeroum, with their base
of supplies far removed from naval inter
ference.