Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-21
The Rnssio-Turkish War.
PEACE TALK.

! by the porte, to the slgnerS Of the
treaty of 1871, commences by the
statement that the origin of the pres
cnt important events is perfectly
known; the Imperial government is
conscious of having done nothing to
provoke war; it has done everything
to avoid it, and has sought to discover
Russa's motive in her aggressive cam
paign. The Porte has shown y desire
for improvement by recognizing the
judicial system, and deyising reforms
with the least inclination of race or re-
lgion, according to the constitution,
has everywhere been well received.
Partial reform is OF no avail; the adop-
ton of the improvement in one part
of the empire only would be II premi-
UNI to other communities to revolt.
Any doubts as to the execution of these
reforms should disappear before the sol
emn declarations the porte. now makes.
The state of war simply rctards such
reforms, and is disastrous to the country
generally, destroying agricultural inter
csts, killing industry and running the
financial congratulations. lndepCn-
IDENTIFY Of these arrangements Of reform,
what reason can there be for continue
ing the war? Russia has declared that
she is not animated ~ spoil Of con
quest. Military honor Of both sides
must be abundantly satisfied. What
object can there be in prolonging u CON
test ruinuuS to both countries? Me
hcmct Pasha arrived from the billiger-
cnt powers to accept peace without af-
icctng their dignity. Europe might
now usefully ntcrpose her good offices
since the porte is ready to-
come to terms. The country is not ut
the end of its resources, and is fully
prepared to fight III its own defense. 1t
is ready, moreover, to sacrifice all for
the independence and integrity of its
fnthcrland, but the porte is DESTROYS to
stop the further cflusion of blood, and
therefore appeals to the feelings Of JUS
ticc, which must animate to great
powers. They will receive these over
lures favorably.
A Plcyna correspondent tcle"raphs
that he believes the Russians viii not
advance Immediately, but await the eff
feet of the fall of Pleyna 1T that place
The heavy guns ON the Sofia road be-
tween, Plcyna land the river Nid, have
been hauled back.
osAIAN PAsIAS NOTE
A Bucharest dispatch dated Dec. -,
states that Osman Pasha has sent II
short telegram to the Porte, stating
that he had not received reinforccmen
nor provisions, but, nevertheless, resist
cd rs long Us possible; finally, he made
M attempt to force i passage through
the Russian lines of investment, in
which the Turkish troops, despite their
valor, were unsuccessful and himself
taken prisoner.
MORE FIGHTING,
A London dispatch of the 10Th says:
A correspondent with Grand Duke
Vladimir shows that the Metchka affair
was confined To skirmishes and cavalry,
with some field artillery practice. lie
thinks the Turks may have lost 1000
men altogether. us they were much ex-
posed but the Russian loss was insig-
niticant The Russian force on the
field was three hligadcs. The Turks
were driven across theriyer LON; their
entertainments an the west bank arc in
possession of the Russians.
SERN1A DECLARES WAR.
a Constantinople dispatch Of Doc
10th, says, Nj. Crlstics, Scrvian agent,
has delivered 70 the Porte, Scryia's
formal declaration Of war against Tur
key, and started for Belgrade
TIE MEETING OF oSNlAS AND NICHOLAS.
A correspondent ut Pleyna tele-
graphs under date of December
10th, concerning 0sman Pasha's re-
ccption by the Russians says
The Grand Duke Nicholas rode up to
Osman's carriage and for some seconds
the two chiefs gazed into each others's
faces without the utterrcc of wood;
then the grand duke stretched out his
hand and shook the hand of Osman
PaSha heartily and said, Il compliment
you on your defence Of Plevna; it is one
Of most splendid military feats III his
tory" Osman smiled sadly; rose 10
His feet III spite Of his wound and said
something which could not hear. He
then rcscatcd himself. The Russian
officers al cried bravo bravo repeat
cdly and all saluted respectfully. There
was not ore among them who did not
gaze on the hero Of Pleyna with
the greatest admiration and sympathy.
Prince Charles, of Reumania, who had
arrived, rode up and repeated Willingly
almost every word of the grand duke,
and likewise shook hands with Osman.
who again rose and bowed this time in
grim silence. He wore loose blue
cloak, with no apparent mark on il TO
designate his rank lie i i large,