, 1877-06-09

8A 800 NONA0 - NOEV bAGAA 0i II II
also was entirely with out effect, and the
Sighting continued. In the meantime the
,greatPowers began to move. We read as
early as November 1875 Of great military
preparations going forward in the South Of
Russia; and of the purchase by Great
Britain, as a sort Of counterpoise, of
"a 900, 900 worth OF shares in the Suez
Canal. Let US pause to ask, why this
jealousy OF Russi2's movements on the part
of Great Britain, and why these shares
should have been purchased It is we'll
known that Great Britain holds an immense
empire in India, the road to which lies
through the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal
and the Red Sea. She is very Jealous Of
Russia possessing Const antinople because
that power would then be able to place q
large fleet ia the Mediterranean, and, in
case of war, 10 interfere with the Indian
traffic, aud the transportation Of troops.
The Russian territory in Asia is also every
year approaching nearer TO the British
boundary, and this renders it still more i'm.
portant that she should be prevented from
acquiring the means of interference with
the line Of communication with India.
This is why English statesmen do not wish
to see the power of the Porto destroyed:
this was the meaning Of the Crimean war;
and this is why the canal shares were
bought and why there is danger OF the pre-
sent time OF Great Britain being drawn
into war.
Returning to our outline Of events, we
find In January 1876, the Powers present
ing to the Porte u document styled (rom
the name Of Count Andrassy its author) the
Androssy Note. This document proposed
- the Ottoman Government that religious
liberty should be established throughout
Turkey ; that an improved mode of levying
the taxes should be adopted !; that q part
Of the revenues should be spent on local
improvements; that aid should be granted
to 0griculturists and finally that q mixed
Commission Of Christians and N0humme.
dams should be appointed to see that these
reforms were carried our. These propo-
sails were with some Slight notifications
accepted by the Porte but this fact had
no influence whatever on the progress of
The rebellion. Further p oposals were made
at a conference ct the Chancellors of the
Russian, German, and Austrian Empires
which was held at Berlin but likewise
without any practical result. In the mean
time the Servians and Montenegrins were
arming, and were secretly supported by
Russia, dozens of Russian officers, headed
by General Tchernayef, having entered
Ehe SetVinn army. A general rising in
Bulgaria was also planned, aGd broke out
there on the 2nd OF May. This new iusur-
rectiOn was Immediately crushed by the
wild tubes Of CiIcassian settlers in Bulgaria,
who, rapidly armed and ordered out for the
purpose BY the pashas, stamped out the
rebellion in a munner so cruel and tarbar-
Gus as to rouse the anger of all Europe.
This f%erocity checked for a time any fur
ther movements, and the determined stand
taken by the Turks was further shewn by
the triumph ofthe war party ct CONSTANT
nople, who at Midnight on The 29th of May
caused the palace Of the Sultan Abdul A2iz
TO be surrounded by troops, announced 10
him that he must abdicate, and placed his
nephew Murad V. On the throne. The
new Snltan, or rather his ministers, then
proceeded to demand explanations from
Servia in regard to her extensive war pre-
parations, and received iu reply the most
pacific assurances. The next step was 10
offer the insurgents in Herzegovina aud
Bosnia an armistice Of six weeks during
which pence negotiations cOuid ne carried