New-York tribune., 1877-11-10

attacked the redoubts southeast of the
city. After eleven hours fighting, the
Russians were repulsed, and retired to Deye-
Boyun in good order. This engagement of
course checks the Muscovite advance, but the
chances of final success are still greatly IN favor
of the invaders.
The state of things in Samoa is not calcu-
lated to make us desire to be protectors
of that group. According to one account,
Mr. Griffin, the American Consul, was
assailed by an armed band, headed by
an Englishman, and had to take ref
uge on a French steamer. Another report
represents Mr.. Griffin 10 have declared an
American debt valid and acting both as judge
and sheriff. to have caused disturbance
by his attempt to seize the English
merchants goods. In this enterprise the
natives were ready to assist him, but
were so mercenary as to demand $4,000
for their services. Should these stormy
proceedings continue, consuls intended for
Samoa will have to he examined on the art OF
war rather than on the diplomatic code.
A charming letter from the late Professor
Orton, describing the vast remains of ancient
architecture in Peru, will be found in other
columns. The letter has also the in
terest that attaches to posthumous
work, as its writer's death has taken place
in the interval between receipt and
publication. Like all Professor OrtOn's work,
it is the fruit of close observation, and pre-
sentS the facts in a succinct and entertain
ing form. He was too careful and too sclen-
tfc in his ways of thinking to hazard
(as many writer's have dOne) fantastic theories
to explain the meaning uses and methods OF
construction of those monuments OF antiquity.
How and why they were built he admitted
still to be a riddle. But though Pro-
fessor OrtOn could not furnish the key
to the mystery, he has observed many
new points that will be of decided SER
vice to the future students of Peruvian an
tiquities, and his description will bring the
ruins, if not the glories, of the Empire of the
Incas plainly before the readers eye.
Yesterdays vote in the House may doubtless
be said to close, for the present, at least, the
long-standing controversy over the army.
The House of Representatives defeated, by an
overwhelming majority, Mr.. Blackburn's
proposition to reduce the force to $4,000
men, and defeated also, by small but
decisive majOrities, every proposition made
in the interest of reduction. More than that,
the House voted to strike out from the bill the
clause restricting the number of men to 10000,
and consented to put the limit at 25,OOO.
Mr. Backburn's proposition found little favor,
even from the members of his own party, who
have learned something on this subject
since the 4th of March last, but, on the re-
manning propositions of those who wish to see
the army pared down so thin that it would be
impossible to spread it over the Union, 1t is
worthy of notice that the Democratic party
was substantially united. Only the de-
termined action of the Texas delega-
ton, who know what it is to need troops
which cannot be had, and the voices of
Territorial delegates, who could not support
their opinions with votes, kept the House on
the right side of this question, and saved the
service from being crippled. The House cannot
well recede from this action. The Texas del
egatiOn certainly are not likely to change
their minds, and Speaker Randall will find
that bis careful manufacture of committee
hostile to the army, has done the army no
harm,