Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-05-09

NNoSy NNsS VI NhS pi''AOuS Do-
cembsr, end added that, as the lat
ter bad, in almost all its terms,
been accepted by the Porte, its
provisions must be Immediately
carried into effect with satisfactory
guarantees, failing which, it pro-
posed that the powers should take
"such efficacious measures as might
be demanded" 1t also stipulated
for an immediate armistice of two
months, in order that the initial
reforms should he carried into eff
feet. France and Italy were willing
TO accept the memorandum, but
England refused. AS the measure
required the concurrence Of the
Christian powers of the Europe, it
was thus thwarted and the Tory
party Of England exulted over
Lord Derhy's diplomatic triumph.
But this was actually the one gold
en- opportunity when an efficient
intervention was possible.
The failure Of this negotiation
was almost Immediately followed by
the most shocking and savage bar
blrities inflicted by the Mussul-
mans upon the Christians of Tur-
key. The Christian instruction
in Bulgaria was suppressed by the
Turks in a ferocious manner, and
slaughters, rapes and tortures too
horrible for narration were per-
petrated. Turkey seemed encour-
aged by the course OF England to
defy Christianity, civilization and
humanity at once. These fright
full atrocities compelled Servia and
Montenegro to declare war upon
Turkey, on the 30th of June
Meanwhile the Sultan Abdul Aziz
was dethroncd ION May 30th, 1870
and either committed suicide or was
murdered few days after. His
successor Murad was in turn de-
throned, August 3lst, and was sue
ceeded by his brother, the present
Sultan.
The war between Turkey on the
one hand, and Servia. Montenegro,
and the Bosnian and Herzegovin-
ian insurgents on the other, con-
tinued during the summer of 1876,
with general Turkish successes.
The defeat Of Servia was obvious
Ivy the end of August, and Eng
land, whose people bad been arous-
ed against the Turks by the de-
tanned accounts of the horrible
Bulgarian atrocities, proposed an
armistice. The suspension of hos
tilities lasted until October, when
war was again resumed, with re-
newed disasters to the Servian
army. The Servians were rein
forced largely by Russian officers
and soldiers, but they were beaten
by Turks at all points, until finally
the war with Servia was practically
terminated by the fall of Alexinatz,
Oct. 31st, 1876. The heroic Mon
tenegrins, protected by their noun
tains, had better fortune, and are
still bravely resisting the Turkish
invasion.
The substantial close Of the war
with Servia marked the beginning
of period of diplomatic negotia-
tons, which terminated in war
After much discussion among the
powers as to the proper length of
an armistice, during which Russia
began to mobilize her army, an ar
mistice of two months, subsequent
ly extended by piecemeal, was
negotiated. The great powers of
Europe had by this time agreed
upon conference at Constantine
pie. The representatives of Rus
STA, England, France, Germany,
and Italy met in that city early in
December, and continued in session
until the 18th of January last,
when the plan which they adopted
was presented to Turkey. On the
goth, Safvet Pasha, on the part of
tho Grand Council Of the Porte,
communicated to tho conference
Turkeys rejection. In substance,
the plan was very similar to that
of the Andrassy note and the Ber-
lin memorandum. II stipulated
for equal rights and equal protec-
tion for the Turkish Christians,
necessary reforms in the admins
tration Of the civil government,
and guarantees for their execution.
The members of the conference
left Constantinople Immediately af-
Ter their failure; the armistice was