New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-20

unknown territory, but there are many new
and interesting particulars in Prof. Orton's ac-
count of the antiquities of Peru.
Senator Merrimon wishes to establish sys-
TEN of Presidential succession-making the
Secretary of State President, in case of the
decease of the President and Vice-President
the Secretary Of the Treasury to come next, and
the Postmaster General next. There may be
some objection to this specific arrangement,
but there can he no difference of opinion as
to the propriety of making some provision for
a contingency which was very near, not long
ago. and which might happen at any time.
The readiness with which the Russians have
begun the blockade of Kars, presnges fur
Their disaster to the Ottoman arms. Early
in the last war, they inflicted crush
ing defeat on the Turks at huruk-
dere-near the recent battle grOund-but they
were restrained by the hostility of the Circas-
slams from turning the victory to immediate
account. This time there is no foe in the
rear to prevent the Russians from besieging
the key to Armenia, and repeating the success
attained against ADLER commanders in the VIM
ter of 1855.
Some of the evidence given yesterday before
the referee in the case of the American Pop
ular Life Insurance Company, illustrates the
loose views which prevailed i'll its manage
ment. People were induced to take new poll
cies in place of old ones, and it is gravely
asserted, by n witness, that that process bene-
fitted the policy holders by diminishing the
prospect of litigation after the death OF
the persons insured. The real object Of
the change was, of course, to enable
the company to carry the risks with
a smaller amount Of funds in reserve to
meet them. Ii is as if trustee were To BAY
TO the owners of property i'll his care, " ii you
will permit reduction of the bonds which
have given for the security OF YOU money
" | will agree not to go law with you about
returning it to you eventually" These, the
witness declares. were advantages not at first
dreamed OF. Evidently there were visions
about.
General Benets report upon the condition of
the ordnance branch OF the army deserves
careful, attention from Congress. The strikes
have made it possible to get tho ear OF
public men on the question OF an cnhght-
ened provision for the army, and they have
also furnished some excellent illustrations OF
the condition of our arms, our arsenals and
forts Sixty million dollars worth OF stores i'll
the arseuals could have been seized at any
time by the mobs, one of these re
p0sitories having at one time only a
score of men to guard it. 1t is an
open secret that any of our forts could be
captured by almost any force, if anybody
thought it worth while to do it, and General
Benet shows that, small as the army Is, the
appropriation for its support is so meagre
that the men are not allowed enough car
tlidges to learn how to shoot. A wise econ
omy is the enlightened expenditure of money,
and Congress ought to find out that great
truth.
1t is open to the French Ministry to at
tempt coalition, to resign absolutely, or
TO hold office until the Chambers reassemble.
Indications increase that both Radical
and Moderate Republicans are opposed
to compromise, and unwilling to go
into political partnership with either De
Broglie or Decazes, each of whom has cher
ished hopes of Ieconstruchng the present Min
istry with himself as chief. Under these
circumstances, lHC NdDlutI IL Hob ih'i'
to surrender Internationally, but will
hold office in order to manipulate the
second ballotings for deputies, and the
election of Councils General. When the
Chambers reassemble it must give way,
unless it is prepared to override par
liamentary authority, and establish vr-
tual dictatorship. The situation is rendered
crave, by the stupid perversity of MacMahon,
who actually thinks that at the elections
on Sunday the people did not "fully appre
"ciate the interests at stake" 1t isEot without
reason that French Republicans remind this
stolid man that Charles X, Louis Philippe,
and Napoleon Ill, were each as determined
as he is to remain in power, but had ulti-
mately to relinquIsh it.
TWENTY-SEVEN RESOLUTIONS.