The Osceola times., 1877-04-21


Even though the re-
absolute as to preclude
sVdan6ns or dissipate every hope
mai the determination may be reconsidered,
it is impossible to look upon it except as a
very grave event. Only the most urgent rep
resentetions OF the powers at st. Petersburg
and Constantinople can now prevent col
lision.
Dissensions between President Diaz
and Gen Mendez are beyond settlement.
During the absence Of Diaz, Mendez' had
charge Of the government and sent 10000
Enfield rifles and several batteries into
Sierra Puebla for his followers. Diaz ordered
the return Of the rifles and Mendez refused.
Mendez charges the president with bad faith
in the election of the president of the su.
preme court The quarrel has been carried
into congress where a dissension is rife.
Diaz's friends were defeated in the elect
of a committee of scrutiny of fifty. Seats
are contested in congress. The restoration
of the constitution and return of ex>Presi.
dent Lerdo is openly demanded. A pro
nounciamento against Diaz has been issued
in Chihuahua. Olivura has pronounced for
Lerdo in Sierras Queretaro.
The Pail. Mall Gazette's special of the
9th from Berlin says that Notwithstanding
the present arrangement it is said to be
doubtful il Bismarck will not shortly retire
altogether from office. When submitting
his request for retirement he presented a
medical certificate showing that his continu.
ance in Office must be highly prejudcaI to
his health, and may even imperil his life. On
this ground the prince is reported to be
averse TO pledging himself to any length of
time. The reichstag will to-day consider
communication from the emperor calling
upon il to invest Camphausen and Won
Bulow with power to represent Bismarck
during his absence.
The Times, in leader on the 10th,
after reviewing the unfavorable news from
Constantinople says; "Let us, then, assume
the worst, that the negotiations now being
clrried on at Constantinople will have an
that the blame may pla1sibly be laid on the
Turks, who will have refused once more to
acquiesce in the judgment OF all Europe,
turned deaf ear to the pleadings of the
charge d affairs and by their temerty pro.
voked the great sovereign who was seriously
desrous Of peace. Is there, then, no re.
straining influence in the other powers, taken
together or singly-no obligation to the com.
munity OF nations which may outweight the
obstinacy of the porte? We will naturally
turn TO the last achievement of diplomacy.
The instrument which expresses the convic-
tons of Europe on the eastern question are
opinions which may be divided on the merits
of the protocol, and many may be dis.
posed to think its terms too complaisant to
Russia, while the Turk is treated with too
little consideration. The powers have in.
deed passed condemnation on the Turkish
government, and declared that the execution
of its promises is doubtful, and must be
watched over, They complain that the
porte has upto the present time disappointed
their hopes, and they engage in the case of
further neglect to consider the means by
which the wrongs TO humanity and the dan.
gers to Europe may De averted. The moral
effect Of the judgment must remain in spite
of the declarations of Lord Derby. Proceed.
ings to be taken on the protocol may be
made by one power or another, contingent
upon something first being done; but to
make it really null and void is beyond the
power OF man. There is no verdict against
Turkey; there is no justification of Russia
as to the essential merits of the controversy,
and these cannot be affected by the future
course OF events. On the other hand the
protocol stipuates for Turkey one decided
advantage. Wstchtulness and possible in.
terventon may be the duty of Europe, but
il words have meaning, the sultan's govern.
ment is to be allowed day of grace. The
whole tenor of the protocol is that no one
of the powers shall make any hostile steps
for the present against the Ottoman state.
In the most unmistakable manner Russia
engages to abstain from any aggression, to
maintain an agreement with the other powers
to watch with them for reasonable time for
the execution OF the reforms, and finally in
case things comes to the worst and the hopes
of all are deceived, to advise with them on
the fttest means to attain the common oh.
ject. After such an engagement with all
the great powers of Europe, the Turkish
government being Intentionally excluded,
can Russia be justified in making the refusal
Of Turkey to enter into any particular nego-
tiations with herself a reason for war? The
principles of the protocol are morally bind
ing upon all the powers, aud the Russian
government cannot get rid of its obligations
to France and Germany, and to Austria and
Italy, to say nothing of Euglapd
merely because st. Petersburg and stamhon,
cannot agree Iopn n question of no;n, =
form, which form has beesj jnitia,ed betwes,
them"