The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-12-27
THE RUSSO-TURklSH WAR.
: Scattering nations blood like water
In imperial seas OF slaughter.


The fortunes of war have been
turning rapidly turning rapidly
against the Turk within the last very
few weeks. The fall Of kars, it not a
very heavy blow, was at least de-
pressing blow 1t may, too, have had
its influence on that still greater and
heavier disaster which ssOOn followed,
the fall Of Plevna. But from all the
vague and varying accounts, it APP
pears that, probably hunger, certainly
pestilence in the crowded city. had
much to do in deciding its fate.
death or a dinner" has a very dis
tinct and very imperative meaning
attached to it. 1t means, among 9TH
or things, that men going upon a
sortie-it may be a hand-tO-hand NOR
tai combat-are under the double,
desperate, deadly disadvantage Of
hunger. which Weakens and units
them for the contest.
4 strange doom it is that has fallen
so heavily, SO universally, on the hui
man family. War everywhere IN all
ages. alike among the purely savage,
like our frontier neighbors, and the
savagely civilized like ourselves.
But it is the Turk we are talking
about and his long confronting foe,
the Russian. Somebody gave Robert
Burns a newspaper almost hundred
years ago, and the bard thanked the
donor for letting him know
GLOW the colieshangie works
Between the Russians and the Turks. ="
And that same colieshangle had
commenced good deal earlier, and
closed and Intensified as it descended
down.
There have been several fierce en-
counters since the fall OF Plevna,
with varying SucceSSes-generally by
the weight Of reinforcements balanc-
ing down to the Russian side.
At the opening Of the Turkish par
liament-Turkey has parliament
last week, the Sultan was distinct and
emphatic in declaring that the new
Constitution should be put into full
force. which, owing to war and troub-
lie. it had not vet been. lie Will ac-
cept modern ideas, financial reforms,
the fulhlment Of national engage
ments; the adjustment Of taxation,
the collection of revenue on an equit-
able system, the revision of the
judicial system, the bestOwal ofmuni-
aipal privileges. And finally, and of
more meaning than them all, reform
in the tenure of landed property.
Landed property Well, men every
where. as well as in the Green Island,
are beginning to take notice.
A confused telegram announces
that Lord Derby has ordered the Brit
ish consul at ErZeroum to Withdraw
and fetch with him the achieves of the
consulate This the Turks interpret
rs II sign of British intervention and Il
probable intervention of war in their
favor. And yet this comes to hand:
1.-The circular of the Porte states
that the Porte desires to stop the effu-
sion Of blood. Therefore, it is ready
to come to terms, and appeals to the
feelings Of Justice to the great pow
ers.'
And it is added that lboth ''Russia
and Turkey are inclined to make
peace.
Here lis another item Of interest
especially TO the people of Ireland:
There is trouble III Lebanon il
consequence of the refusal of the in
habitants to furnish military contln
aent or send deputies to the Turkish
Parliament.
Refuse to send deputies to Parlia
ment The Lebanon men mean bus
inesr, it would seem; they don't set
the use of Il subject province sending
constitutional debaterS to the ''impe
rial parliament of the alien enemy
and so far they do not closely resembl,
some other men in another conquered
country to whom we now and theI
present our most distinguished con
siderationS.