New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-19


of Constantlnople a little village perched on biuii
which hangs over the Sea of Marmora. Here was the
famous model farm where the American, DR.. DAVIS,
labored faithfully, but vainly. to introduce agr-
cultural reform under the shadow of the Sultan IN
1S4Sl49. San StefanO is q favOrite Summer resi-
dence for Observation-Disclosures, and many live there
the whole year, coming daily to the city by railway
After Reouf Pasha had returned to the city there
was great council of dgniaries in and out of Office
at which he made known what he had learned from
the Grand Duke and from Safvet Pasha, the hrst
Commissioner for peace. At the council there was
some strong language on the subject OF the Russian
terms many good resolutions as to the real reforms
to be introduced rs soon as the war is over, ana
after all had expressed their views IN the solemn
and dignifed manner of Turkish councils, Saodoui-
lah Bey, the second Commissioner, went out to san
Stefano to be present at the final signature of the
basis Of peace. The paper was to have been signed
OH Monday the 18th, but both the day and date
being unlucky IN Russian tradition. the thing was
postponed There are those who believe that Tur-
key is still refusing to surrender her ironcads 10
Russia and that the end of the week will see us at
war once more.
The terms Of the treaty of peace seem hard
enough for the Turks and yet history repeats itself
In 1929 the Car had occasion to express his belief
that it would not be well to destroy utterly the Ut
toman Empire, because of the difficulty of snbsti-
tuting any power on the BOsphOrus which would so
well subserye Russian political and commercial m
terests Turkey undor Russian dictatIon. lie
therefore caused the war indemnity to be left TO MS
own generosity by treaty, and then fixed 1t AT
S25, 100000, to he paid III ten years. the Russian
army remaining in decreasing degree in occupa-
ton Of European Turkey until the whole was ',as
paid Ii was supposed that this treaty would
establish the Turkish vassaage 1t led, in fact,
three years later to the friendly Russian occupation
of the Asatc shore Of the Bosphorus and to the ia
| Huukiar ishppSsi which cStaD-
lished an offensive and defensive alliance between
Russia and Turkey. But European jealousy of Rus,
STA restored the independence of Turkey then, ana
may again do So if the Sultan is left in Constantine
pie For as Lord Derby says, the Eastern question
is Constantinople, not Turkey. These are moment
Gus days only for Sultan and Pashas but tor the
people of this country, whose lot Is now to be xed
for another quarter of a century, and for Europe,
which believes the lost key TO the problem Oh aper'
manent peace TO be within their old walls.
Meanwhile the railway and steamboat companies
are doing their pest, and all the world is going to
san Stefano; foreigners to look and natives to spoil
the Philistines For the natives find that a 2 cent
orange carried ten miles is worth 20 cents to the
Russians; and the backisb, sourish compound
known as bread among the common people, and
which sells here for cents per Loaf
rewards enterprise by extracting at least
franc per loaf from the Russians. Thus the Rus
slams are winning that incense of adulatlon when
is the grateful portion iii this land OF every lOr
eIgner because OF his specie reserve The Turkish
! army lies encamped between San Stefano ana the
city. The lot of the common soldiers IN the TWO
armies is brought into sharp contrast by the tra9
ing operations of which have spoken. Unpaid
for TWO years no trader ha smiles for Turkish sol
diers or thinks of them, looks at them as they gu
hungry and Cesolate by the wayside and WONDER
over the crowds with bursting painters VINO HOOK
over the creek into the camp OF the invader
The people OF Constantinope are not yet relieved
from their tension. Wild rumOrs gain best growth
at nightfal and everybody retires III the most ex-
cited condition to be Gained IN the morning by new
explanations. The city is now held IN check by a
firm hand, which may be that OF Ahmed Nehk
Pasha but which bears strong resemblance to that
Of the irrepressible Mahmoud Damad, who is again
attaining favor in high places The Government Is
| N constant agony of fear lest some OF the fiery
patriots of the city should take up bushw hacking
Russian soldiers and so preclpitate thar seizure OF te
city which would force the Sultan 10 leave mere are
plenty of Turks who openly denounee the Sultan as
Russian Giaouy and although there Is no reason 10
apprehend all outbreak, one cannot help feeing that
each day of quiet is more than we c0ud expect.
There are fiery bIgOts here who believe ana puDlcy
declare that the HOLY Standard ought to D. DrOngit
ont that the Sultan should gave all Islam tue
chance OF getting to heaven by short cur, Win tue
alternative OF he'll in OF dlsODedlelce 10 the
summons to the .Jihad (holy war;. these men are
the only really hopeful men one sees. J. elf Only
hone is that after peace with Russia they VIII be
able To throw overheard all European Inventions and
return 10 the Koran pure and simple as the rule OF
Government IL fact their hope Is 10 wage success
full war against the nineteenth century.