New-York tribune., 1878-02-14

feature of Mr.. Woods absurd tariff measure.
The meeting was general one, embracing
the entire silk trade. Ali present Joined in
| protest against the feature OF the wood tarin'
which provides a duty on raw silk-an article
imported solely for use in our manufactures.
The bill should have some good points to set
against its many bad ones but what hope Is
there for it when even the commercial classes
are found among its Opponentsf
No aid will be granted by Congress to the
sufferers by famine in China. Senator Hamlln
reported yesterday that the Committee on
Foreign Relations were unanimous Ill the
opinion that supplies could not be- sent in
time to afford any relief, and answered the
suggestion of a return of the indemnity
! fund by predicting disagreement among Sen
atOrs On that question. This makes it evident
that nothing can be expected from Congress
in this matter. and that whatever can be done
must be accomplished by private effort. 1t is
possible that NJ. IIamlin had i'll mind the
long interval which is almost always consumed
| in getting any bill through Congress, and that
private benevolence, not being bound up with
legislative red tape, may succeed III relieving
great suffering 1t would be just as honest,
too, to return that indemnity after the famine
is over as it would be now.
Either there Is a conspiracy against Captain
Ankers among the ships company of the Me-
tropohs, or he has betrayed his completely IN
great crime. No less than four members OF
the crew testify that the Captain said to them
at different times that he had carried out the
| instructions given him by the owners they
had adiured him, if he had any accident, TO
make a good wreck of her." And the ships
carpenter says that he called Captain Ankcrss
| attention to the unseaworthincss of the ship,
and was merely cautioned, in reply. to say
nothing about it, The fair inference Is, if
this testimony is true, that the owners were
tired of repairing this rotten hulk and wanted
ga good wreck" made of it, that they might
get the insurance and part with the ship for
ever The hundreds of lives which had been
intrusted to it do not seem to have been con-
sidcred at all. 1t is needless to say what
grave accusation is made by these four wit
nesseS, who are supported to certain extent
by the fifth. 1t is simply charge OF premed-
itated murder by wholesale.
The die is cast. The British feet has en-
tered the Sea of Marmora, and its guns
now look frownngly upon the City of Con-
stantne. The Government organs in London
which make the announcement are ominousy
silent in regard to the Porte's permission, i'm
pyng that the ironclads entered the Dar-
danelles without further parey. AS regards
Turkey, this act is an open vio-
| lation of the treaty of 1856, which
England held to be binding, when only a few
days ago she sought leave from the Sultan to
let her ironclads advance, and was refused.
This nfraction of a solemn agreement completes
the notification begun when Russia, in 1S7l,
declared she would no longer be bound by
come of its restrictions in regard to arma-
ments in the Black Sea. so far as Russia is
concerned the advance of the British fleet is
an open defiance, equivalent to declaring
before all men that her pledges not to occupy
COnstantinOplc, except rs an act OF military
necessity were unworthy of belief. As the Car
has so far kept his word, and appar-
emily meant to do so, the ailront is
all the more CALLING. We may expect to hear
promptly that the Grand Duke Nicholas has
| obeyed his orders to enter the city with
his victorious troops. When British tars
and Russian troops are thus brought
! into proximity the most serious consequences
/ may ensuc. The temper of both is at point
| which will not brook restraint, and
the greatest discretion will be needed on
the part of either commander to prevent
collision, leading perhaps to open war. So
far Russia has gained by Enelands alarm.
She has been afforded a sound reason for
entering C0nstantinOple, and holding 1t until
she has guarantees, which it is needless to
say England cannot give without further hu-
initiation.
If the Democrats of the House are not
ashamed to look one another i'll the face, this
morning, they ought to be. Certainly there
has been no more unnecessary and unsecmy
quarrel in Congress for years than that which
ragged all day yesterday over the last Presl-
Dental election. 1t vas more than quarrel; !;
it was free fight, beginning, as free fights
do, nobody knows just how, and end
ing in nothing but broken noses and damaged
eyes. 1t was not contest, but row, III
which all the fierce hatrcds and mean resent
ments of the great Presidential failure found
| vent there was no principle or question OF
any kind involved; it was simply an eruption
of bad temper and bad language. Democrats
called other Democrats liars by implication,
and sometimes did not take the trouble to
imply Democrats accused other Democrats
of selling out the Presidential election,
and one was compared to the greatest
of American traitors, while one Of these
polite orators hoped the gentleman he
was abusing had the intellect ri'crstand
what he was saying. In there was
not even the satisfaction ing one good