Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-24
AbOut COnStanfinOnle.

Russia, after her many diSappOintmentS of
this century and the last. Is now approach
ing with rapid strides the object of all her
wars and diplomacy. Leaving out of cOnsid-
Grafton few isolated fOrtreSSeS, Constantine
PIE Is Turkey, in Europe, and its fall means
the total overthrow of the Sultan'S power To-
wards that city the ambitious desires of Rus
sia'S rulers have successfully turned, but this
year sees her nearer the realization of her
hopes than ever before. England's evident
desire for peace and her supposed incapacity
Tor effective military operations may encour-
age the Car to attempt the occupation of
ConstantinOple during the present season for,
III IL Is necessary, an armiStice can easily be
held at arms length. The number and char
aeter of the Turkish forces at ConstaptinOpIe
and the condition of the Notifications about
the city are not definitely known but it is
likely that both the prevailing panic and the
prospect of peace have served to unfit the
Turks for improving their defences now and
for effective fighting when assaulted With a
wellOrganized, wellmanaged force the city
would be almost impregnable. Twenty miles
away, in the direction of AdrianOple,
there stretches across the narrow peninsula
on which the city is situated chain of steep
hills, which, il properly fortified constitute an
almost insuperable obstruction to an advanc-
ing force. The position must be carried by
direct assault from the front. since the Turk
ish fleet will command the surrounding waters
About fourteen miles from the CAPITAL another
and similar line of defsnces is met not so de-
feasible in places as the first. but capable of a
formidable resistance. The advance of the
Russians along this narrow peninsula would
he over dense brushwOOd and through
Swampy plains, exposed to the fire of the Turks
from the Notifications on the eminences. The
bp I irtI DOLL
cially difficult; and. last of all. there are the
Immediate defenceS of the city, whose extent
and resisting power are noticed by Won
MOltke. With the sea under its control ii is
the opinion of many eminent military critics
that COnStantinOple, if defended with
half the proVerbial Turkish capacity for
this kind of fighting. cannot be taken
by assault, and equal difficulties oppose
the plan of reducing it by starvation But
no matter how strong the defenceS of a city
may be, men are necessary To hold them and
1t Is not clear that there iSpresent in Constan-
tinople all effective force. either in numbers
or stamina The reported movements against
GalipOi on the DardanelIes are important.
from the necessity of the retention of this
peninsula by the Turks, in order TO keep I'D
communication with the Mediterranean Pro-
visions military supplies, and. il is not I'M
likely, TeiniOrcementS would need Il passage
through the DardanelleS in ease the peace ne
gOtiations should fail and the city were be-
Sieged.
The New York World declares itself in dead
earnest iii the enquiry whether local self
government has not ceased To be a whole
some reality and become an incurable and
dangerous sham. A strong BODY of electors
i'll that state favor proposed amendment of
the constitution which is to take away the bal
lot from certain untaXed classes in that city
in the election of certain specified financial
officers. 1t may be that before long those who
favor this amendment, the World says. will
have to consider whether the condition of the
city is not such as 10 compel another amend
ment, SO as to enable the legislature to pre-
scribe absolutely and in every case how the
local officers in the city shall be created.
The amiable reports put afoat by some of
the rivals of the New York Tribune, that its
stockholders were casting about for a success
sor to Whitelaw Reid, have been contradicted
by the fact of his unanimous reelection to the
editorShip for another term of five years, end
ing January, 1855.
DIR. PuryiS denies the report that he is op-
posed to the Hendee hill. He is tax payer,
is on the committee of One Hundred and is i'm
favor of the Hendee bill or any other bill that
viii relieve the taxpayers of a portion of the
unjust burdens resting upon them. Very
good.
Inc Ledger Almanac for 1873 supplied
grateitousiy to the ninety thousand sub
scriDers OF The Philadelphia Led1er is hand
some, compact, and useful. The Ledgey evil
IDENTITY maintains to the fullest the pleasant
relations 1t has held with the people of Pbila-
delphia in the hands Of Mr.. Guilds,