The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-24

country houses are full to OVERLOOKING and as
there has been such whip" for peers as has
never been known. socinl parties have had to be
postponed and engagements broken. TO the sore
grief OF tho younger members Of the commu-
nifty. who do an immense amount Of fox hunt
ing and flirting at this season. for the absence
Of which they are i'll COMPENSATED by the con-
sciousncss that they are serving their country.
Even the Duke Of ArRyll. who IL at Cannes
made a violent effort to come to London. and
was only stopped at last by govt; but many
thousand miles have been trnvorscd from oil
parts Of the United Kingdom and the Continent
by peers summoned to come and vote. Yet the
large majority In the Lords was partly owing to
the unanmity with which the Bishops voted
all excepting the Bishop OF Oxford voting for
the Government AMI the war which Mr.. Glad
stone and the country clergy denounce as inn
moral; but then the see OF Durham Is vacant.
and 1t Is the richest prize in the ecclesiastical
profession. excepting the archbishoprics. and
IL in the gltt OF the Premier. and there Is not n
Bishop who did not know that he would forfeit
his chance Of promotion by voting against the
Government. Nevertheless. of ono moment the
Prime Minister was very uneasy so great n
hardship was It deemed by many noble lords to
make the sacrifice OF their convenience; but
when the urgent call came they gaanily re-
sponded. They are now all trooplng back
again to their castles and kennels. and they re-
turn with n certain feeling OF triumph Not
only have they won the day politically. but vir-
tue has been its own reward During these
three days IN London 1t has been freezing hard.
and the consequence Is there has been no hunt
ING. so they have lost nothing by doing their
duty. sull. had IT been good hunting weather.
no rft~t aft,l. ho. hna loaa
and yet foreigners complain that they cannot
understand the British constitution.
Meantime there is q lull in the Eastern ques-
ton so far as Europe Ia concerned. This
Afghan business has not turned out 80 favor
ably for Russia as she expected. When the
Amer refused Sir Neville Chamberaine's
mission three months ago. a friend OF mine
who frequents the Russian embassy told me
that they were radiant England had fallen
into the Asian trap. and Russia's hands were
free in Europe; but they did not calculate upon
England smashing the trap so speedily when
she discovered she had tumbled into II. Now
the same friend tolls me they are very much
the reverse OF radiant. The military successes
in Aighanls,an have compelled the Russian
envoy TO withdraw from Cabul. and II IS even
reported that the Amcer himself has fed Thi.
war instead Of being n successful move has
proved a very disastrous one so far TO Russian
prestige In Asia; and the effect on her policy IL
Europe is apparent. Whereas when she though
that she had paralyzed England in Turkey. sh,
ostenlatously proclaimed her intention o
breaking through the treaty Of Berlin
sho has now completely changed he
note. and her attitude in eastern Rou
meia has become senslbly modified
II is singular. this constituencies In Eu
rope to what happens in Asia. and 1t proves hoy
little persons who are not diplomats understan,
the subject when they argue that we are no
morally meeting tho Russian tactics through
our operations against the Ameer. The fact lie
that the amount OF Russias forces in Contra
Asiaha been enormously exaggerated. We hav
now accurate Information in regard to the rea
strength OF her troops in that quarter. and IN
| extent OF the :" bounce" In which she has in
dulgcd becomes ludicrous when the actual fact
are known.