The Democratic advocate., 1878-02-09
Topics Of the Times.

Topics Of the Times.
The all-absOrbing topic in Europe, just
now, i the cessation Of the Eastern war,
the terms Of the armistice between Russia
and Turkey, and the approaching confer
ence Of the Powers at Vienna. Now comes
the struggle Of the adroit diplomats, and
the clashing Of conflicting interests viii be
only inferior to the late clashing Of arms
Those of Russia, Prussia, Austria, France,
Italy and England, all have to be harmon
lied, If the thing be possible, in addition
to those Of several minor powers. New
lines viii have to be drawn upon the map
Of Europe and old ones obliterated, and
the demands Of the conquerOr will be de-
MED or acceeded to by the Powers with
what grace they may. InsuperAble diff
culties, it is feared, lie in the way Of en-
tire harmony Austria, Germany and
England, win all be apt to take positions
directly across the path Of the Gar, and
may compel him to abate portion of his
demands. DIR. Gladstone said in the
British Parliament, on Monday last, dur
ing the debate on this subject, that 'sthe
Powers we're armed to the teeth and a
single spark might light fire threatening
the best interests Of the country" So they
all feel Mutual distrust, with interests
hard to reconcile with each other. Both
at Berlin and Vienna, as we'll as London,
the situation j. regarded as extremely
critical, if correspondents correctly fore
shadow the state Of public feeling. The
Gar himself takes the same view Of the
matter. His address to his troops at st.
Petersburg on Sunday last, is an evidence
of it. he said, after congratulating his
troops on what had already been accom-
plished-"We are still, however, far from
the end, and must continue to hold our
selves prepared until we obtain durable
peace worthy of Russia" In pursuance
Of that determination he has called out
forty new batiallioDs and is massing 120,-
900 men in Roumania to the north and
west, evidently for defence against Aus
tria. Here, in this country, the chief in-
terest we feel in the Eastern question, is
the probable demand for breadstuffs, pro-
visions, arms and ammunition which af-
feets the prices Of such articles in this
market If the war is over, all these ar
ticles are likely to rule lower. But, on
the other hand, if the complications at the
Vienna conference should be found ire
concilable, it would only widen the area
Of the conflict and create greater demands
upon our storehouse Of supplies.
At home, the demonstration of silver
takes precedence of all other topics, in
Congress and out. An carly vote upon
the measure will soon put it to rest. No
subject has been more befogged than this
Strip it Of all its superfuOus surroundings
and it amounts to this-a return to the
dollar Of our fathers which was demone-
tizsd by the act of 1873. What is singu-
lar about it is, that the ablest men in the
country have taken opposite sides in the
discussion. The greatest intellects appear
to be no more able to discern the truth
and the right of this question than the
humblest. II is just possible that mems
interests may blind them as to what is the
real essence or gist of the matter Re
monetization, however, is making rapid
progress everywhere, and we shall again
have gold and silver coinage such as is
contemplated by the constitution, cur
rency Of triple character bat of equal value,
and at all times interchangeable. Moth
ing short Of this viii set this subject at
rest.
The financial pressure still continues,
after nearly FIVE years duration, and cor
porations and individuals are still smash
ing all over the country. Where and
when it is to end no human foresight can
tell. There is but one specific for inan-
cial embarrassment, whether of States or
individuals, and that is industry and econ
omy. Like slow fever, our present e.
nancial distress, it seems, must take its
time and course.
The pending trial Of the Louisiana Re
turning Board, at New Orleans, viii occu-
py some time. The case of Anderson was
first taken up. Wells, Cassenave and
Kenner, are all in prison waiting their
turn. The public judgment seems to be
that these men, having perpetrated a great
crime, deserve to be incarcerated within
the walls Of the penitentiary. But, we
have our doubts that such is to be their
fate. They viii probably manage to slip
through the meshes of the law by disa-
greement of the jury. The speculation is
that the two negroes empaneled on the
jury in Anderson's case, viii let him out
The jury, on Thursday, after being out
only 80 minutes, brought in verdict of
guilty, with Recommendation to the mer-
cy of the court Anderson was deadly
pale aud nervous He was surrounded by
his friends who escorted him to jail
APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL CoMMIs-
sIoNERs.-We understand that but one
of the Circuit Court Judges in the State,
Judge Alvey, of Hagerstown, has objected
20 discharging the duty assigned them of