The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-17
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
Tho English PAPER. of rhi, Morning.

Inc English fepers OF InlS A0rnlng.
The Commercial SAYS: The news from ST.
| Petersburg this morning is of grave char
acter, and indicates an impending revolu-
tion in which the Imperial House will be
divided against itself. According to this
information a serious quarrel has arose be-
tween the Gar and the Czarewitch-the
latter demanding the institution of certain
reforms which he considers indispensable
to the safety of the Empire and continu-
ance of the present dynasty. The Emperor
was indignant, and in his wrath ordered the
arrest of the Czarewitch, but the order was
countermanded on receipt of a protest by
telegram from the Empress Rumors also
go to the effect that several Generals
# the army have threatened to
withdraw their allegiance from the EN-
peror unless he comedies the constitution
demanded by the people.-The English
army of occupation of Cabul, after holding
that city for some time, have been men,.
aced by such swarms of enemies that after
severe fighting they have taken upa strong
position in the neighborhood. The Afghan
leader is in full possession of Cabul, ard it
is now acknowledged that he defeated an
important detachment of the British army,
and that one of the mountain guns ''over-
turned. spiked and abandoned" was not
recovered" The British commanders of
course put a cheerful face on the matter,
but it is clear they are deep in difficulty,
and the sudden and sinister change shows
that the whole truth has not here
tofore been told.-General Malone
will be elected United States Sena-
tor by the Virginia Legislature to-
day. to succeed Mr.. Withers. He is the
leader of the Readjusters, and outside of
politics, shining business man, and some
times called the Railway King If the
South. He began life poor boy, and was
working his way up when the war broke
out. He enlisted in the Confederate serv-
ice, and fought its battles up to the surren-
der of Lee, gaining year bv year in military
reputation, and being promoted to the
rank of Major Generai.-Backed by nearly
$4,000 independent Democratic voters in
the State Of New York, John Kelly pro-
loses to have hearing in the National
Convention. He has decided to hold
State Convention to nominate delegates to
it. They will be heard or know the reason
why.
The Gazette says: The Greenback Gov
ernor and Council in Maine have per-
petrated the rascality which has been
expected, in counting out the Repub-
lican majority in the Legislature, and
counting in a Democratic majority, thus
getting t e fraudulent election of the Gov
ernor and other State officers. This is only
another instance that third parties take as
naturally to corruption as young ducks to
the water The Greenback party Governor
applies to Maine the Mississippi Ku-klux
. metod of counting the vote, to change a
Republican Legislature into Democratic,
and we shall see the whole Democratic
party either openly applauding him, or
, keeping silence under this trampling on
the franchises Of the people. The degree
of this fraudulent shuffing is in changing
Republican majority of twenty-nine in
the House 10 Democratic majority of
twenty, and a Republican majority of
sever in the Senate to Democratic major
itv of nine. The city of Portland, Maine,
elected five Republican Representatives to
the Legislature, by majorities ranging from
five to six hundred; but Portland will be
represented in the Legislature by Demo-
crats-" strictly within the forms OF law"
Popular suffrage in Maine is played out
A dispatch from the Gazette's Washington
: correspondent says a company of General
r Grants intimate and personal friends
= are to hold consultation on the
, question of whether he ought to
become candidate, and that the re-
, suit of this will De an authoritative an
nouncement of intentions within week
The situation of the Britis\karmy in Al
, ghanistan is very grave and IS cause enough
for fear of total destruction. For in that
country, and with such an enemy, defeat
means annihilation, and to retreat is much
r more difficult than to advance. We know
not the numb.r of the British force al
Cabul We Judge that it is ten or twelve
thousand. If this force. after having occu
9 pied the strong places in and about Cabul
e has been defeated, driven from the place
g and reduced to state OF siege, IN
place to which it has retreated fo
. refuge, what number will be needed
| to rescue this beseged army? A
= Candahar letter of the lst stated tina
General Stewart had been Instructed tt
send messenger to Ayoob Khan, tn
s Afghan commander at Herat requiring
q him to hold Herat in the name of tn
British Government, and threatening tn
. advancement of British force in case o
d his failure to do sc." Herat is more thai
r 400 miles from Cabul, and the British force
8 at Cabul are now besieged. Furthermore
u it seems probable that Ayoob Khan ha
e marched to mid the attack on the British a
r. Cabul. Of course the British Government
will give the means again to ovcrrun Al
s ghanistan. They must do it, or the risinI
!. will spread to the British India subjects.
/ The Enquirer says: Events conspire t
e ruffle the honeymoon of King Alfonso
v Don Carlos exhibits symptoms of breakin
, out again; the Cuban complications gro,
, in evaporation: the downfall Of the Cam
Q pos Ministry has called out lamentation
O ! from the press; and, withal, there is not
:. good degree OF Spanish craftsmanship t
). set things right.-The public is CROWN
d tired of Postmaster-G General Key, and
O Hayes has ct vacant judgeshjp lyin
around loose he might better give it to tn
e Rebel element of his Cabinet. ToO muc
red tape in his Department; also, too muc
red paint on ose Star lines of stag
coaches Democratic National Con
nittee will meet on, the 22d Of Februar,
y in Washington, to determine the time an
le nlaca for holding the next National Dems