National Republican., 1881-11-04
OUR PARIS LETTER.
III. oAMBErTA AND THE REPUBLIC.
The Condition Of Afalrs In Francs-Tunis and the
Northern Coast Of Afrlca-A Russian Au-
thoress-Bernhardts Book-A
Trashy Volume.

that his journey had no political significance and
his interview with the President no witnesses.
But less reliable reports have 1t that ho paid visit
OF quasi official and political character to Prince
Bismarck, and give the full dialogue that passed
between him and NJ. Grevy. There Is no question
as 10 which story is worthy tho greatest crcdcnce
The President of the Chamber of Deputies visited
Germany, going as far as Dresden and inspecting
the chief points en- route going and coming in an
entirely private capacity, and thoroughly In cog.
The German Chancellor was aware OF his presence
In the Empire, butmade no advances, and received
none. The interview with President Grevy on his
return was one of political necessity, as
THE FERRY CABINET
has become very unpopular on account OF the de-
plorable conduct of the African campaign, and
the country Is ready to recognize N. Gambetta a
ministerial leader as well as power In the House
Of Representatives His advancement TO this re-
sponsible and honorable position does not seem TO
dazzle or furry him. Instead ofplunging precipi.
tately, as many of his detractors would have done
In similar circumstances, 1t Is understood that he
refuses to take any steps In the direction Of self
elevation till the present Cabinet shall have had
an opportunity TO Justify its acts before Congress-
which will assemble at the beginning OF Novem.
Der. In the meantime he quietly nbides his time,
speaking words Of sympathy, patriotism, and bopo
through the columns of the journal from which
his constituents learn his opinions, and epdeavor-
ing by his influence TO hannonize the discordant
elements Of which the chaos OF French politics IL
to-day made up
THE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS
In Algeria and Tuns does not seem TO improve
and ways and means for meeting the vast expense
Of this protracted and Improbable war are being
seriously discussed. Bou- -Amena, the leader Of
the nsurrection In Algeria, has been put TO fight
for the present, but several of his abettors, and
among them his secretary, fell into the hands of
the French. The secretary was tried at 0ran for
his crime Of rebellion and sentenced to DEATH 1t
Is thought that nothing will intervene TO mitigate
this sentence. Owing to the events which fol-
lowed the recent troubles In Egypt, the belief Is
gaining ground that tacit understanding be-
tween England and France has been arrived at
for the possession of the Northern coast OF Africa
The current version of the scheme is that Morocco
and Egypt shall be the lions share, and the two
middle countries and Tripoli the eagles. Such
result will not be received with any great aston.
ishment,
AS THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Is In the last stage Of decline, and vigorous
and powerful governments arc eager for the spoils
OF Its dissolution. European politics present
most singular aspect to the unsophisticaed native
of the West who takes the trouble to observe and
study them little. There Is certain amount of
"swag" that was captured by the Mahometans
some centuries ago from the Christians, known as
"Turkey in Europe" Britain has been longing
for the neck and one wing of that Turkey, known
as Consantinople and the Dardanelles, for q great
many years, but has been restrained by the jeal-
Gus watch that has been maintained by certain
Russian bear, called, which had an equal long
ing for said bird, and was similarly restrained by
said Britains jealous watching. Tens of thou.
sands of men perished in the scramble over this
lean Turkey, and II became leaner and leaner on
account of the constant chase which left IL no
time for recuperation. As neither Of
THE BIG CONTESTANTS
could get bite of the unlucky bird, and ths<e was
some prospect Of its perishing of inanition, whole
sectlons-or provinces, If you will-were torn from
1t and given to Greece, the favorite of England,
and certain petty pet princes, the creatures and
favortes Of Russia or Austria, or both, till the
poor Turkey now presents sorry q spectacle as
one that has passed through the ordeal ofa Thanks
giving feast. If the Turkish Empire goes under,
which 1t seems certain to do in a few years, who
is to have Constantinople? That is the great ques-
tion, and actually has seemed TO be since the
Franco -Prussian war tho key. .note of European
politics. In II is comprehended Engands old cant
about the sacredness Of the Ottoman empire so far
rs conquest was concerned, which meant simply
that she wanted to reserve
THE RIGHT OF CONQUEST
TO herself Madame Olga de Novlkoff the cele-
brated Russian authoress, of whom spoke In my
last as intending to visit America cannot bo more
fifty introduced than in this connection as she Is
the author Of what is considered by such men as
w. Z. Gladstone and J. A. Froude the master
piece on these questions. 1t is not my purpose "a
speak so much of her works as of herself, as the
questions that make Europeans excited are OF
scarcely common interest TO the readers The RE.
PUBLICAN, while persons of distinction and talent
are always esteemed and appreciated. When the
troubles broke out in Serviu, In 1876 the Russian
government was withheld from taking active steps
on account of promises 1t had made TO England;
but an independent force of volunteers was organ.
tred and led into Servia by young Nicholas Kreeif
the second
BROTHER OF MADAME NovIKoFF.
This enthusiastic young officer was the first OF
his company to pay the penalty of his daring; he
was killed In about the first action, and his body
was mutilated and never recovered from the
enemy. From this event dates the literary labors
Of Madame Novikof, who made solemn vow Oh
hearing the news Of her brothers awful fate that
she would carry on the struggle that he had begun
with his sword with the only weapon at her com.
mand, her pen. The cause was that of the Chris.
tian Slavs, who were subject to the tyranny and
oppression Of Turkey, and when the Russian army
was within gunshot OF tho walls of Stamboul
and English intervention seemed imminent, there
appeared pamphlet in London entitled,
rs RUSSIA wRoNG9'
The author was the sister of q real martyr to the
cause she defends In her book, and she had com
posed her work In the most elegant English Aftel
the treaty OF San Steiano and the events which di
rectly followed it Madame Noyikoff, faithful tc
her vow, began to write more exhaustive worl
on the questions at issue between Russia and Eng.
land, in which she treats plainly and fairly Of the
mistakes and stupidity Of both governments In the
premises and points out with woman's penetra.
tion, the wise andlogical course which would have
led or may still lead those two powers 10 humane
and satisfactory solution of that knotty problem SC
we'll known as the Eastern question" This book
called Russia and England from 1876 TO 1880" wa
received with mixed favor and suspicion In Eng.
land. Some critics said the authoress must be {
secret agent of
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, .
while Others of the more respectable class saw a
once that her book was written In q spirit of per-
feet frankness and independence, and was the re-
suit Of vast research and strong conviction. Tn,
story OF her heroic brothers life and DEATH as told
by Mr. Kinglake is his beautiful history reads like
the romance OF some knight Of tho middle ages
and that the lady herself Is endowed with tina
disinterested nature which dIsregards presen
comfort or convenience for the higher aims o
conscience and justice is attested by her years O
toll and study in England, where she mastered tn
hardest language In the world to tell its peopl,
what she thought of them, Mr.. Froude saws o
them "By those who can stlll appreciate nobl,
and generous motives the Kireeffs will be recog.
nized as belonging to the exceptional race O
mortals who form the forlorn hopes of mankind
who are perhaps too qulxotic, but to whom
HISTORY MAKES AMENDS
by consecrating their memories" Madam
Noyikoff is about thirty-fiye years old, an,
perhaps one of the most accomplished women
as well as one Of the strongest thinkers in Europe
There is not the slightest appearance ofthe mascu
line in her manners or conversation, which canno
be said Of many other women who pretend Il
think and talk and write on subjects which mr.
usually considered masculine. She is equall
familiar with the Russian, German, French, AM
English languages, speaking and writing then
hucntly. There seems TO be no immediate pros
pect of Sara Bernhnrdt appeariDg ON the Pa