Year: 1876

In the new series of notes and memoranda
that is threatened the different attitude to-
ward one another of the parties to the nego-
tiation is important. England no longer
leads the diplomatic dance. Her ultimatum
was declined by Turkey, and she cannot
consistently with her own dignity make any
new propositions but she does not, as she
threatened she would, relinquish all interest
in the Sultan's fate. In fact, that threat was
made without due consideration of the indis-
soluble ties which bind together the Padi-
shah and the Empress of India as the two
great Mohammedan Powers. In this regard
the English statesmen were less perspica-
cious than those in Constantinople; for the
latter. aware Of the thoroughly selfish ma
conscious that England, though she might
bluster, would accept their acts, inasmuch
as the abandonment of the Sultan is moral
impossibility to the government that hopes
to preserve it's prestige in India


But England stands aside at least and the
initiative at Constantinopie is with the Rus
sian Ambassador. Hitherto there has been
in these negotiations difficulty not unlike
one that formerly troubled our relations with
Spain. 1t has frequently been experienced
by us that we could gather almost any season
plentiful crop of outrages in Cuba, but to
get a remedy for the least of them we had to
go to Spain. The power to murder our citi-
zens or put an indignity upon our colors
was at our doors; but the power to make
reparation was on the other side the
Atlantic. So between Russia and Turkey
the capacity to excite the wrath and in
dignation of the Russ was at hand on the
Danube, but q note could only reach the
Sultan from the Gear or the Gar from the
Sultan by way of London. 1t is a great
promise of progress to have changed that,
and in the hands of General Ignatieff the
settlement of points in dispute will 60 for
ward rapidly, with due regard at once to the
will of the Northern Emperor and the possi-
bilities of the Sultah's position; for the Am
bassador has been at Constantinople many
years and has the full confidence of his gov
ernment. 1t may be remembered that he
also had the confidence in some degree of
Abdul-Aziz, and that that prince was accused
of too favorable opinion of the Russian
purposes. Some suspicion that there was
ground for the accusation may have induced
England to look with favor upon the fanat-
ical revolution OF the softas, wAich led to
that Sultan's assassination. II is an odd
coincidence, if no more, that the return of
the Russian Ambassador to Constantinople
and the occurrence of situation which
compels the Sultan to accept the terms this
Ambassador has to propose is distinguished
by the discovery of new plots for the murder
of distinguished persons by fanatical Mos
lens.


| The fact that the fighting is pursued with
some vigor in the valley of the Morava and
that it is not fattering in its results to the
pride of the Slavs will add zest to the de-
termination OF the Russian government to
have Immediately six weeks armistice, or
to have through the acknowledged failure
of the negotiations, the right to move its
armies into Turkey. Within day or two
one or the other of these will be secured.
From the propagation of Parliament until
December it is evidently believed in Eng
land ,hat the pacific alternative will prevail.