Year: 1876




Tho Emperor or Russia's Views.


In the light OF Lord Lotus report Of his
interview with the Emperor of Russia it APP
pears more than ever unfortunate that Earl
Beaconsfeld attended the Lord Mayors din
ner. Lord LOTUS saw His Majesty Novem-
Der 2; received from him personally an ex-
planation of several points of consequence
in Russia's policy; wrote out his remem-
brance of the conversation; read his report
Of this conversation to Prince Gortschakoff,
and received from that statesman the as
surance that it presented with substantial
accuracy the views of the Car Dates
are here of some consequence with
regard to the attitude Of Russia
His Majestys very pacific and reassuring
declarations were made to the British AM
bassador on the I'd nst.-that is to say seven
days before Earl Beaconshelds speech was
delivered at the Mansion House. AS the
publication of the Cars views follows Mt
convenient distance the Prime Minister'S
defiant sentences. and follows also some
warlike preparations which were, in fact,





Lord Lotus, the appearance is given that
the Gar yields before the resolute demeanor
OF England. 1t is but just, therefore, to note
that his words were more peaceable when
war seemed less imminent than at present.


Had the Cars words been known in Lon
don on November the Premier could not
have spoken rs he did. unless with de-
liberate purpose to infame the public
mind and unsettle every bourse in Europe.
AS it cannot be assumed that the Premier
had any sensational intention it is to be de-
plored that he was not then informed as to
what the Gar had said seven days before
Any correspondent OF first rate newspaper
who had been favored with an interview
such as Lord LOTUS had, or who had
otherwise become possessed of such i'm
portant declarations as these made by
the Gear, would have telegraphed every
word Of his report to his paper, not merely
from st. Petersburg to London, where the
cost is moderate, but to this city, where it is
immoderate. 1t seems pity that the gov
ernments OF rich nations are not conducted
as literally as newspapers are. If the situa-
ton created by the acrimonious words which
have been spoken on either side since-and
which could not have been spoken if the
Cars declarations had been wired to Lon
don-shall result in war, with nm expenditure
of q thousand million dollars, the British
taxpayer may gloomily reflect that all that
could have been prevented by an outlay of
five hundred dollars on q government
despatch.


Although the Cars warlike speech at Mos
cow was made several days later than his assu-
rance was given to Lord Lotus it is to be con-
sidered that that speech was a sort of counter
defiance to Earl Beaconsfeld. It was an ex-
plosion Of wrath under the most natural
irritation; an unwise notice of an unwise
provocation. It represented, therefore,
mood likely to pass away; but the words now
present his opinions deliberately formed and
calmly expressed Of the relation of his gov
ernment to the crisis in Turkey, and
it is to be hoped that as the irri-
tation subsidies all parties may return
to that calmer stage Of the deliberations
which preceded the Mansion House speech.
Between the Cars declarations made to
Lord LOTUS and the decision of recent
Cabinet Council in England there is plenty
of room for peace. The British government
declared that as between Russia and Turkey
merely it would not interfere. but that it
would defend Constantinople. The Czar
says he does not want Constantinople and
will not go near it, but may occupy Bulgaria.
Russian and British troops. therefore, cannot
come face to face if these positions are ad-
hered to, and when Turkey finds that she
must meet Russia alone if she is disposed
to meet her on the Danube she will accept
any alternative condition. If the negotia-
tions can be restored to the ground of these
declarations peace will be preserved.


The Negroes as Voters.