The Evening Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4212, 26 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1876.

Were not our domestic affairs ef such an engrossing nature just now, the events which have lately been transpiring in Turkey would probably have received considerably more attention in the Colony than they have done; not that New Zealand is connected by any particular bond with Turkey, but because, should the insurrection now raging in some of the TurkisL Provinces provoke a Contin ntal war, it might become necessary for England to take an active part in it. Many of the threads which complicate the political problem involved in the present phase of " The Eastern Question" are invisible to residents in this distant part of the world; and seera by no means clear to the eyes of our compatriots in Great Britain. The broad features ot the case are that the Christian inhabitants of European Turkey have risen against their Mussulman rulers. The name of " Christian" must needs awaken a sympathetic response in the hearts of all peoples professing the same religious creed, however different in nationality; | nevertheless, if English and French travellers who have made themselves acquainted with these little-known regions speak truly, it would be quite a mistake to become too effusive over the wrongs of their inhabitants, a large part of whom are little better than bandits. That they have grievances which urgently need redress is, however, indisputable. They are placed under spec : al laws, overweighted with taxation, and deprived of a due share in the admiuistration of public affairs, while what perhaps stings worst of all is the fact that they are regarded by the Mussulmans as an inferior race, and treated accordingly. These are sharp spurs to quicken a people to fight for its independence, and further goads have been added by the Slave nationality- movements which have so materially swayed the politics of Western Europe during the last few years, and by the machinations of Russia, who, desirous of breaking up the Turkish Empire in order that she may seize the lion's share of the fragments, has kept emissaries constantly at work in the Christian provinces of Turkey, stirring up discontent there. With such strong elements of disintegration existing, it would require able statesmanship to keep the Turkish Empire intact until its discordant parts become consolidated. Unfortunately, it is many years since Turkey produced a real statesman. The Turks, indeed, are Eastern warriors, not politicians of the Western stamp. They conquered Turkey by force of arms, and so long as it could be held simply as a conquered country, their footing was secure enough ; but as soon as they threw aside their weapons, and modern political problems began to arise for them to solve, they became helpless, and apparently still remain so. Lord Stratford de Kedcliffe kept Turkey afloat until the Crimean war, which gave it another twenty years' lease of life, and a splendid chance of recovering itself, if its rulers had orily T known how to use" the opportunity. The war, -with all its lessons, however, left them as ignorant and lethargic as betore. Great Britain and France lent them money to be used in developing the resources of the country, and it was squandered upon palaces and sensual pleasures. The grivanccs of the Rayahs were left unredressed, and Rus3ia was ever at work. Then came a financial collapse, and simultaneously the flames of insurrection flared up in Hergezovina. The whole Empire seemed verging upon ruin, and, almost at the first shock, the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, whose effeminacy and extravagance had largely helped to precipitate the castastrophe, lost his crown and his life. The deposition of Abdul -Aziz was decidedly favorable to the maintenance of the integrity of the Ottoman dominions. It disturbed the growing conspiracy between Russia, Prussia, and Ausr tria, and it was, for the moment, acknowledged throughout Europe that time must be given to the new Sultan, Mourad V., to determine up™ his course of action. The assassination of Hussein Avni, Minister for War, and the head of the old Turkish Party, which is engrained with Mussulman ideas and hostile to Western civilisation, tended in the same direction, since it gave the reform party, with Midhat Pasha as its leader, a char.ee of seizing the reins of power. But though the hour hj come, the man has not yet appeared. Mourad seems as incompetent as his predecessor, and the Ministry helpless in the midst of those intrigues which control Eastera Courts. The difficulties of the position have been augmented by Servia having joined the insurgents ; while Roumania is also moving. Servia has been agitated since the beginning of the insurrection, its inhabitants warmly sympathising with the insurgents; and, but for the influence of Prince Milan, its ruler, Servia would have been fighting against Turkey long ago. Her forces, when they took the field, presented the mogfc formidable aspect of any of the armiep which the Tarkiah troops had had to encounter. Although not thoroughly drilled, and weakened by the heterogenoousness of the elements of which they consisted, they mustered nearly 80,000 men, duly equipped, and having amongst them a proper proportion of cavalry and artillery. They were led by a Russian general, and other Russian and Austrian officers held important commands in the Servian army. The Servians, nevertheless, have been liss successful than the Herzegovinianß, and seem to have sustained two or three serious defeats, Whether the Turks are likely to suppress the present insurrection there are few means of judging } what is certain is, that the Turkish t mpire cannot be held permanently together. Lord Derby recently said, in his official capacity, that "no one supposes that the maintenance of the Ottoman Empire in any form within Europe is possible ;" and this opinion is echoed by all the statesmen of Europe. The prime object to be attained now is to let the Empire dissolve jnto its natural elements and to keep Russia's hands off Constantinople. By the help of British and Continental diplomacy Russia has been foiled in her designs for the present; and she warmly protests against unpleasant insinuations as to the purity of her motives. Hef virtue may possibly be fortified by the impossibility of borrowing more money for a i season. Ever since the Crimean war she has been raising Joans, and he*' military railways and canals have been principally constructed with British capital; while from the same source she has derived most of the money required to equip the armies with which she has conquered Central Asia. At last she has got to the end of her tether ; her bonds have fallen in the space of two months from 100 to 85: and the foreign capitalist buttons up his breeches pocket. Russia, couseqnsntjy, is not prepared to go to war; nor can it besuppostfi that Germany or Austria is desirous of au appeal to arms, if it can be avoided. The danger is that circumstances may arise which will render it unavoidable.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R.M., James Keith, charged by the police with being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10*, in default forty-eight hours.

It will be seen by our Parliamentary telegrama that on Tuesday the Franier isteuds to fulfil his promise of " taking the House into the confidence of the Government" in reference to the -Agent-Generalship. The Supreme Court sittiug in bankruptcy on Mo-day will probably only last a few minures, there being but one case to be heard. Mr Justice Williams will sit in banco en Tuesday and during the week. The Kartigi contract on the DunedinMoeraki railway has changed hav>ds, the pur.-hasers haing Messrs D. M'Kenzie, W. Paisley, and W. iviurcott, the consideration being sta-e.i by the Palmerston paper at L5 ; 000 or L 6.000.

r . f ra V (i dm^Q Wll will be pvovi : ed at the Frincics's this evening. The performance will commence with " Out- Boys," tie trump card of the season ; after which, a new burlesque with several local hits will be pre souted. Such a programme cannot fail to attract a large audience.

Mr Dauell's new play, " Transported for Life, was again repeated at the Queen's Theatre last evening. The drama is exceed■ngly sensational, but the comic element is well diffused, Mr Saville's representation of the Cockney being one of the best played parts in the piece. It will be performed for the last time to-night, and on Monday t>ives place to " The Trump Card." We learn that Mr Stout intends introducing a short Bill to vest in the Education Board the half-million acres now held by the Superintendent in trust for educational purposes; and that by it museums .and public libraries, in addition te the various scholastic establishments supported by the Province, will be entitled to participate in the revenues derivable from the endowment.

At the regular fortnightly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association, held last evening in St. Paul's vestry, a discussion took place on the question "Is repressive legislation effectual in stopping drunkenness." Mr W. A. W. Wathen took the affirmative side, and the negative was supported by Mr S. E. M'Cartby. After a lengthened discussion, extending over two hours, the question was decided in the negative.

Early this morning the police at Port Chalmers received intimation of the decease - very suddenly—of an old resident named James Alexander Popham. It has been the custom of a man named Henry Cooper to call Popham every morning, and this morning he went as usual to the latter's house, and receiving n© answer opened the door and entered, when he fouud Popham ' lying on his floor, face downwards, dead. From the appearance the room presented it is surmised that while cooking some meat (as a frying-pan containing chops was placed over some embers in the fireplace) deceased was seized with & fit and fell in the position Cooper discovered him in. When he was picked up a fresh looking bruise was found on his forehead. The deceased was a bricklayer by trade, a widower, and about sixty-five years of age. His only known relatives are a nephew living at Anderson's Bay and a son in Melbourne.

The Temperance Fall was comfortably filled last evening, when the Artillery Baud celebrated their third anniversary by a concert and ball. The officers and members of the various Volunteer companies mustered strongly. The programme provided was an excellent one, and the various items gave general satisfaction. The most noticeable feat .re of the evening was the violin solo, "The f.ast Hose of ;-'nmmer," which well deserved the round of applause it received. The bawl, under the direction of Mr M. Hume, played some very good operatic selections. The cornet solo in the pie -e entitled, " Boquet de l'Opera," aud the baritone " Lo, Here the Sabre, 'from the "Grind Duchess," being excellently played. Some good songs and dances were given, and a horn solo by two members of the band was warmly applauded. After the coi.cert, the room was cleared for dancing, and those who waited enjoyed themselves highly. The concert has proved to b6 one of the most successful, financially and otherwise, that has been held in Dunedin for some time.

There was a meeting of the Poultry Association last night, when the Secretary (Mr James) and the Chairman (Mr R. Wilson) entered into an explanation of the probable causes of the opposition that is threatened to the Society. According to them no reason exists for dissatisfaction. True to the object for which it was started—viz., the improvement of the breed of poultry-the - Society has changed its standard from Tegetmeirs to Wright's, as being the better one; but it was thought the judges would make their awards on the merits of the exhibits. It was further stated that in one quarter the threatened opposition resulted from failure to be elected on the committee- conduct which the chairman characterised as narrowminded and deserving of public contempt. Messrs T. Dodson and G. S. Smith were appointed a committee to make the arrange • inents for the pigeon flying match, and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Deputy-Superintendent for the purpose of obtaining his consent to the Art Union which is to be held in connection with the show.

The lata Jabez L. Ham, whose death occurred at Oamaru on Thursday, was for many years connected with Colonial journalism, and in Victoria, where he first settled, he successfully followed the occupations of auctioneer, runholder, and miner. Hia journalistic career is thus sketched by the «N. 0. Times':—" He was one of the first proprietors of the 'Melbourne Age,' and was at another time editor of the ' Ballarat Star.' While connected with the firstnamed journal he took a prominent part in advocatiug the right* of the diggers, and in urging a policy of clemency towards those who at the Ballarat riots had taken the law into their own hands. He arrived in New Zealand in 1862, and shortly after became editor of the ' Colonist,' then published in Dnnedin, nf which paper Mr Lambert (his fathor-in,law) was proprietor. After an active career in Dunedm, being connected with the Press in various capacities, Mr Ham oame to Oamaru to edit the ' Oamaru Herald' in 1871, and singe that journal ceased publication has carried on the business (if a commission agent, acting also, we believe 1 , aa correspondent for various journals published in other parts of the Colony." For son. e past he had been failing in health, and early on Thursday morning, after an iiluesa of about a. week, passed away at the comparatively early age of fortyeight, He leaves a widow and three children.

A concert and soire*», to celebrate tbo first annivtavary nf the Hop* of Mo-iiingt- nLodae 1-O.fi I'., will be held ia the • Momingt»n Hall, on Monday even'n.', commencing at eigUt punctually.