Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1877 — STEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

STEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE WAB IN THE EAST. The Russians have re-occnpied the positions hcid by them previous to the Plevna disaster. They are receiving heavy reinforcements, and preparing to administer a crushing blow to the Turkish forces north of the Balkans. From (labrova a correspondent reports that tho whole country about Eski-Saghra is being devastated, and the villages and country residences burned by flying bands of Bulgarians and Circassians. An ofticial dispatch published in St. Petersburg admits the loss of upwards of 5,000 men at Plevna, including one Colonel killed and a Major General and two Colonels wounded. The dispatch also admits that Gen. Gourka has been obliged to retreat. A cable dispatch says Gen. Gourka has destroyed the railway between Jamboli and Philippopoty. The whole country between Kazanlik and Adrianople will soon be destroyed, owing to the strife between the Turke and Bulgarians, unless tho Russians press rapidly forward. An Adrianople dispatch says: “ There is appalling misery among the Bulgarian and Turkish fugitives from Eski-Saghra and neighborhood. There arc from 10,000 to 15,000, of whom 500 are wounded. Many are dying on the road from exhaustion and starvation. All are destitute of every necessary of life.” In the naval engagement in Sulina nver the Turkish ironclads attacked seven Russian gunboat/ and destroyed two of them. There is much sickness in the Russian army in the Dobrudsclia. The Russian Gen. Gourka has retreated from his position in the Shipka pass, and there are now no Russians south of the Balkans. This movement, it is said, was rendered necessary by the concentration which the Grand Duke Nicholas is carrying oiit in the valley of the Jantrai

A cable dispatch announces that Achmet I’aslia, who surrendered the fortress of Nikopolis to tho Russians, has ended his life by suicide. The Russian army in Bulgaria is beginning to suffer in health. In the Dobrudsclia, where steaming swamps poison tho air and water alike, malarial fever and dysentery are playing avoc with Gen. Zimmerman’s army. The cable reports a panic throughout Russia. Additional troops are being hurried pell-mell to the Danube. Tho religious communities are hastily packing and sending their valuables to Austria, fearing that they will be confiscated in the general war-levy for money, and there is nn increasing fooling of uneasiness in Russian -Poland. Nevertheless, there is much enthusiasm at Moscow and at St. Petersburg for war. The suburbs of the Russian capital are studded with tents and the city itself is full of martial sounds incident to the warlike preparations. A force of 185,000 landwehr is nearly ready to start for the front, and there is every indication that Russia is determined to justify the general belief in her ultimate success. The chief of Gen, Krudener’s staff has been cited before a council of war to explain the failure at Plevna. Charges and counter-charges of atrocities continue to be made by Russians and Turks, and both seem to contain the elements at least of truth. There is no doubt that this is the most cruel war in the history of the world. Reprisals are made ruthlessly by both belligerents.

GENERAL FOREIGN NEWS The famine in India is growing worse, and an earnest appeal has boon addressed to the British public for aid. The mortality is increasing, and tho distress is reaching the better classes. The General commanding the Spanish forces in Cuba has advised the Spanish Government that the insurgents of the island will surrender only on condition of receiving their independence ; that it will require 50,000 more soldiers to “ crush ” the rebels, and that unless he can have them ho recommends tho Government to accept the former alternative and stop the cruel war. ’ The American residents of Rome have sent a congratulatory letter to Gen. Grant, who is now traveling in Italy. A dispatch from Ban Antonio, Texas, says : “ Lieut. Bullies crossed the Bio Grande on the It b. recaptured five stolon horses, anil re turned to tho Texas side on the sth. Maj Schofield arrested forty-five Valdez filibusters at Eaglo. pass.” A Vienna correspondent confirms the report that Austria lias concluded the financial arhtii£4n£nts necbisAry for partial mobilization. The total amount borrowed was 26,400,000 florins. Gen. Grant is in Italy, Gov. Tilden is in Loudon, Gov. Hendricks is in Paris, and Theodore Tilton is traveling incog, in England. All hope of Jovellar’s success in restoring tranquillity in Cuba having been abandoned, he has been removed and Gen. Blanco appointed Captain General in his stead. It is rumored in London that the Austrian and German Emperors, at thoir recent conference, agreed upon a plan for the partition of Turkey, by which Russia is to have Armenia, iw w Lwl» o DouxxLcx qml Tloi'rr Greece to have Epirus, Thessaly and Crete, and Bulgaria to be governed by a German Prince.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE I I-IIXSt. The New York market is literally overstocked with sugar, prices are declining, and disaster is predicted for some of the firms. One of them, we read in the Trilrtene, is carrying 35,000 hogsheads, which, if sold at present market rates, would be at a loss of SBOO,OOO. West. The affairs of the Protection Life Insurance Company, of Chicago, have been placed in the hands of a receiver.’ The Charter Oak Insurance Company has been prohibited from doing business in Illinois. The suit instituted on the part of the Govcrnment against William McKee, of the St. Ijouis Globe-Democrat, to recover the entire amount out of which the national treasury was defrauded by the St. Louis whisky ring contains 1,653 counts, judgment of $1,400 on each count being asked—in all, $2,314,200 The jury in the case of*Pike,;<rf Chicago, who some time ago murdered Jones, the editor of a spiritualist paper in that city, has rendered a verdict of acquittal on the ground that he was and is insane. Leslie C. Hanks, Consul General for Guatemala, recently shot and killed a well-known stock-broker named Daily, in the streets of Han Francisco. Hanks was arrested and conthud in prison. The next morning he was found dead in his cell, having shot himself with a rifle that had been carelessly left within .his reach. A fire in San Francisco, last week, burned two blocks of frame buildings occupied by small retail establishments, boarding-houses, saloons, etc. The loss is estimated at about $150,000. John P. Schenck, Secretary and Treasurer of * h© Laborers Loan and Ravings As-

sociation, of Toledo, has fled to Canada with £B,OOO of the bank’s funds. Minnesota will, it is estimated, yield 30,000,000 bushels of wheat this autumn. The failures in Chicago during July represent an indebtedness of $4,859,221. A desperate fight recently occurred at West Los Animas, CoL, between the adherents of two rival dance-houses. Knives and pistols were freely used, about thirty shots being fired. One man was killed and seven or eight others dangerously wounded, some of whom will die of their injuries. Four men were drowned in the harbor of Chicago, last week, by the sinking of the yacht Pamlico. South. The main building of the Wesleyan Female College at Murfreesboro, N. C., has been destroyed by fire. Loss, £75.000; insurance, Deputy United States Marshals Harris and Peebles were stint by Gen. Patterson, Collector of the Memphis district, to seize the tobacco of John A. Burton, in Henry county, Tenn. They had two men and a driver of a wagon with them, and seized the factory, and began loading the machinery on the wagon, when suddenly they were surrounded by twenty-flve armed men and ordered to unload the wagon, some of the desperadoes insisting on killing the officers, who were forced to abandon the work and leave. They were glad to get away with their lives.

POLITICAL POINTS. The Maine Republican Convention met at Augusta oh the 9th fast., and was called to order by Senator James G. Blaine. Joseph Drummond, of Portland, was made President of the convention. Gov. Connor was nominated by acclamation for re-election to the Governorship. The Committee on Resolutions made their report. The resolutions declare it to be the imperative duty of the National Government, by the exercise of every constitutional power, to extend its protection to every citizen, native and naturalized, white and colored, whether men tied by tyranny abroad, or by political persecution, now shielded under the heresy of States rights at home. That the Republicans of Maine view with solicitude and alarm the complete consolidation of all political power in sixteen Southern States in the hands of those who precipitated the rebellion, while the Union men are persecuted into silence or banishment, and the entire colored race so practically enfranchised by force and fear that in Congressional districts where they have more than two-thirds of the voters they are unable to elect one of their race or a white man in sympathy with their interests. Thirty-five representatives, in Congress, and thirty-five electoral votes apportioned to the Southern States by reason of their colored population, are thus invested to the sole aggrandizement of Confederate power in the National Government, and late rebel soldiers in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana are thus enabled to exert in the administration of the Government more tb in double the political power of Union soldiers in any Northern State. That the action of the Democrats of the House of Representatives, in refusing appropriations for the army, except upon conditions that deprived the Commander-in-Chief of the discretion vested in him by the constitution, was wholly unjustifiable, dangerous and revolutionary, and it is a striking commentary on this evil and perilous course that two of the States whose entire representation in Congress aided in defeating the Army bill have been since compelled, under pressure and violence of mob law, to. call on the National Government for such aid as only the army can render. That a sound currency, based on coin and redeemable in coin, is essential to the prosperity of the people, and we therefore demand that, in the resumption of specie payment, the promise of the National Government be kept in an honest, straightforward manner, and that no backward or sideway step be taken. The resolutions oppose any further land grants or subsidies for railroads by the General Government ; favor such incidental protection and development of the country as the wisest system of revenue may rightfully and properly afford ; also, favor wise and salutary measures tending to the purification, integrity, and independence [of the civil service, and declare that non-sectarian education must be continued. Charles J. Talbot moved the adoption of the and moved the previous question. A scene or confusion ensued, and the previous question was not seconded. Gen. J. 8. Chamberlain moved an amendment, as follows :

liexolved, That we reaffirm unshaken confidence in thC integrity, patriotism, and statesmanship of Rutherford B. Hayes, and we cordially approve his efforts to carry out in good, faith the principles enunciated by the Cincinnati Convention. Gov. Chamberlain spoke in favor of his amendment, and his remarks were received with great applause. C. A. Boutell, of Bangor, moved the following amendment, and advocated its adoption: Resolved, That this Convention declares its belief that Gov. Packard, of Louisiana, and Gov. Chamberlain, of South Carolina, were entitled to their respective offices by the same Votes which elected Rutherford B. Hayes President of the United States, and that both Governors were clearly entitled to recognition by the National and by failure to recognize them placed the National Government in the humiliating attitude of surrendering to rebels threatening wiiu «mia m their hands to resist its legitimate authority. Mr. Blaine took the floor, and said he was opposed to both resolutions, and in favor of peace. He moved that the resolutions be tabled, and made a speech in support of his motion, in which he said : “ I do not rise to speak for an indorsement of the administration or against it, for the Southern policy or in opposition to it. A difference is existing in the Bepublican party. What shall be done about it ? Shall one man be compelled to swallow the opinions of another, or shall not each have liberty to cherish his own ? lam opposed to both these resolutions. I am known by perhaps every member of this convention to entertain very deeded views on the Southern question, but I am just as ready to vote against the resolution condemning the President's policy as I am to vote against one approving. We cannot ake action either way without offending good men, and creating needless heartburnings and dissensions. We can all unite on a strong platform, embracing the issues which we hold in common. We can all rally as one man to the support of Gov. Connor. We can be tolerant to each other’s opinions. We can all remember and adapt the old theological maxim which teaches, ‘ln essentials there should be unity; in non-essen-tials, liberty; in all things, charity.’ ” A. G. Lebroke made a violent speech against the administration, which was greeted with cheers and hisses. After other speeches Aaron H. Morrill said he wanted peace, but there was no peace in opposition to the national administration, and he desired to say this to his friends who had preceded him. He proceeded to address the convention amid a scene of great confusion, being greeted with cheers and hisses. Mr. Blaine’s motion to lay both resolutions on the table prevailed. A meeting of disaffected Ohio Republicans met at Columbus last week, and was presided over by Gen. John Beatty, former member of Congress, Besolutions were adopted bitterly

denouncing the Southern policy of President Hayes. f A. B. Cornell, Naval Officer of New York, and Chairman of the Republican State Committee, say*, he will not resign either office, but proposes to hold on to both until relieved. Washington telegram: The President that the proceedings of the Maine Convention are a disappointment to him. He expected something more emphatic in the way of cen- ' sure. The resolutions, he said, are not dangerous, and the country can stand them. The Virginia Democratic Convention, after a stormy session of three days, nominated Frederick W. M. Halliday for Governor. A platform was adopted recognizing the .obligat ion of the public debt, and recommending the General Assembly to endeavor to readjust the same In a manner just to creditors and honorable to the State. ; The workingmen’s political movenwntys Mid to be assuming formidable shape in Ohio. A convention is to be held for the nomination of a State ticket, and Legislative tickets will be nominated in nearly every county. Many farmers are joining in the movement. A State convention of the Workingmen’s party in Ohio was held at Cincinnati last week. A platform was adppted, and the following ticket nominated : For Governor, L. H. Bond, of Cincinnati; Lieutenant Governor, Francis Skarde, of Cleveland ; State Treasurer, L. H. Hine, of Loveland; Clerk of the Supreme Court, Henry Armsperger, of Cincinnati; Board of Public Works, P. G. McGeeney, of Xenia; School Commissioner, Peter H. Clark, of Cincinnati.

WASHINGTON NOTES. Secretary Shennai!has gone to his home at Mansfield, Ohio, and will not return until about the Ist of September. C. W. Ringgold, tl* United States Appraiser at New Orleans, La., and C. J. Barber, Appraiser at Portland, Me., have been suspended, with a view to a reduction of the force. At a Cabinet meeting, the other day, it was determined to prohibit the sale of arms to Indians. Superintendent Vail, of the railway postal service, that during the recent strikes there was not a single letter or newspaper lost. President Hayes, accompanied by several members of his Cabinet, left Washington, on the 13th inst., for a trip through Vermont and New Hampshire. Later on, sometime in September, he will pay a visit to his home in Ohio, thence making a detour to Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and back to Washington. The administration has decided to send a commission to Canada to negotiate for tho return of Sitting Bull and his band to American soil.