The New York Herald Newspaper, March 20, 1877, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY ANO ANN STREET. GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. JAMES ceery day in the year. inded). Ten doliars per onth for any period less for six mouths, Sunday ‘Letters and packs: Kesected communication: PRRLADELPHIA OFFICE: NDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD— T STREET. DE LiOPERA. . TBTRADA PACE. vertinersents willbe received and terms us in New York. AMUSEMENTS TO-NIGHT, BOWERY THEATRKE—Nimoty Jim, BROADWAY THEATR: FIFTH AVENUE THEAT! PARK THEATRE—Ovn Bosnnixa House. WALLACK’S THEATRE—My Awret Dap. OLYMPIC THEATRE—Ps UNION SQUARE THEATER ACADEMY OF MUSIC: BOOTH'S THEATRE— HELLER'S THEATRE EAGLE THEATRE—Ainv GERMANIA THEATRE —Don TONY PASTOR'S THEA’ GILMORE’S GARDEN—R. TIVOLI THEATRE— BROOKLYN PARK TH SAN FRANCISCO M. NEW YORK AQUAR BOYPTIAN UALL—Sus THEATRE COMIQU NEW AMERICAN MUSEU TRIPLE 1877, 10 COUNTRY DEALERS, — at « quarver past four A. M. edition of the Henauy whington, reaching . and Washington at From our reports this morning the probabilities are that the weather in New York to-day will be cool and clowly or partly cloudy, with snow or vain, followed by temporarily clearing weather, Wat Srreer Yesrerpay.—The stock mar- ket was much more active than of late, and @ considerable amount of business was done in the leading stocks. The weakness in the principal active stocks, however, still continues, although there was a slight rally during the after- noon. Gold was steady at 1 is. Government and railroad bonds were generally steady, al- though the latter were somewhat vaker, Money early in the day was easy at 21g per cent on call, but later advanced to 7 per cent, de- lining afterward to 4 a 5 per cent on call. How Pecuntan.y Bustvess often runs when it gets out of regular channels is hinted at in our story of the great diamond robbery. Orricer Nucext, who so gallantly rescued two old people from a burning building yester- day, is one of those policemen of whom the people are proud. Mucn as Many Prorte are inclined to doubt lt, even lawycrs are subject to the law. Mr. At- torney Randall was made to realize this fact yes- terday in a manner unpleasant to him. Ovr Cocumpra Lerrer es the opinions of » gallant ex-Confederate ou the South Carolina situation, and thousands of men who wore the blue uniforms a dozen years ago will find them- ig elbows with their old enemy in nest struggle. Tuy Brooktyn ALDERMEN made new fun for the scoffer yesterday. Though the votes were not as closely partisan as heretofore the men who temporarily stepped across the party line took particular pains not to place their votes 5 1 the struggle. Inv Answer to A Number of correspondents who complain of the manner in which the City Hall flags are iismanaged we would say that heretofore no one person has had the city’s bunt ing in charge. Hereafter, ho vr, the Mayor will decide when } York shall hang its ban- hers on the outer walls. Scrence Is AGatw making a nuisauce of itself. From an otherwise acceptable article on ‘The Heart of Afriea” in to-day’s Hera. we learn that the explorers with their scientific instru- ments have ruined the reputation of our own Mississippi as the “Father of Waters,” and estab- Vished that of th le in its stead. Tue Abanponment by the Corporation Coun- sel of the case of the Fire Commissioners against firemen who had sold the y claims to brokers will have the effect of reinstating a number of men who have been discharged for this nominal offence and will also convince the Commis- sioners that it is not well for any set of men to meddle with the private affairs of others. Turorrie” will not make nervous people unusually fond of trav- elling by rail, but it will explain the cause of many # disaster in which coroners’ juries tound nobody to blame. The neglect of lawmakers to protect the lives of railroad travellers by pro- viding that they shall be in competent hands is another illustration of the sad tact that what is everybody's business is nobody's business, Tue Wearn The disturbance which crossed the Mississippi Valley on Sunday even- | ing has moved eastward throu Valley into Virginia, « the coast near Cape Tt will, however, then direction, and merge with t still remains central over N foundland. A great are gh the Lower Ohio ion which and of snow and rain tends the storm, extending northwestward over | the lakes and Ohio Valley from the Middle At- lantic coast. Another depression has emerged from Northern Dakota and advances to- ward the Iakes. The temperature is low om the North and Middle Atlantic im the British Provinces and the upper lake re- gion, but has risen elsewhere. It is very high in the South and West. vails northward of Tennessee. except in Lower Canada and the Upper Mississippi Valley. High winds prevail in the Ohio and Missouri valleys and in Nova Seotia, and may be expected to- day along the Atlantic const. There are indiea- tions of w disturbance in the Caribbean Sea, due | probably w the intluenee of the high area whieh moved sontheastwardly in that direetion yester- day morning. The Lower Mississippi hae risen. Alb the other rivers have fallen slightly. The weather in New York today will be enol and doudy or partly clondy, with snow or rain, fol- _ Mowe vy veanporarily clearing weather, d will possibly pass off | coast, | A general cloudiness pre- | NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1877.—-TRIPLE SHEET. The Proposed Charter=The Obstruc- tive Elements. Every effort made to get rid of an evil is opposed more or less fiercely by all to whom the continued existence of that evil is an ad- vantage ; and every endeavor to secure any improvement in the administration of law, in the rapidity and comfort of locomotion, or in the condition of the people in any respect, is opposed as an invasion of their rights by those whose clumsy or iniquitous practices the improvement will displace. This is one of the facts of human expe- rience that is best known. In a chronicle that has perhaps been more read by the peo- ple than any one other history ever written, it is recorded how the Christian religion itself was fiercely opposed on a certain oc- casion by the mechanics or artists of Ephe- sus, who had a “vested right” in the contin- nance of Ephesian idolatry because they made the idols and altars before which the people worshipped Diana. If the religion preached by Paul should prevail-- this was their argument—and the people should worship in accordance with his | views, there would be no market in Ephe- sus for images of Diana or altars sacred to that goddess ; and thus an enormous quan- tity of property on their hands would be de- prived of its value, and one of the greatest industries of their city—one that gave em- ployment to thousands of men and subsist- ence to their families—would be destroyed forever. Theretore the silversmiths of the great city assailed the preacher and did what they could to prevent the propagation of Christianity, having no regard whatever toits grand truths, but a wonderful inter- est in certain of the material consequences ; and if some of the arguments that have re- cently been advanced in our courts are good law these silversmiths’ views are entitled to some consideration. Opposition of this sort is made in the city to two great improvements—to rapid transit and to the endeavor to secure a good muni- cipal government. In regard to rapid transit the horse car companies have a ‘vested right” in that torture which isinflicted upon a patient people, when, on a winter's day, they are put into an ice box on wheels and rolled at ao snail's pace from the City Hall to Sixtieth, Seventicth or Eightieth street. To the sublime hint of a hungry man, who says that rapid transit will get him home to his hot joint in twenty minutes, where they torture him for an hour and a half ; or to the suggestion that on the steam trains the cars will be cool in summer and warm in winter, while theirs are just the other way; or that ih the sweet by and by there will be no more hanging on by a strap—to all the eloquence and suggestiveness of facts like these they are as oblivious as the silversmiths of Ephesus were to the great truths of Christianity. They answer with material inquiries, What shall we do with our old cars ? they say, and our still older horses? and where shall we get the sixpences with which we now pay interest and dividends on millions and millions of bonds and shares, which represent an actual out- lay of about ten cents on a dollar? These companies may be answered by inquiries even more material than their own. Is there any value in their franchises or their property without the streets, and do they own the streets? Clearly not. Whence did they derive the right or privilege to use the streets? From the people. For what purpose was that privilege given? Solely for the satisfaction of a need felt by the people at the time—for the public convenience ; and if the public convenience now requires that the people shall give another privilege to another en- terprise is the fact that a privilege was for- merly given to thema limitation on the power of the people? Is the right of the people to givo privileges of this sort ex- hausted by its exercise in favor of one com- pany? Obstruction to the organization of a good government for the city is made most ear- nestly by those who are a part of the bad government that exists. Sinecure holders are the resolute foes of the abolition of sine- cures, and when half a dozen or fifty of these get together somewhere and call themselves “the people,” and subscribe » month’s pay and send their man to Albany to operate on the Legislature, their views are apt to prove important. There is but little doubt that under the scheme of municipal government that is now before the Legislature, and which is mado the special order for to-nignt, the affairs of this metropolis might be adminis- tered far more effectively and cheaply than they are. It isa measure that would prac- tically restore here that old, simple and vigorous system of government that is found efficient everywhere in the world for commu- nities of moderate proportions. Everywhere a small deliberative body and an untram- melled executive constitute the elements of good government; and the more these are overlaid with contrivances ostensibly pre- pared to prevent robbery and tyranny the | more tyranny and robbery are facilitated and the sense of responsibility to the peo- | ple is lost. This we have experienced in the commission system, which alone made possible the villunies of the Tweed régime. In the new charter all the evil of that system will be taken out and the little good that isin it preserved by making the Mayor responsible for the departments. Political philosophers and taxpayers are agreed on the excellence of the | scheme, but the office holders in the depart- ments do not like it. These are an influen- tial body ; they constitute the army of ac- tive politicians; they know how to raise money and how to use it, and they will do | their utmost to defeat at Albany the project for an amended government that would leave them out. Already one department has secured apparently an exemption from the general principle of this charter, by which every division of the city government is reduced to effective proportions under a single head authorized to administer the law directly under the control of the chosen executive in the Mayor's office. Other de- | partments will fight desperately for a simi- lar immunity, as place and patronage aro not to be relinquished without a battle. This is all natural enough, no doubt; and yet it certainly has the aspect of a moral outrage. It is very much as if the parasites Mii . that sometimes exist on and in the human body should combine to substitute their own volitions for those of the creature upon whom they live; should contemplate the man as their estate, and deem it an oppres- sion to them if he ventured sometimes to go his own way. To-night will tell, perhaps, whether the parasites or the people have most power in the Legislature. Constitational Turkey. An Ottoman Parliament was actually opened yesterday by the Sultan in person, which is one of the queer facts of contem- porary history. The Sultan’s speech, as given elsewhere, is at least a successful imi- tation of similar efforts in really constitu- tional countries, It is not yet fully certain whether Parliament will give play to any real political vitality of the Turkish nation, or whether its acts will more resemble the grimaces and contortions of a corpse moved by a galvanic battery. In its original theory, and at times in practice, the Turkish system was an absolute democracy, in which all men were equal, and the Sultan wielded the sword in the general interest; but in fact it has grown into a system of privilege so op- pressive to all but the few that the mere pretence of rights, as this is im- | plied in the existence of a parlia-| ment, seems like a mockery. It is a characteristic peculiarity of the situa- tion in Constantinople that it seems impos- sible for Turkey to go on for any time as she is, and equally impossible to make any change that will certainly be for the better. The Sultan, helpless by natural incapacity, | will not permit the existence near him of | any man whose talents might meet the occasions to which he himself is un- equal; and the constitution comes in to cripple the endeavors of an executive in a nation where there is no popular will to stand in the place of that sovereign will that the law limits. In these conditions ruin impends, and the great neighbor with halfa million men under arms stands by and waits his opportunity. Will the Mountain Meadows Mur- derer Be Executed t John D. Lee, the leader and chief insti- gator of the Mountain Meadows massacre, now lies in prison at Beaver City, Utah, awaiting execution for that awful crime. Twenty years have rolled away since the tragedy was enacted in that smiling little valley, wherein over one hundred and twenty men, women and children were ruthlessly and treacherously slaughtered in cold blood by the men in whom they trusted for protection. For twenty years the bones of the victims have bleached and mouldered in the wilderness, and the fell deed has remained unavenged. Now, however, the hand of Justice has grasped the guilty monster who is responsible for this hideous crime, and civilization awaits with impatience the sound of the volley that is to complete the stern work of retribution, Rumors of an appeal to the Territorial Ex- ecutive for the exercise of clemency reach us. ‘Time is regarded by some as a mitigation of the enormity of the crime—that is, because Lee escaped for twenty years and managed to attain prominence in his Church he should not suffer the extreme penalty. Perhaps the fact that Lee has many sons and grandsons to revenge his death may influence the de- cision of the Governor, and render Mormon and Gentile unwilling to become his execu- tioners. General Sherman, it appears, de- clines to detail any United States soldiers as a firing party, on the ground that the reg- ular troops are not intended to execute the processes of the civil courts, Although many citizens of Utah are willing to be deputized for that duty still there is a slight undercurrent of feeling favorable to a com- mutation of the death penalty. It is to be hoped, however, that in the interests of jus- tice Lee will suffer. His crime has stained our history es a people. It was a premedi- tated murder, rendered all the blacker by the treacherous means he adopted to accom- plish his devilish purpose. We print in to- day’s Henaxp a despatch from Beaver City, Utah, giving the prevailing opinion in Mor- mon circles regarding Lee’s case, and show- ing how deeply interested the Church ig in its settlement. Tho Troy Strike. The receipt of a mysterious letter of a kind that sometimes proves worthy of attention caused the Heratp to send and obtain accurate information about the strike of the Troy iron moulders. It is creditable to the unemployed moulders and assuring to the public that the main charge made by our informant seems without better foundation than a bad scare. The explanations of the proprictors as to the method of work in the foundries make it practically impossible that explosives can be secreted in moulders’ boxes or the loose sand with which they are filled. Besides, a single explosion of any such quan- tity of dynamite as that alluded to would effectually blast the hopes of the strikers by ruining the foundries near which they remain. Those who know the strikers best are least inclined to be frightened or to believe any such terrible charges against them. That the feeling between the old hands and the new is very bitter is not denied, but it is not easy to imagine how it could be better. With each party tho struggle is one for bread, and the success of either means the utter ruin of the other. That actual violence has so seldom been in- dulged in speaks woll for both sides, That there has been a great deal of ugly talk is natural enough; for, as tho President of the Moulders’ Union said to our reporter, ‘‘When men are out of work and starving they are not likely to be over- nice in their languoge or conduct when they meet in the streets those whom they fancy are the means of taking the bread out of their mouths.” A similar defence might be made for the non-union men, who are cursed and abused for tho sole fault of earning bread for themselves. The situation is bad enough at best; hundreds of men are idle, angry, penniless and hungry, and there is too little work for the hands that can do it, There is but little danger, however, that the troubled workmen will develop into mur- derous villuins and deprive themselves of that public sympathy without which the most independent and able find success im- possible. in The Paris Intermational Exhibition. The action of the State of Connecticut in making an appropriation often thousand dol- lars for its representation in Paris is instruc- tive evidence of the appreciation of New England manvfacturers of the value of such exhibitions. Butitshould be clearly under- stood by Connecticut and any other State likely to follow in her footsteps that such ap- propriations are of no value unless the gov- ernment of the United States formally accept | the invitation tendered by France and ap- point a commission to take charge of the in- terests of her exhibitors. The German Reichstag declined to co-operate in the French Exposition, and when a very large number of German manufacturers proposed to exhibit, either individually or collectively, they were notified by the French commission that no exhibitions would be permitted except through the agency of a commission officially representing the government. This is an important fact and should be generally known, for we are advised that several important manufactories are already arranging for their exhibits in Paris. The question can only be settled in one way, and that is by immediate action on the part of our government either accepting or declining the French in- vitation, so that all parties interested may understand their position. There can be no question as to what course should be taken for the future interest of our manufactures and commerce. Nota day has passed since the close of the Philadelphia Exhibition without some evidence of its great value to our general interests as a people. Large or. ders have been received from every foreign nation represented, and it has been fairly estimated that over one million of dollars has already been expended in articles ex- ported to Europe specially on account of their representation at the Exhibition. Now we have the opportunity to take advantage of this success and prove to the Europeans on their own ground the value of our im- provements in inventions and manufactures. It would also seem but courteous to France to return the compliment paid by that gov- ernment in making so fine an exhibition in Philadelphia. Bat there is no time to lose, and if we would avoid the failure which has to a great extent accompanied all our efforts abroad immediate action should be taken by the appointment of some suitable organization to at once make the pre- liminary arrangements, made much more feasible by the experience we have so recently had, which enables us to adopt what has proved of service and to avoid the errors which have been committed. The Southern States will have an opportunity to redeem their want of interest in the Exhibi- tion of last year and present for the invest- ment of capital and labor the wonderful resources of the several States now made available by a peaceful government. As has already been stated in our columns France has made large appropriations for her Expo- sition; plans have been adopted, and already thousands of workmen are clustered on the Champ de Mars and the Trocadero preparing for tho erection of the immense structures selected for the purpose. Great Britain fully appreciates the importance of the occasion, and the Times has sounded a warning to Sheffield, Birmingham and Man- chester to be prepared for still closer com- petition with the United State:. The Prince of Wales is president of tbe British commis- sion, and the services of that experienced gentleman, P. Cunliffe Owen, Esq., have been secured as general manager. We have no doubt that President Hayes has already given some thought to this important mat- ter, and trust that it will be within the power of the authorities to act at once. The Starving Burglar. One of those romantic incidents of which we read in novels has just happened in real life, and people who accept the Jean Val- jean of Victor Hugo as a natural event seem to doubt the repentance of Christian Hanson, Jean Valjean is one of the noblest person- ages in fiction, and why should not Han- son imitate his example? Jean stole a loaf of bread and was sentenced to the gal- leys, and after years of Inbor escaped and attempted another burglary. His con- science was aroused and he became a good mun in the sight of God, while he remained only convict in the opinion of the law. Hangon served for ten years in prison asa burglar and when he was pardoned tried to get honest work, and failing in that at- tempted a burglary in daylight, ex- pressly to obtain admission to jail once more, and thus to avert starvation. Is the Siction of the novelist stranger than the fact of the Tombs? The novelty of Hanson's case attracted the attention of the public, and he has been offered employment by gentlemen who believe that his profes- sions of reformation are sincere, It is true that many persons who act as Hanson has are impostors, but all are not, and society is usually so severe with the offender that it should give the sinner who repenteth the opportunity of proving his sincerity. Hanson is free, is well dressed, and has honest and lucrative employment. We trust that his future career will bea reward to hia benefactors and a proof that a man who is sternly deter- mined to reform will not find society re- solved to resist and crush his aspirations, A Veto Message. Governor Robinson’s veto of tho bill di- recting the Comptroller of tho city of New York to pay the salaries of the clerks and assistants of the district courts who were illegally appointed in 1876 will meet with general approval. It is clear and concise in its statement of the constitutional objections to the bill and unanswerable in its refuta- tion of the plea of equity by which the measure was pushed through the two houses. The District Court justices who took office in 1876 romoved the existing clerks and as- sistants and appointed others in their places in the face of a protest against the legality of the act. The courts restored tion, while as to the plea of “equity” he in- sists that as the new clerks took the offices knowing that their title was contested in the courts they accepted the chances of success or defeat. The veto is strong and decisive in its tone and gives good evidence that the public moneys under Governor Robinson's protection will be secure against any im- proper diversion. “Bad for the Coo’.” Our lively neighbor, the Graphic, gives a pithy pictorial application to the horse rail- roads and rapid transit of the old joke about bovine opposition to the railroad. One of the first objections made in England to the iron horse was that he might occasionally meet in his path some obstinate cattle, and in such an event the country gentlemen could see only calamity to the train; for they were not yet in possession of any stand- ard by which they could form a conception of its tremendous momentum. One of them, therefore, put the case to Stephenson as to what would happen if a cow should get in the way, and he answered quietly, “It would be verra bad—for the coo’.” This story should be remembered by the people who are snorting and bellowing around and throwing up dirt in their antics of ob- jection to that great enterprise which now moves with all the momentum of popular determination. All the hostility of horse railroad companies or private owners will not avail to defeat the purpose of the people to have an easy means to traverse the dis- tances between their homes and their places of daily occupation. An injunction was placed yesterday on the operations of the New York Elevated Railroad Company; but that farce will come to an end if the legisla- tion proposed with regard to injunctions of this class shall, as we trust it may, get safely through at Albany. Police Brutalitics. The frequent recurrence of atrocious out- rages by police officers on the persons of helpless prisoners and inoffending citizens is a grave cause for alarm. It would seem that the brutal instincts of these uniformed thugs are under no restraint, that they deem themselves above the law, and rely, when an outcry is raised against them by an indignant public, for countenance and pro- tection on the authorities who should be most ready to punish them, Witness the case of Thompson, the brutal bully who ar- rogated to himself lately the powers of policeman, judge, jury and executioner in dealing with o half intoxicated but harm- less man on Park row. Has this model officer been punished as he deserves? Not at all. His witnesses come forward in crowds and proclaim his virtues and effi- ciency. He is said by them to be o man of extremely gentle disposition. He is tried, but the jury, remembering the possibilities before them in the public streets in case he is convicted, agree to disagree, and so ‘‘the mildest mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat” goes scot free in all probability. He is again turned looseon the public streets, and, doubtless, feels quite proud of the notoriety he has achieved. Another case has now come up for investigation. Policeman Nevin, while calmly dozing at the station house, dreams a dream of glory and blood. He arises, arms himself with a piece of brass, and sal- lies forth in search of somebody to mutilate, He remembers that a boy charged with burg- lary is lying, half drunk, in a neighboring cell. Then Nevin, seeing his opportunity and procuring the keys, proceeds to investi- gate the case against the prisoner after his own fashion. As the boy Bronner did not immediately plead guilty to the charge the judicial Nevin hacks his eye out with the piece of brass. Fortunately in this instance Inspector Thorne has taken the matter up and brings charges against Nevin. There is some little prospect that the ruffian will be punished, If all our inspectors would only act as promptly as Inspector Thorne the zeal for murderous assaults which seems to fill the hearts of some of “the finest police in the world” would be moderated, and the courts would once more resume their pre- rogative as the dispensers of punishment in the name of justice. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, 0’Conor Power is in St, Louis. Ole Bull and wife will summer in Norway, Califorpia farmors burn their straw in ordorto get rid of it, Rochester Democrat:—‘To Henry Bergh—Scoop-net lest ye be scooped.” Williams College students are prohibited from tak- ing walks on Sunday afternoons, Senator Saunders, of Nevraska, and Postmaster Gea- éral Key look as much alike as two beans, Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, arrived at the Fifth Avenue last evening from Washington, The editor of tho St. Louis Globe-Democrat has “Scrivoner’s Palsy,’? which came from using steel scissors, In the time of Job, it is said by the Biblo, cheeso was mado, We think we strack some of it yesterday. It walked with a cana, A practical nan says he is going to ‘do business,’” but a theoretical man says he is going to ‘work on business principles.” Mr. Schurz, take notice, Louisville Courier-Journal:—“Yos, gentlemen, just ag soon ag 1 got through with the population of Ohio the affairs of tho country shall be considered,” — R, B. H. The smallest eggs, according to a acientiat, are Inid in Wisconsin, Yes, by Jove! and few tn a hill.—Roch™ ester Democrat, A tan who will lay bimself out to hatch such a joke os that ought to be sot on, Evening Telegram :— Ob, my name js Williams, 1’m a captain bold, ‘And L club whomover I choose; I have “kuuckies” in my pocket, a ‘billy’? in my sleeve, And I’m King of the Calaboose, Sankey, While in Boston, stops at the Hotel Bruns. wick, A pretty tune thoy must charge nymn.—Jew York Commercial Advertiser. Perhaps he boards there on “time.’—Norristown Herald. Ot course, every- boay in Boston takes his notes —St Louis Republican, It would be base to charge bim treble, Danbury News:—Whea Von Bilow was asked ove day what he thought of that class of flasby music teachers whose pseudo method is to give large, oper- ose pieces without exercises, he sad, ‘DoJ not every day play those fearful exercises? Havo I not edited Cramer?” The Court Circular says:—‘'The storm that burst over London and soveral parts of the country Jaet week had been previously announced from America, This cannot be suffered to remai fo,’ We do not see how the English papers can keep us from giving them the nows. We shailcontinue to announce these storms, evon tf every newspaper building in England 18 blown down, Danbury News:—"‘What gender is sugar?” asked a teacher of the grammar class, ‘‘What kind of sugar?” the old employés and gave them the full pay. Judge Robinson shows that to pay tho clerks who have no legal claim on the city a second salary is in direct conflict with the provisions of the State constitu. asked a boy. “What kind?" repeated tho teacher, “What has that todo with 107?" “Why, if iv’s maple sugar it’s fominiae der,’? said tho boy, ‘Why feminine gender?” asked the teacher, with a pazzied face, ‘Because you can’t teil ite age,” promptly re- plied the boy, TELEGRAPHIC NEWS From All Parts of the World. THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT. Gliding Gracefully from Barbarism Toto Civilization, THE SULTAN’S OPENING ADDRESS, Growing Anxiety About the Signing of the Protocol. THE OCEAN MAIL SERVICE, [Bx CABLE TO THE HEBALD.] Loxnoy, March 20, 1877, ‘The first Turkish Pariiament under the constitution promulgated on the 23d of last December assembled at Constantinople yesterday, and was opened by the Sultan i person. The specch will be found be- low. The Mivisters, the chief civil, military and religious dignitaries aud the foreign Chargés d’ Affaires, except those of Germany and Russia, who wore repre- sented by dragomans, were present, The First Secre- | tary of the Sultan read the speech from the throne. A considerable number of Senators and Deputies were in attendance. The Deputies will take their seats to-day. Of the thirty Senators there are five who are Mussulmans, This pare liamentary experiment is a decidea novelty in a Mohammedan Empire, and was only adopted as a measure to answer the pressing demands of the Powers for the betver government of the Christian subjects of the Porte in the fature, With the almost certain al- ternative of war in case of non-acceptance the final and modified propositions of the pienipotentiaries were re- Jected by the Sultan, who declared that whatever re- forms were needed in the internal administration of bis Empire would be devised and carried out by his own government. Turkey believed all along that she would not be Jett alono in the event of a struggle, and, in accordance with the wily policy that has always dis- tinguished hor Ministers, brought forward a char- ter, liberal and comprehensive in its terms, but in ree ality a measure that deceived no one, and even if faithfully observed would not be effective for the pur- poses it was designed. A special commission, com- posed of the great dignitaries, the Ulemas, and the fanctionaries of the Empire, tramed the charter which bas for its principal teatures the full equality of Christians with Mohammedans before the law. the in- troduction of municipal councils in cantons to be formed containing about 10,000 inbabitanis, and the creation of a Parliament, consisting of two Chambers, the members of the upper to be appointed by the Sultan, and of the lower to be elected by the people. The discussion of the articles of the constitution in the Council of Ministers led to the fall of a Grand Vizier, Mehmet Buchdi, who held the office at the time, wished to have lett ont certain clauses restricting thé power of tho Grand Vizier, and also clauses confining to certain limits the authority of the Sultan. His Majesty expressed a desiro that they should not be eliminated, Mehmet Buchdi demurred, and the result was his instant removal and the ap pointment of Midhat Pacha in his place. Betore proclaiming a document so important as the constita- tion it was neceasary to consult the Court Astronomer (a.custom alro observed in China), who, in his turn, ‘would consult the stars and tell the Sultan what would bo the lucky hour for the promulgation. It was de- cided to announce it precisely at the same hour that the propositions of tho Powers were to be read at the Cons ference then in session. This was done, and on December 23 the constitution was read at the Sublime Porte while 101 guns were fired at the batteries, The time of its proclamation had been on several occasions announced, but it was always postponed on the ground that it was expected that the Russian Ambassador might forbid its being read, The Suitan, in the imperial hatt, stated that tho object of the constitution was to place his subjects in the pos- sossion of the rights which belong to a civilized society and to remove the faults and abuses of every pature which rosult from illegal acte—that ts, from the arbitrary domination of one or several individuals; and by granting the same rights aud prescribing the same duties to the different mombers of the com- munity, make them all profit, without distinction, by tho benefits of !lberty, justice and equality, THE SULTAN’S OPENING SPEECH. The Sultan, in his speech opening Parliament, ree views Tarkey’s efforts at reform during recent times, He s ufter the Crimean war the country would have commenced a now era of progross and prosperity if intrigaes and culpable agitation had not paralyzed the efforts of tho government by obliging it to waste its ree sources on warlike expenditure, These causes and bad financial administration forced the goverament, on the outbreak of the insurrection in Her- zegovina, to reduce the interost on the public debt. The Sultan, having been called to the throne under the most difficult circumstances, frst placed the army in a condition to insure the security and independence of the country, and then devoted all his efforts to internal reform by promulgating a char- ter which, following the example of the most civilized States, made tho nation participate in the administra. tion of public aftairs, The specch onumerates the measures for discussion during tho session, Among them aro the budget, electoral and press bills, and bills for the reorganization of provincial administration, tribunals and civil sorvice, It especially recommends tho adop. tion of the financial bills and promises that mea- sures will bo taken to offer Turkey's creditors the most solid guarantces consistent with the urgont necessities of the Treasury, The Sultan praises tho patriotism of the people and the valor of the army, announces the pacification of the country and tho restoration of peace with Servia, and hopes for a favorable issue to tho ontenegrin negotiations, a resuit which would tho government to disband troops, Although the Conference did not end in a dofinite understanding, it has nevertheless boon demonstrated that the Turkish government was and 1s ready to par- tieipate in such wishes of the Powors as can be recon- ciled with existing treatics, international law and the exigencics of the situation. The speech concludes as follows :—'*My government has constantly given proofs ol sincority and moderation which will aid in drawing closer the bonds of friendship and sympathy that ‘unite us with the great European family.” PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION, The constitution contains 119 articles, and follows closely the principles recognized in limited monarchy governments, Its details hold out encouragement to hope for the future better rule of the Christian provinces of the Empire, but few permit thom. solves to bo decvived that any real or per- manent good will result irom its operation, A Parliament 1s established, to consist, as stated above, of an upper and a lower House, The Sen- ators for the former aro appointed by the Saltan and the delegates to the Chainbor of Deputies aro chosen by general suffrage, to be shared alike by Mo- han: nedan and Christian subjects, The powers of botb be4ws are defined, Parliamont is to lovy taxes, ostab- sh tribunals, contract loans, promote ‘tho progress of science and arts, maintain an army and navy, and per -