The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 740, 23 August 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1878.

The plot thickens, Austria has been told by the Con.Tt-ss that she may occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina ; bnt talking and doing, it appears fr. >m the sequ-1, are totally different things, and we would not wonder if Ati3tria regrets that such an honor was ever conferred upon her. The venue is changed fortunately for Russia, and she can now watch with folded arms the sanguinary contest that arooe from her insatiable apprtite for conquest, and which is reddening the fields of Bosnia. Russia has come out of the difficulty much better than she could have expected but a few months ago, and very much better than she deserved. She ha 3 been ceded Batouni, which, although the stipulation is that it is to be a free port, she will possess the right to fortify, and this vantage position on the Bhick Sea, with other little favors, will act as a solatium to her. Russia has played her cards well. Having produced what may end in a free fight, she, havmg broken the back of the Empire her enmity towards which has existed through centuries, and has never been in the least satisfied, she feels inclined to withdraw and let her arbitrators have it out. But there are one or two other small concessions that she desires to be made, one being that neutral troops should occupy Thessaly. The Turk has not sufficient:}* suffered. He has been robbed of his plum; s, and humbled in the dnst. Slices of his territory have been taken from him, and he has been deprived of the privilege of governing others ; but that is not enough to satisfy the feelings of hatred which Russia has always entertained towards him. Now th't Russia I has her foot on the Turk's head, he must \be held down. If Knssia has not attained all she aimed at, she has, at least, got a i great deal, and now she c;m with complacency, after her sanguinary struggle rest whilst at least some of those nations which prevented her from accomplishing her object are wrangling over the altered state of things wrought out by her. Where the matter will end now, it is impossible to tell. We believe that Congress has shown wisdom in giving its decisions, and is in no respect responsible for the belligerent spirit which seems to have in the attempt to carry ont its programme. Turkey seems brokenspirited and disinclined to recommence hostilities, and that Austria will be satisfied with the mere occupation of Bosniaand Herzegovina after the expenditure of so much blood and money is scarcely probable.