23 DECEMBER 1876, Page 1

The silent struggle between Midhat Pasha and Mahommed Rushdi, the

Grand Vizier, has ended' in the fall of the latter. Midhat Pasha has been elevated to the Grand Vizierat, and the new Constitution for Turkey which he has elaborated will be published at once. There can be no doubt that Midhat Pasha is a far abler and more resolute man than his rival, but it is a mistake to suppose that his elevation indicates a disposition to compromise with Europe. He is believed to have sanctioned the terrorising of Bulgaria, and his policy may be to defy Europe if necessary, to limit the power of the Sultan, and to grant to the Christians of the Empire a right of being represented in the governing Council at Constantinople, thus taking from them, as he thinks, all right of appealing to the foreigner. The Constitu- tion will probably die still-born, or end in a Council appointed by the provincial Pashas, who will control the elections, but there can be no doubt that as long as Midhat remains Grand Vizier, Turkey will be ruled by a strong man, intent on keeping the Porte independent of Euro- pean dictation. In the decree appointing him it is stated that he will attend specially to finance, and it is possible that he may try to conciliate England by some more promises to the bondholders.