The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-02 00:00:00

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1878.

THE FUTURE OF EUROPE.

The great events which are now taking place
in Europe and part of Asia, coupled with the
general aspect of affairs, appear to be so
ominous and threatening; it would seem
reasonable to suppose they are connected in
some way with the future destinies of this part
of the globe.
During the past eight or nine months we
have been witnessing a terrible conflict between
two despotic powers, a conflict which has been
lengthened and rendered doubtful by the deter-
mined and almost matchless bravery of com-
paratively a few men. But the big despot lnn;
at last overcome the little despot, anti now
stands over his fallen victim with a drawn
sword wherewith to defy the interference of
adventurous rescuers or peace-making neigh-
bours. So stupendous an event as this naturally
awakens the interest of ail intelligent readers
ani makes itself felt through all surrounding
districts, which are more or less affected by
what takes place around them.
The great politicians of Europe are at this
moment keenly and anxiously watched by tli,e
press of this and other countries. The
smallest demonstration of sentiment or the
slightest pulsation of thought which they may
happen to betray is instantly caught .up,
printed, published, and made at once the theme
of universal . gossip and controversy. Strange
rumours are thus wafted from place to-place
with amazing velocity, and words of men are
eagerly read almost as soon as spoken by people
li‘ieg thousands of miles apart. All this
shows the prevailing anxiety at home and
abroad—an anxiety which is neither groundless
nor sentimental, but real and. well-founded.
Amidst all this turmoil and excitement the
question naturally suggests itself What is to be
the future of Europe? Of course such a
question may seem unimportant-to the narro*-
minded man who cares for nothing which takes
place outside his own little sphere, and whose
selfish patriotism—if patriotism it can be called
—allows him t 1 witness complacently the
murder o! a friend without daring to express
more than a courteous -remonstrance to the
assassin. But the citizen of the world whose
broad . principles of justice reach beyond. the
leers portals of bisr own house eak th roughly
appreciate the value of our question, and to
such high-minded and intelligent/readers we
now wish to address ourselves.

Let us then endeavour to suggest_ the
probable meaning of the presant state of affairs
and point out what such affairs are most likely
to lead to. It has heal truly said that Europe
at this moment is one vast camp. • All the
great powers are rapidly mobilizing large
-
armies of regular troops, and resuscitating
their offensive and defensive preparations.
They are in fact armed to the .teeth, and stand
vigilantly watching each other like so many
ghaliators each apparently endeavouring to dis-
cern the faults or weaknesses 6f his neighbour
as if to know ps3isely . when and where to
strike. We will not stop to question the pro-
priety of all this. Perhaps it may be necessary
for mutual
_security or self-preservation. For
if one man constantly walks about with a naked
sword or any other dangerous weapon his
neighbours will not be likely to form the
happiest opirdou of his inter4ious, and must
therefore tak the precaution of amusing them-
selves in a similar manner.

Upon this !Sarno principle all the European
Cabinets have acted, and their, present belli-
couse attitudes can mean nothing less than mis-
trust and suspicion of one another. There is
no true friendship between them, each is
struggling for superiority, each for glory and
even national existence, and each for weight in
the councils of the world, but all—or nearly all
are only actuated by ambition and selfislihess.
Such a state of affairs must sooner or later lead
elisestrous corisequences, And although
ten:pore' y cLsua'.iuns -hostilitieS !mist me.
Lilo; occur we feia. tilatLuui \kdcui,lnue
to bo WO MAO Qi Dan jurycloputq§

for years to come and perhaps will at last be-;
come the sole property of one or two great;
Powers. Turkey is now fallen, at least fallen
for the present, and nobody can tell whose turn
will come next. But the great question in
solution of which so much human blood kiss
been shed remains nominally as unsettled as
before., The gore-stained war-path of Russia.,
has been smothered by all the subtle arts of
eloquence and diplomacy. state-craft has beta'
one of her best generals ;- it has conquered
where martial courage failed ; it has made fools
of wise men and turned truth into a phantou:.
The • other Powers who stand by inactivei:
watching the perpetration of so much iA
and who begrudge assistance to a it) Aug
brother, but rather exchange friendiy wink:3
with the robber who is • assassinating that
brother, 'caring little whether his rt.ciiess.
ambition. be restrained or not as long as their
own interests are unass:Jiled will find at 6ome
period of their existence that a selfish policy is
not very profitable after all. Of course some
of the Governments may have just reasons for
maintaing their present attitudes et reserve and
neutrality, but to those who have not Such.
our remark will certainly be a most national
r,-.)bake.

Judging from the present the future of
Europe is indeed a dark one. It is vain to cry
" peace " where no peace is, for the echo of
artillery still lingers among .the rocks and
mountain pssses scenes of recent devastation
where armies were levelled like standing corn
before the sickle. .
The awful thunder of heavy ordnance, al-
though. we dread to say so, may peal yet loudee
than before._ The clouds are gatnering beueaLli
frowninf, heaven, the moral atmosphere grows
impure and dogs of war lay. impatiently in tilt:4
kennels. It is al Wii3 a' a painful duty to have to
predict calamities- of any kind, but, through
performance of this duty such calamities have
often been averted. Our perspective is indeed
sad, and every one must earnestly hope futurity
will not 'fulfil all that is BO portentously fore-
shadowed in it.
But in the midst of all these dismal circum-
stances we trust the courage and magnanimity
of England will prove superior to every
emergency and thwart tile towing intrigues of
her enemies.

She may sometimes appear to be deceived,
but now her people are conscious of all the
dangers that surround them, and if her states-
men do their duty she will finally succeed in
subduing the avarice of foreign courts and wilt
baffle the ign•ble schemes of their votaries.
Out fellow countrymen need not be discouraged
at the awful prospects before them, for out of
darkness may shine light. The noxious vapouts
which encircle the eastern sky may vanish be-
fore the rising sun of to-morrow, and Apollo
may appear more radiant than before. But
while the public Lind is thus disturbed with
alternating emotions of hope and despondency,
and viewing the evils which seem to be
stealthily approaching our fair Continent we
must meet every peril, clandestine or otherwise,
with cool equanimity and fortitude. Let every
one remember in these times of trouble the
honour of which Britons boast so much in times
of peace. And further, to use- words of a
popular clergyman (the Rev. J. Webb, of Wor-
cester) " Let us not forget we are Christians,"
Not Russian Christians; it is an abuse of words
to call such barbarians by so sacred a name, a
Mahometan is certainly almost beAer than a
Russian Christian. But let us be what we pro-
fess to be and plainly show the world the
difference between real and spurious Christi-
anity.
By adopting these noble principles we shall
be able to pass cheerfully and courageously
through all the fiery trials of life. And then
when the lamp of hope burns low and gloomy
apprehensions daiken the bright prospects be-
fore us we may perhaps be sustained by super-
natural power, and gratefully remember the
sweet words of Cowper—
"Ye fearful saints, frdsh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy'and shall break
In blessings on your head."