The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

ties between them, and the idea that Christian
England must use the arm of the infidel in order
to barricade her Indian possessions, is adhered to
as if it were an article of faith, unassailable by
reason, and which no change of circumstances
could weaken. Were it possible to disconnect
from the question all notions of Russian ambition,
to be gratified by the extension of her frontier in

an Eastern direction, the subject, as far as it
affects Turkey, would assume a totally different
character. She is the only nation in Europe ad-
hering to the rapidly decaying faith in MAHOMET,
and her Christian population, forming by far the
greater number of the subjects of the PORTE, are
in a state practically but little removed from that of
slavery. As an abstract question of international
law, we have no right to interfere in their behalf,
though our position as the real head and especial
champion of Christianity would endow us with the
moral right of their protection. Russia, less

scrupulous us to the means, or having political
objects totally dissimilar from ours, has interfered

subjects of the SrLTIN ; and yet, losing sight of,
the main object of the quarrel, professing Christians

active interference in defence of infidelity, under
the worse than idle pretence of seeming political
advantages,—an end which will be as distant as
ever, whatever may be the course pursued.
We readily -admit, within reasonable limits, the

importance of preserving that coveter
power 'in Europe which seems to form the stock
idea of Lord PALMERSTON'S foreign policy ; but, if
we count the cost of its attainment, we shall find
it dearly purchased by any. active attempt to prop
up the falling power of infidel Turkey. Negotiation
may yet do :something to save Europe from war ;
but Turkey, by refusing the terms which.we assisted
in dictating, has lost all Slow of claim upon our

[ante of

aia : and, any assistance now rendere
enable her -to recover -the Danubian provinces

would not only be a positive aggression on our
part ag-ainst.Russia, justifying reprisals in the Baltic
and elsewhere, but would also fail of their effect,

inasmuch as no exertions we could make in her be-
half would save Turkey from ilownfal whenever she
became involved in the crash of conflict. We
should not even excite her gratitude ; for the Mo-
hammedans, blindly confiding in their own strength,
view with jealousy any interference by Cluistian
powers in their behalf, and will madly rush on their
fate whenever the standard of war is hoisted, in
superstitious reliance on the promises of their false
creed. The position of the question has also been

materially altered through the rejection uy A urxey
of the note proposed by the conference at Tienna.
Sherean no' longer count on the sympathy of public

opinion in Europe in her favour, for all the northern

powers have withdrawn, or stood afoot:; anu iL Baal
be •that, should .England pursue the conrat
pointed out by the Turkish sympathisers, w.
find more enemies than Russia, and bt

deserted in extremity'by our fickle ally of France,
who, with all his professions of cordiality, would
much rather be on good terms with the potentates
of the North, and the majority of whose subjects
would joyfully hail any opportunity to revenge
their humiliation at Waterloo. It may Appear a
very simple affair to order the advance of an
English fleet from Besiiwßay into the straits of
the Dardanelles, and to send our few remaining

-
ships in active service as a reinforcement, but the
risk incurred would be fearful compared with the
absurd pretenee<of the slightest advantage. The
naval power of •Great Britain has long been
<viewed with jealousy by every state in Europe. 13,y
Ole turn which the negotiations have taken, all
pretence of co-operation has been taken away ; and
should a blow be struck by England in defence of
Turkey, it might, without any great violence of
.construction, be interpreted into a .declaration of
war with all the rest of Europe, at de very time
_ _