The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-30
The Dcsigns or Russia on Turkey.
[trom the London Sunday Times, Oct. IL


ltrom the London Sunday Times Oct =
Meanwhile it is right that the people of this
country should not be msled respecting the cha
acter and policy OF the Emperor Nicholas. Certain
writers affecting, to serve their own purposes,
tremely moderate views would tain have II thought
that though Prince Radzlv,i threatened the entire
body OF The iugitives with instant execution, the
Gar would practically prove much less lnhuman,
and only seno the patriots TO exile In Siberia for lie.
Our own opinion Is that, as the grave would be
much safer place Of exile than Siberia, II is TO the
grave that he would condemn them lie cares
nothing for pubic opinion, except IN so far as Its
general expresslon may Interfere with the deyel
opement of his policy.
sill, though intent on the qualification of his
vengeance, ii is with tar other designs that Nlcho-
las pursues the system OF insult towards the Sui
tan No one can be ignorant that IN the archives
of Russian ambition there are maps IN which Tur-
key is included among the imperial provinces, or
that Constantlnople has not long been regarded
merely as the southern capital OF Russia. When-
ever, therefore, the moment arrives winch the
Gar regards as suspicious, he will seize at the
first pretext which presents itself tor pushing his
conquests southwark. Persia Is already httle
better then Russian province, as our government
is painfully conscious. The autocrats Will is as
serviley obeyed ~ Teheran, as il is at St. Peters
bvrgh and Russian agents are necessarily travers-
ing Atlghanistan, and penetrating INTO India over
the Indus; Turkey has hitherto escaped TINS late,
through the jealousy OF The European powers but
the time has probably now come wheH Russia will
consider IL prudent boldly 10 throw oil the mask,
since no other country appears to be In position
to enter advantageousy on an important war.
Our conviction has always been that war is the
normal state OF humanity, and that peace a mere
accident. We, consequently, believe that so long
as political societies. shall endure they VIII staad
In need 0 fleets and armies tor their defence. AT
the present moment II Is well Tor us That we nave
fleet, aud that large section OF 1t Is IN the MedI-
terranean; for, In whatever way the question may
be decided, you may rely upon II that the naval
forces Of Great Britain will have much to do with
the decision. II the termination be pacihc, II will
be through fear OF our naval power. and 1t 1t be
warhke, that power will have To be called into play
to bring II about. We cannot afford 10 lose a Jot
of our influence. Not that we are TO aim at great
ness by waH but that we should always be ready
10 employ our military aud naval forces In defence
Of our industry and civilization. Otherwise, the
influence Of the peaceful arts would be OF short du-
ration, for all the creations of our industry would
be only many baIl- to allure robbers TO spoil u.s.
The sword Is the palladium OF freedom aud OF ma
tional independence; and II there be any nation
that refuses TO pay II sort OF civil worship, the
date Of that nalon's servitude has been fixed, and
il must speedily be obliterai@d from the catalogue
OF inds pendent States.
Up TO this moment, the Sultan has acted with
equal spirit and prudence, under the influence, APP
parently, Of the ambassadors OF France and Eng
land who without the authority OF their respective
governments, could not give him, the positive as
surauce Of military and But should he IN, pursu-
ance OF their counsel, bring down the vengeance OF
Russia upon his country, We are bound by the most
sacred Of all ties to exert all the power OF Eng
land IN its defence. We must send feet after
feet to the Bosphorus; we must lombard 81. Pc
tersburg: we must annhlate the Russian navy,
commercial and imperial; we must raise the cry OF
rebellion in Poland we must scatter the germs OF
revolution through Russia itself and IN TINS way
may break up that detesrable system OF despotism
which has long weighed upon eastern Europe IKE
the nightmare. There are no doabt these-and we
are sorry to see M. Lamartne among the number
who imagine that, by certain political combinations
on the continent, Great Britain cen be reduced to the
condition of a satellite. We profoundly pity the
4. ho nj, m /
our competence, for good or for evil, TO convulse
the whole civilized world; and at various occa-
sions, which need not be enumerated, we have
done so. And let II not be forgotten, that when
that was the case, we were tar weaker than we are
now. d,
our empire IN the east has been enlarged and
etrenrthe naval force IL infinitely better or
gained and more compact eur opulence has been
vastly increased, and our population at nome ana
abroad has acquired a portentous developement
Let II not be forgotten that we are two hundred
and fifty millions, and that II the energies OF this
mighty population were to be daringy let loose
ppon the world, there Is no state or government
that could, for many months, Withstand the shock.
Ii lie in our torbe arsnce and moderation that our
neighboIs must discover their safety; are natu.
rally pacific people, because we prefer civlzlng
to destroying men. But should circumstances
compel to take up arms for the defence, tor ex-
ample, Of such ally the Sultan OF Constantine
pie, we should infallibly be ally 10 destroy the
power, whatever IT mlght be, against which we
might dIfect the torrent OF our hostllites Russia
NunerADlt on Ill siufe, out niofc tSprCitit
through Poland and the Tartan provinces OF Asia
through these we might introduce the germs OF
revolution aud anarchy, winch, by their explosion,
would shatier Russia TO pieces. Let the Czar not
\ lose sight of this; we hold terrible power in
our hands, and know we'll how to WELD II when
ever 4. e.timc comes The Russians IN England
II know well that this Is IDLE threa the Car him
cell trembes at the invisible force OF opinion, and
there Is not a single province IN his empire IN
winch our emissaries, u we thought nj TO employ
them, might not easily awaken revolution try
Nemesis Nor would there be the slightest politl-
cal immortality Ia this. The antagonist principle 81
humanity and civilization Is despstisn, which al
ways works by undermining, We must, therefore
meet 1t by countermnes, aud seek II Ouii where lt'
greatest strength hes That the struggle viii bs
earned to this pitch at the present crisis, Is Wha
we will not undertake TO aihrm. but that u mus
come to pass, sooner or later, no man acquainted
with the state Of Europe can doubt. Russia o
Great Britain must be supreme ia the modern avs
tam Of civilization, and this supremacy Is only {
he acquired by victory Ia an iGterneclne contest
IL for our interest that this contest should com
snepce at once, 80 that whoever WISHES well 10 en-
human race will pray that the Turkish questi0
NAV not be settled Practically.