The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-20
The Threatened War In Europe.

The arrival from Liverpool OF the steamer Africa,
now hourly anticipated, may supply us with some
very important intelligence with respect TO the
position of Russia and Austria on the side, and
Of Prussia, Great Britain and France, the other.
BY the last arrivals, we found Prussia maintaining
her bellicose attitude, with army OF nearly five
hundred thousand men, and Austria remaining in
" mastery inactivity" as Calhoun once said with
Russia ready to unite on her side, should Prussia
fail TO Ielinqush her warlke position. Unques.
tionably, Russia will be well pleased TO have
Prussia hold to her decision in conformity with
the speech of the king, delivered on the twenty
first of November last-for, in this case, the ex-
pensive preparations which the great Northern
power has made, for several years, in the Crimea
and in the Businesses Of Georgia and Circassa, viii
result in something more desirable than an expen-
sive establishment on a war footing for the ulti-
mate control Of the sea-wsy to the Mediterranean,
and land. passage through Turkey in Asia, for the
eventual banicade of British aggres-ions on North
ern India. Recent accounts from Turkey show
us that there persons deeply interested in paw
ing the way for an interference with the power Of
Abdul Medjid, whose reforms are misrcpresented,
and whose capacity is said TO BE- unequal to the EN-
ergencies Of his position. All this is ridiculous The
Moslems, il 10 true, are opposed, in the "rural
DISTRICTS" to the consumption for the army-which
does not make any demand upon the Christian po-
pulauon--and have behaved rather riotousy, on
account of their jealousy at this the pau
Of the Sultan; but there is no evidence that the
Sultan of Turkey lie whit weaker, in putting
down such mobocratic tyranny. than her Majesty
Queen Victoria, whose kingdom is not altogether
exempt from religious dist urbances and riots. The
English correspondents in Constanunople should
be more careful than to misrepresent. on such
slight grounds, the acts and power 81 youthful
monarch, whose career has been, thus far, one Of
brilliant hberalty end marked intelligence. II
the British agents denre to resist the encroach-
ments Of Russia-uPou Turkey to shut the gate on
the former power-ihey will fad the Palmersion
policy of assaulting the Sultan, not the beet means
for effectinQ their object The overthrow OF the
Sultan would weaken England's position, and. ia
the end, we think, would give Russia the very al.
vantage she desires. Russia, long ago, would
have advanced, if she had lrcd to bring on a al
rect war with the Sultan; and nothing but the
unity Of the religious ilith Of Turkey, and Of tn.
Sutsn's spiritual dominion, has shielded the TurS
ron the shafts Of the Gar. Let Great Britain
NEEDLE with that faith, and Russia will find pre-
text for advancing, under the cover Of the hostili-
ties which would cnsue between the British
forces and the mixed Christian and Moslem popu-
lation o. the Turkish provinces
We have pointed out thus particularly this por-
tion Of the theatre Of war, because the difficulties
between the powers u Russia and Of Great Bri.
tain have Ices remote bearing on this part Of the
world than may Be generally supposed. Oace let
the combined powers Vt Prussia, England. and
France on the one hanl, and Of Russia and Austria
en- the other break up the bonds Of the Holy AL
lance, and every corner Of Lurope would be in
q blaze, while Russia would pour do rn her hordes
SOW in the regions OF the Caucasus, to establish
her power more extensively in Asia. Mazzini
stands on the borders Of Switzerland-a great
inshTttSy 20 make another ,ilJr for Italy, al IN.