Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-27

remarks in addition to those we laid before our
readers some weeks ago but yet we have not
explained the origin of the conflict which has
been commenced on the Danube.
The long-cherished desire Of the Russian
Cars to possess Constantinople and open a
road to the east may be considered matter of
history. The possession Of Constantinople
would give to Russia the full and complete con-
troll of the Black Sea, and commanding po
sition on the Mediterranean rs impregnable as
Gibraltar itself; ut the same time that it would
remove the last great barrier to her advance in
the direction of India.
In these facts we find the original, though
remote cause, Of the existing war with Turkey.
But the real causes which direct the move.
ment OF kings and autocrats, are not always
ayowed In the case under consideration they
are studiously kept ont of view by Russia,
while mere pretexts are put forward to deceive
the world. Those pretexts are not without in
terest, and we therefore remind our readers of
past events, so that they may understand the
ostensble motives Of line of policy which bids
fair to array all Europe in arms.
Our readers may possibly remember that
when the Turkish government was engaged in
a war with the Montcnegrians, the Russian
government took advantage of the circum.
stance, and sent Prince Menschikof to Con-
stantinople to settle that question, and the
question relating to the possession of the Holy
Places at Jerusalem. The insolent bearing of
the Russian envoy on that occasion showed
plainly that the ostensible objects of his mis-
sion were mere pretenses, while his real pur-
pose was to bring on a misunderstanding with
the Turkish government in furtherance Of
concealed policy. But it SO happened that the
Montenegrian difficulty was ad usted before
Prince Menschikof arrived at Constantinople;
so that he had but one pretext left to cover the
real purpose of his mission. The unmportance
of the question relating to the custody of the Ho-
ly Shrines, when contrasted with the assumed
Importance and arrogant conduct of the Rus.
sian envoy, and considered in connexion with
the imposing display Of military and naval
forces by Russia ON the Black sea, convinced
the French government that Russia was not
acting in good faith. That government &C.
cordingly instructed its minister at Constanti-
nople to make such concessions as would put
an end to the controversy with regard to Beth.
lehem, Gethsemane, and the other Holy Places
This movement on the part of France, forced
the Russian envoy to disclose the real purposes
ofthe Russian emperor; and they were disclosed
by demand which required in substance that
the Sultan Of Turkey should place Moldavia and
Wallachia under the protection of Russia. This
demand was founded on the right which the
Russian czar assumed as the protector of the
Greek church, to shield the members of that
church who constitute large portion of the pop
uation of the Danubian provinces from Turk
ish oppression. The sultan of Turkey refused,
of course, to accede to such a ruinous rs we'll
as insulting proposition. Had he acceded to
it, the independence of the Ottoman Empire
would have been virtually destroyed. BY such
an act, he would have confessed the existence
of religious tyranny which he had not prac-
portion Of his European possessions and placed
Russia in position to intermeddle constantly,
and under thousand pretexts and pretences
in the internal and domestic affairs of the
Turkish Empire, until the opportunity Of seiz-
ing on Constantinople could be brought about
When the Sultan refused to place Moldavia
and Wallachia under the protection of the car,
the Prince Menschikoff left Constantinople,
taking with him the whole Russian legation.
This happened in the latter part of May. The
Russian prime minister Count Nesselrode then
renewed the proposition which had been made
by the Russian envoy at Constantinople, when
twas again rejected; whereupon the Russian
forces crossed the Pruth, and took possession of
Modavia and Wallachia. This act of war was
accompanied by protestations ofpeaceml nten.
tons intended to disguise the outrage which
was perpetrated on Turkey, and gain time for
the Russian authority to become established
and the Russian troops to strengthen and fortify
themselves on Turkish soil. But these would
not be the only results of delay AS long as
diplomacy would prevent actual hostilies the
drain upon the Turkish treasury would con.
tnuc while the chances would increase Of ex-
hausting the Turkish treasury, or forcing
winter campaign in which the Russians would
have every advantage.
Under these circumstances it was but natu-
raj that the car should avail himself of any
mediation which promised delay, while it did
not commit him. The interposition Of the four
powers, France, England, Prussia, and Austria,
could not have been disagreeable to him; and
he promptly accepted the Vienna note which
was submitted by them; but he placed a con-
struction upon it that granted him all he wished,
and which the sultan could not accede to.
The Turkish government might have accepted
the Vienna note also, relying on the honor of
the four powers to sustain her in requiring that
its true and legitimate meaning should be car
ried out. But such course would have been