Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-08-04
The Gordian Knot in Turkey-Prospects
of European War.

? Turkish question in an entirely new aspect.
In the first place, the story Of Austrian
mediation is blown to the winds. Austria
not only declines the part assigned to her
by ncwsmongers, but appears in the trent
rank of the disputants an active coadj utor
of Russia. Austrian troops have advanced
against Servia, and NJ. De Bruck has re-
newed on behalf of his government, the
demands formerly refused by the Porte TO
Count Leiningen. While Turkey is strain
ing every nerve 10 supply the extraordinary
demands on her exchequer, oocasioned by
the movements Of Russia, Austria seizes
the opportunity to insist on immediate pay
ment of the five millions debt. While the
passage Of the Prulh by the Russians is
distracting the Sultan, a fresh foe from
Vienna marshals forces on the banks Of the
Save. Austria does not condescend 10 fit
ness, or disguise her designs. If the prin-
cipalites are to be conquered, she claims
share. If Turkey is to be overthrown, she
insists on being in at the death.
This is a startling announcement. Rus
sia 10 longer stands alone, advocating an
unjust claim, in opposition to the sense of
the whole word. The mask is thrown off,
and deliberate design on the part of the
two great powers of Eastern Europe to
absorb Turkey, on any pretext, or without
prctext at all, is now distinctly disclosed.
Nor is this the only significant feature in
the news.
Hitherto the chances of war have depend
ed entirely on the attitude of England and
France. They held in their hands the bal.
ancc, and swayed by reasons of CONNER
cial interest, threw their weight into the
scale of peace. They hold this command
ing position no longer. Their neutrality
is officially denied by Russia; the court at
St. Pelcrsburgh notifies the world that the
occupation of the princpalities will contin-
uo until they withdraw ''the pressure they
now exercise on Russia" In other words
the advance Of tile British and French fleets
into Besilla Bay issconstrued by he Gar
into such a declaration of hosilities as en-
tireiy authorizes his occupation of Jassy.-
y England and France must withdraw their
fleets before the Gar will move one step
backward. May, more; their continued
presence in those waters, or in equal prox-
unity to the Turkish shore will be to him an
inducemont to encroach still further on Turk
ish territory. Matters are not minced in his
circular. English and French interference
is no longer regarded problemaic contin-
gency, but is taken as an accomplished fact
The western powers must recede from the
position they have taken, or the Gear will
proceed to still further violations of exist
ing treaties. The peace of Europe no lon
ger depends on the conduct OF the Porte;
even its abdicaton of its sovereignty would
not now pacify Nicholas. France and
England must be Inundated as we'll as Tur
key, or the Russian troops will march for
ward.
To attempt 10 conceal the alarm which
this intelligence must create in the minds
Of all who are concerned in the preserva-
ton Of peace, would be absurd. England
cannot recedc: France will not. For the
one, such movement would be virtual
recognition OF her inability to cope with
Russia; for the other, it would be to throw
away chance which Napoleon cannot af-
ford to lose. To stand by with arms folded,
while Russia and Austria are deliberately
parcelling out the principalities between
them-to withdraw from the Sultan the aid
they spontaneously offered him--would be
to submit TO a humiliation which no first
rate Power could survive, and to acknowl-
edge before all the world that Russia really
controls the dcsiinies of Europe. sin
gle day of hesitation, at the present crisis,
would inlet incalculable injury on both.-
The belief once disseminated among the
Russians that The Western powers dare not
oppose them--Turkcy once invaded with i'm
punity-Gnd there would not be throne in
Europe worth six months purchase. Co.'S
sacks would oyerrun it from the Orkncys to
Gibraltcr.
No such short-Sghted policy can be ex-
pec,cd from either Great Britain or France.
And, in view Of the challenge deliberately
offered by Russia-in view of the virtual
espousal of the Russian cause by Austria
we cannot disguise our fears that the only
possible solution of the difficulty is a war
The following statement of the opinion
the Prussian capital, where it would seem
there ought to be good means of Judging
favors the belief in peaceful solution Of
the question:
The correspondent of the London Times,
writing from Berlin, under the date of July
9Th, thus refers to the Eastern question
Last Monday morning an unusually early
council was held, at which the Ministers Of
all the great powers were present, and the