Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-09
Uecklp free Dress.
BURLINGTON, FRIDAY, DEC, 9, 1853
The War in Europe.

The war between Russia and Turkey has
indeed begun All the diplomatic notes of
the great powcrs,-all the fears of the weak
sail the predictions Of English jour
nalists that there would be no war, all the
stock obbing stories of Paris and London
have awaited nothing either way.
The Russian has found the war which may
be he did not look for. Quite likely that he
believed he should reach his aim without one.
lie had humbled Turkey quarter of a cen
fury ago and had seriously crippled her power,
Could not he venture now to take another
step towards the great object of his hopes \
bold pretenson might make the quiet ruler Of
the Turks yield up to Patriarchs of the
Russo-Greek religion that control Of Turkish
subjects In Syria. which gradually must Sc
cure complete subjugation Of them to his
own iron sway.
His crafty minister stated the case, and de-
clared that his Imperial master wished but
for a slight and most reasonable concession
Surely, said he, the Sublime Porte and all the
governments of Europe must see the fairness
Of the proposal. But the Sultan was not 50
dull nor SO iniolent as his insidous enemy
had thought him to be. Under all td sophis-
teal shapes, even against the time serving
counsels Of his so-cullcd allies, the proposal
was rcrellod, so quietly indeed, that Sig t
coercion seemed to be all that Was 0... t.u J.,
make him yield. How easy to push Il few
Russian legions into the Ddnuhiln principal
tiles, remote from the centre Of Turkish rule
lying adjacent to Russia, and partially sub
jugated before.
This could be done, not to make pdr but
to occupy them as a security, only till Turkey
should satisfy the just demands of Russia.
If then Turkey, fearing a total loss of her
provinces, yields to the demand, Russia
strengthens her name and gains her point.
If Turkey persists, Russia will more than
gain it, She will hold the principalities
themselves.
Russia has long been looking forward to
the time, when stretching her sinuous arms
to the Atlantic, one by the Baltic and the
North Sea, the other by the Dardanelles and
Europe in her crushing fold To secure for
herself Molda,ia and Walachia, would
place her twenty years forward. she would
thus establish a nearer line of circumvalla-
tion around Constantinople and each new
parallel Of entrenchment shortens the time
before the citadel must fall.
But will the only two powers of Europe
which are able to act against Russia, stand
by and leave her unmolestedl She knows
that France and England fear her progress
but they also fear IA European war. They
will hardly act hastily. They may e1postu.
late on the one hand and advise on the other
She will consider their circumstances, and
will counteract their advice if 1t is likely to
and money for the game of diplomacy at all
times, and in all courts. She cares not how
protracted the negotiations are. Her argu-
ments may grow weaker, but her military
positions will be growing stronger, The end
must be that she will fix her iangs securely
in her prey, and then be safe to show her
teeth to those who would mG.ldle with her
possession Of it, Her purpose would be
gained, and she would have no war, or but a
slight one.
Something like this seems to have been the
argument of the Gar. But there was an
Element in the question which he did not take
into the account. lie felt sure of the scryilc
obedience of his Muscoyitcs. They would
rbnt h. a D.. /
lost sight of that terrible fanatici-In wheel
burns in the heart Of the AIoslems when it il
fairly kindled into life. They now feel thai
the aim Of Russia is at their religion, 80 wei
as at their national existence, :" For oul
affairs and our hearth stones" is the watch
word of the Turks. God is great, TIL,
sun of our rule may be going down, but i
so, it shall go down in blood"
1t is difficult for us Americans, to form an,
conception Of y war into which such q rcli
gious sentiment enters, for it is wholly on
of our experience. Our history knows moth
ing of the sort. In Europe it has been dill
ferent. No bloodier fields has the world eve
seen than those where the Crescent and tn
Cross have shone on the opposing standards
For many generations the battle cry of tn
Turk was the chief dread Of Eutope, Brave
warriors than those Of Turkey were nevC
marshalled. Such fields and such warrior
may be seen again. The Russian may GnC
when he leaves his northern realm, that i
has left his most essential power behin
him.
Turkey is not now what it vo5 WHOM d.
Russian generals ul.sttle. e. o.. ga. y4ss-J
and took possession Of Adrianopls