The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-02

i
| complicated by the events of the interval. We
| sincerely trust, however, that they may he auc
| cessful in procuring the assent of the P9rte to
such propositions or rather to such formaties, as
| may dispose OF the objections now plausiby taken
| by the Gar 1t is preposterons to suppose that
the mediation of the conference can be exercised
with any partiality to Russia. with any view of
facilitating the designs imputed to the court of st.
Petersburg 1t is only in opposition to such policy
that the four Powers have interviewed at all for II
they had looked with any favor upon the encroach
ments OF Russia or with any indifference upon the
sovereign privileges of the Porte it would obviously
have been far easier to let the whole quarrel take
its way and find its natural termination either in the
abasement OF Turkey or in the correction of Russian
arrogance by the Issue Of the sword It ia entirely
out of regard for Turkish interests that the confer
ence has been assembled, for, though the common
security Of Europe is of indirectly concerned
this security itself is at present identified with the
substantial integrity of the Ottoman power.
We trust, therefore, that the Turkish govern
msnt may be induced to defer to those representa-
tions which the mediating conference will now be
called upon to renew. Whatever may be the
intrinsic superiority of the Turkish cause,
superiority which we have never been inclined to
dissemble, there can surely be nothing humiIiatng
IN the acceptance by weaker power Of that arbi
tra,ion which has been admitted by the Stronger
II he tEmperor of Russia is willing to abide by
an award of mediat0rs who cannot be thought pre-
possessed in his favor, the Sultan might certainly
consent, without any derogation Of his dignity or
his rights, to adopt similar purse. If the
notifications recently suggested by the Porte
can be shown to comprise any points substan-
tally important to the sovereignty of the Otto
man empire, there is no reason for supposing
that such arguments would be disregarded
but the question Of the greatest significance
evidently concerns the evacuation Of the Danubian
Princpalities and the efectual protection of those
provinces against such aggressions for the future.
These points the four Powers are ready to take into
immediate consideration, and if they guarantee the
evacuation Of the Turkish territory and provide for
its immunity in times to come, we think that 40
friend of the Ottoman empire could advise the rejec.
tion of such terms
Even admitting that the abstract rights of the
Turkish cause may entitle the Porte to demand
something more, we think it not unreasonable that
such rights should be reserved in Difference to the
facts Of the conjuncture. Any power. however
Independent, must, by accepting the protection and
mediation of other powers in difficulties Of its
own, surrender some little portion of its inherent
privileges 1t may be perfectly trne, that accord
ing to the strict law OF justice, Russia ought not
only to acce pit the Turkish notifications but
to give some compensation for aggressiops commit
ted. This, however, was not the decision of those
four Powers whose protection Turkey n the hour of
weakness was glad to re ;eive and whose arbitration
she virtually acknowledged. IL those powers have
judged it desirable in the interests of Europe and of
peace to adopt another course than that which the
proceeding OF Russia might have justified them in
procaiming, such resolution ought to have its
weight with court which is availing itself Of the
Intervention thus afforded. Ii is undoubtedly cOmpe
tent to the Porte to form its own decisions and to
fight it's own battles. We do not deny that on the
present occasion it would as against Russia, have
just cause. But it is plain that the aid of the four
Powers cannot reasonably be exacted in o course of
policy opposed to their own recommendations, and
adopted to the prejudice Of their own interests. 1t
is, in short in the interest of Europe that European
intervention is exercised on behalf Of the Turks
and if this interest in the opinion of the dispensing
Powers, is involved in the maintenance Of peace, il
is hard to expect that they SHOULD support Turkey
in a declalhtion of war.
It could be proved beyond doubt that Russia has
no rights whatever in the Danuban prncipaites
and that by this violent invasion OF foreign terri
tory she has broken public law. It could be proved
as readily that the Porte would have been war
ranted in resisting such Invasion by arms, and
it might perhaps be shown that other Powers
owed sympathy and succor. But, though in
mediate hostilities might have satisfied theore
tical Justice, they would have been of little real
service to the Ottoman empire, aud would un-
guestonably have plunged Europe into the Gala
mites Of a general war. He would be bold man.
we think, who should assert that at the close OF
such war the 'integrity of the Ottoman dominlons
would be placed in condition Of greater secur>
ity than at present. AS far as such an object
is attainabe, it will be gained much more
surely by the pacific action OF the four Powers in
COZ cert with view to this end. That such action
must be exerted substantially in the interests of the
Turks what cannot be denied for otherwise there
would be no occasion for exerting it all; but il the
intervention Of Europe, either at this or any other
stage of the dispute, is expected by the Porte it IS
not too much to ask that the course Of proceeding
should be left to the decision of the medators them
selves.