Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-30
The Turkish Question and War.

zach offence.--COuntry Gentleman.
Tllr Turkish Question and War.
The "PacIfic" arrived on Saturday, the
bearer of intelligence of unusual impor-
tance. The Russian Embassy had finally
left Constantinople. Prince Menchikoh
was at Odessa, experimenting. as was
reported, the preparations for the lnVa.
sion of Turky. Another rumor alleges
that the Gar was furious at the rejection
Of his demands by the Sultan, declaring
that he would have vengeance for such
, insolence. Certain it is that all is activ-
ity in the Turkish army and navy, and
that the Porte is making ready for de
fense. AT London and Paris the iunds
he'd declined somewhat before the proba-
bilities OF general war. Still there was
strong expectation that Russia would
not carry matters so far. Even The Lon
don Times condemns her demands Oh
Turkey as amazingly intemperate and un-
just. No European jonrnal is found to
Justify he course. and with public opln-
/ ion SO unanimously against her, we hold
to our often expressed conviction that
she will not at once commence hostllltles
on the grounds of Menchkoff's failure
alone.
But never for thirty years. except du-
ring times of open revolution, has the
peace of Europe been so precarlous.-
Never either has the complication of in
terests been so great. Russia alone has
a clear path before her autocrat, and does
not need to strengthen herself by foreign
alliance. But that cannot be said OF
England, France, Prussa, or Austria
The last two powers are closely connect
ed with the Car, have long been subserv-
lent to his purposes, and desperately fear
20 break with him. But for Russia to
obtain possession of Turkey would be an
injurious blow to their commerce. 1t
would put the mouth of the Danube into
the control of competitor, who would
deprive them Of its use, and thas 1t would
close against their trade. trade on whose
increasing value they set great account.
On the other hand. the Emperor of
France has long and bitter reckoning 10
settle against the whole three Northern
Powers. The successor Of Napoleon as
pires to humble at once the successors OF
Peter, of Maria, Theresa, and OF the Great
Frederic; but his ambition looks TO the
acquisition of Belgium. of the left bank
of the Rhine and Savoy, much more ar
IDENTIFY than to the defense of CONSTANT
nuple. 1t is by no means certain that he
would not agree to resign Turkey II ne
could get his wishes nearer home.
} England, on the other hand, can as lit
tie tolerate the schemes Of the French as
of the Russian Emperor. With the lat
ter she must, as a last resort, fight TO
maintain the independence of Belgium
and Piedmont, and with the former to
preserve the integrity of Turkey AT the
same time England would suffer most
deeply from a European war. She is III
no condition to make one. Her mercan
tile and industrial interests forbid It,
, She cannot afford to sacrifice her manu-
factures and navigation in such struS-
! gle. Besides, her Indian empire is not
only deeply vulnerable. but its resources
l are threatened. 1t now depends on the
. opium crop which is sold in China; but
{ the Chinese are beginning to raise their
: own opium. and there is prospect That
| thew will soon do so entirely. Then the
, Burmese war, all expensive and un2rofit-
l able enterprise. with the prospect OF a
} greater calamity in the annexation OF all
f that empire. Who can say what would
be the effect of war in Europe on the
British Indian possession, with the kus-
t sian craft to stir up the yet unsubdued
E portion of the natives to open hostilltles,
= and Russian forces to back them up
: There are every good reasons why Eng
e land should be slow to believe that snch
war cannot be avoided. Avoided we
o NAV be sure it will be if western dipio-
y macy can prevail long upon the oz"r.-
e But we may also be sure that 1T cannot
d prevail long. His fixed idea is to have
!; Constantinople as the third capital OF ms
: Empire. and thence to sway the destlnies
/ of Europe. put down illegitimate gov
i ernments, and suppress revolutions
y That idea he must soonero or later attempt
y to carry out. We judge that he VIII DC
: gin before the close of the present year.
n Then. let the war go deep and w,de' anu
= Heaven prosper the right!
Y Neu York Tribune.