Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-27
Affairs I'm Europe.

The last news from Europe still leaves the
question of peace or war in state of very inter-
estinr uncertainty. The Gar has taken military
possession Of the Turkish Provinces of the Dan
ube, but he protests that he does not intend it as
an act of war, and it is for the Sultan to decide
whether it shall be So construed One would
think that NICHOLAS might we'll hesitate before
he drives matters to extremity. He is not only
unsupported by any other Power, but he is not en-
tireiy secure against troubles at home. Ever
since the year 1927, he has had war upon his
hands with the Circassians; and it is said that
even the officers ofhis army-by whom his des-
potism is maintained became extensively infect
ed with the contagion of liberal sentiments during
the Hungarian campaign, and talked 80 freely
after the war that many of them were banlshed
to Siberia. An Eruption from that bleak and des-
oate region, therefore, would not be an impossible
event. In view ofall the circumstances, the Paris
correspondent of the National Iatel!igencer ex-
presses the opinion that sort of armed negotia-
ton will be continued till next Spring, when,
LOUIS NAPOLEON being crowned and having de-
veIoped his policy, England will be separated
from France, and the Gar thus left free to ac-
complish his designs with respect to Turkey.
The Provinces of the Danube are Wallachia,
NIoldavia and Servia. They are governed by
their own princes, and are in all respects indie
pendent, except that they pay an annual fixed
tribute to the Porte The capital OF Moldavia IS
Jassy, city of &C, 900 inhabitants. On proceed
ing to occupy these Provinces, the Emperor OF
Russia issued manifesto. He disclaims any in
tention of commencing war or making conquests,
and if war ensues he will ego forth to fight for
the orthodox faith" The London Times regards
these words as merely an appeal to the religious
sentiments of his people-"the cry of crusade"
ISIS impossible to believe that the only object OF
NICHOLAS is to recover the key of that Church
at Bethlehem, or something else equally valuable
and that he medtaes no scheme of territorial ag-
grandizement Like President Polk during the
Mexican war, he merely seeks ''indemnty tol
the past and security for the future" and In the
end nothing less than the whole of Turkey Will
suffice. At present, he is confined to the North
of Europe with only one great Porte-St Peters
burp-which is closed by ice during considerable
portion of every year. Constantinople and othel
ports near the Mediterranean would therefore bt
most valuable acquisitions and on these, doubtless
his eyes are fixed with greedy gaze.
Whatever motive LOUIS NAPOLEON has fo
interfering in this quarrel between Russia and Tur
key-whether to secure the support of the Roman
Catholic influence, or to give employment to his
restless and excitable people, or really, in goot
faith, to carry out treaty stipulations with Iur
key-Englaud is not without sufficient motive
independent of the latter consideration. An abl'
writer in the last number of the North Britisl
Rerie,c says the old doctrine of '.balance Of pow
err is exploded, and ''no British statesman woul'
now dream of engaging his country in wa
merely on the ground of maintaining 'the potica
equilibrium of Europe, Independent ola clea
case of insult, injury, or imminent menace to our
selves" But this case is now presented, as tn
same writer proceeds to show. To say nothin!
about the fact that Great Britain would lose frs
rate customer by the fall of Turkey, she wou'
find Russia nterposed between her and the Eas
Indies. Egypt" says the North British, sis
norton of the Ottoman dominions, and through f
gypt lies our most direct and speedy communica
ton with our Indian Empire. 1t is,of the last i'm
portance,. not to say absolutely essential to GU
safety in that quarter, that Egypt should be Ell
ther in our own handsor in those of power which
can by no possibility become rival"