The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-30

The EFFECT ON RUSSIA OF WAR-The London
Times Of the 18th instant, in an article devoted to
this subject, remarks:
elf Russia has the temerity to ENGAGE in war
upon the grounds at present known to us, such q
war would not only be without an assignable
cause, but also without attainable object In
opposition to the other powers, and especiaIlv to
England and France, not unsupported by An.tria
and Prussia, the Emperor Nicholas can scarcely
expect the Sultan to submit to his conditions or
to surrender fresh provinces. The powers of at.
tack of Russia limited to the line of oneratons
OF the Danube; everywhere else she would be
thrown on the defensive. In the Black Sea and in
the Baltic-two close which she has not mari
time power to command-her ports would be
| closed, her trade annihilated, and probably her
naval establishments destroyed In Georgia and
ClrCassia, where the native tribes have maintained
their ground for so many years single handed
gainst the imperial armies, the commencement
OF hosthties with the Porte would at once give
fresh intensity to the war. From Persia on the
one side, to Poland and Finland on the other the
colossal empire OF Russia is assaable on q multi.
tude of points Of its huge circumference, and
whatever Its military resources may be, it is i'm.
possible that they should be concentrated with eff
feet when every frontier alike demands her vigil.
lance and her protection. The maritime trade of
the empire can be completely stopped by closing
The narrow apertures of the Bosphorus and the
Sound, and, Judging by the effects of the cont
mental system on Russia in 1910, that measure
alone would act with great severity on the impe
risl government.
1--WE mention these particulars because thew
seem TO US to warrant the belief that if war should
unhappiiy break out, it may be brought to speedy
and successful termination but the same facts
and considerations will no doubt furnish far more
powerful arguments against the folly and wick
edness of causing such war 10 take place at all
The Emperor OF Russia has placed himself in a
position in which it is impossible for him to win,
but in which, if he persists, he will lose considera.
bly, more than he has lost already. At the point
at which this question has arrived, and after the
pretensions which Russia has manifested with re-
ference to the Christian subjects Of Turkey it
cannot be dropped without endeayoring to place
that portion of the Ottoman empire on a more Sc.
cure and definite basis. That object can even
now be effected with the assent of the Turkish GOV.
eminent, and by the joint deliberations of the
great powers 1t is still competent to the Empe.
ror of Russia to accept such conference, and to
obtain by pacific and equitable means every right
to which he is in the remotest degree entitled
But If he rejects this proposition and disdans the
expedent by which the differences of the greatest
powers have been SO frequently and honorably ter.
minated, he runs the risk of sacrificing for these
extravagant pretensons whatever influence DO.
ticai sagacity and military success had pre-.
viously attached to his name.''
These the opinions of the Tines of course
many persons take very different view of the
matter.