The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-03-03

Courier, will give our readers interesting
information with regardto the war now ra-
ging in the territory Of Montenegro, on the
Adriatc:
On the western frontier Of the Ottoman
Empire, a, Christian community ID now In
arms against its Musselmap enemy, and the
eyes OF the great European powers are turn
ed TO the ecrne o. this contest with serious
expectations. At this moment the little
territory of Montenegro offers the most in
teresting spectacle that the continent of
Europe can present 10 our view. It IL the
seat Of war which may end in the downfall
Of the Ottoman dominion, and the recon.
s,ruction OF political system which will
change the face Of Eastern Europe.
Montenegro is territory occupying a.
boat fifty miles Of the Eastern shore OF the
Adriatic, and extending about thirty miles
inland. II il full Of mountains covered
with pine forests. The country isil adap pit
ed for agriculture proposes, wild, and des-
ytitUte Of roads. The inhabitants are armed
shepherds. living with their 6ocks, ready
for plunder, delighting in war. They are
pure Sclavuninn race, retaining their prim.
tive manners, protesting Tor the most part
the faith OF the Greek Church, and govern
ed 10 the present day by their own patri-
arciial institutions. This territory was or
iginsliy dependency Of Servia, when the
latter was a Sclavonian kingdom. But
when Sefyia became tributary Of the Porte,
Montenegro still preserved its independence,
I though the Turks nominaiiy included it in
the pachalic Of Scutar. II has been over.
run by Turkish armies, but they were never
able TO retain possession Of the country
From the commencement of the 18th CEN
tury, the M0ntenegrins became the allies of
Russia, and whenever that power was az
war with Turkey, they aciively contributed
their aid TO the Gar. A second tie which
connects them with that Totentate, consists
in the fact that they are members of the
Greek Church, Of (which be is the recognized
protector. The population is somewhere a.
bout $4,000. The military strength of the
country il comprised in a body of 10000
warriors. Every man is practiced in the
use OF arms, but besides the actual popua.
tion Of Montenegro, properly so called, a
considerable number OF families Of the same
race have gradually settled in the neighbor-
ing Turkish provinces Of Bosnia, the Her
zegowine, and Scutari who retain a neeF
connexion with their klnsmen and their
birthplace, and may possibly extend over
a much wider field. the hOstilites which
have broken out in Montenegro.
These free christian people have now
risen againsi their Turkish masters, and the
march Of armies to this devoted territory
now invests it with an extraordinary de-
gree Of Importance. Austria and Russia
stands looking on, waiting for favorable
moment to strike in on their own account
Little care they, we apprehend, for the cause
of freedom, but their national jealousies are
awake, and every signal of the downfall Of
the Moslem is watched by them with in
tense anxiety. At the latest dates, an
Austrian force of twenty thousand men
were gathered on the Montenegrine FROM
tier, aud the Austrian official press has de-
ciared that the position of Montenegro as.
suInes international importance. The
Car, in the meantime, has. offered his"med-'
iation"g at tCOnstzutinop!e, aud u mediator
with ., million OF soldiers at his back will
not forget his own profit in such business.
Is it reasonable 10 think he will neglect so
Inviting a chance TO weaken the Ottoman
/ power, and bring nearer to his reach the
brilliant prize upon which his eyes have so
| long been fixed-the city Of Constantine
/ pie!
! Whether the insnrrcctior Of the Montene-
| grimes has extensive ramifcations. which
will cause further outbreaks in the Turkish
PROVINCES, We have no means of knowing
at present. But these movements are re.
garded, in Europe, as very serious. Atany
rate the Ottoman power is rapidly sinking,
and nothing apparently cen arrest its down.
ward tendency. Islamism has long ceased
to advance, and is now daily receding. The
Ottoman government rested on It's vast
military strength, on the intense religious
faith of its subjects; but its armies have
been found unfit to cope with the disciplin-
ed forces o Europe, and Mahometanism has
continually list ground. The oppressed
Christian races have increased in sumberS
and in power; whilst the TGrks, whose Eu-
ropean empire was never much more than
vast cncampmen.,na9 gradually become
weaker. The subject populations are dis
affected-Chey have seen the more forum.
ate OF their companions in servitude eman-
cgate themselves from the Ottoman rule.
and they feel that the day cannot be far
distant when they, too, will enjoy the free
dom which is already the lot OF the inde'
pendent prncipalities Of the Porte.
Whilst the Turks are fast dwindiing a.
way, the Greek and Sclavonian Christians,
Up ufheys are SleVuily duIiHeHlluH he"
cent travellers have observed that, in many
villages, which, at the beginning of the pres
ent century, were partly Moslem and partly
Christians, the Moslems have now disap-
peared-leasing no trace Of their exis-
tance except few crumbiing turbnr- stones,
marking what was once the cemetery, and
a ruinous mranet, half hid by grave Of
gaunt and neglected Expresses. Even in
! Constantinople itself, large districts within
the walls, which, thirty years ago, were
swarminc with Mahomedan population,
are now encumbered with ruins, and al
most uuinhlbited.
, The year upon which we have now en-
tered completes exuctly four hundred years
since the Turk became master OF Constan!
tinople. When We view the tottering con-
dition Of the Ottoman power, and the grow
r ing strength and ambition of its neighbors,
who shall say that 1853 may not be as mem
orable in the annals Of the crescent, as 1853!
Who can be confident that the blow will
not be struck this year that shall break for
; ever the scepti OF the Osmanli, and drive
him back across the Bosphorus!
OrJ-A freight train travelling at the ratio
of "a miles the hour, requires on a level
1 3lS 3 yards to CONS to stop, and 794 sec
onds OF time. A passenger train at the rate
Of As miles per hour. cannot be brought up
in less than 779 yards, but takes rather less
time, only so sseconds. Two aims, there.