The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-29
THE WAR IN THE EAST.

. I OSteHSiDte are not anyways ftUt OdueOo' Wv
ernments. like individuals, often find it con-
yenent to assign for their movements rea-
sons quite different from the considerations
which actually mpel their action. The eff
Gent cause may be some selfish interest, but
the pretext must have the color of Law or
Right The war waged by England against
the French Republic after the Revolution OF
1898. was O-tensbly in defence of its indie
pendence, and Of the liberties OF Europe-the
real motive was to prevent the spread of revo-
lutionary sentiments, and bolster up the insti-
buttons of Monarchy and Arstocracy. The
Administration of Mr.. Polk declared that war
existed by the act of Mexico; when the fact
was Mexico was acting in defence Of her soil ;
and there would have been no hostllites be-
tween the two countries but for q determine
ton to enlarge our borders, and obtain new
fields for slave labor
The real cause of the TurcO- Russian war
! is Me grorjtatiOn Of Russia 10 The Medtterra-
mean An empire, occupying large portion
! of Northern Europe and Asia, of vast power
and resources, controlled by Despotsm, alb
solute, flr.seeing, sagacious and systematic
needs for its full development, free access, by
open seas TO the commerce of the world. The
most convenient and accessible point is Con
stantinOple, on the Mediterranean, the capital
of another empire, half Christian, half Moham-
medan, the offspring of a past era, yet labor
ing, with only partial success, for adaptation
to this era. Suppose our own country sus-
tanned relations like those held by Russia to
Turkey, il is easy to see what would be the
policy of our Government. What would the
great Mississippi valley have been, had the
mouth of the Mississippi continued under the
control of Spain and did the Atlantic States
constitute 4 separate Conf,deracy In the
struggles of the West in the beginning of this
century, for the possession of Louisiana and
Florida, we may detect the very element wh:>h
lies now at the bottom of the war between ,
Russia and Turkey The unwayering policy
of Russia has been to secure position on
the Mediterranean, either by subjccting the
Porte virtually to vassalage or by cxtnguish-
ing its nationality. a dispute having arisen
in respect to the custody Of the Holy Places
Of Jerusalem, between the Latin aud Greek
Churches, Nicholas, claiming to be the Pro-
tector of the Greek Church, thought it ia
yorable occasion for interfering in the affairs
of Turkey, 40 as 10 secure moro direct inhu-
ence over the twelve millions of Greek sub
ects to the Sultan. BY the tact Of Louis Ma
poieon, acting in behalf of the Latin Church.
the affair was amcably arranged, the Porte
securing to his Greek subjects all that they
had ever asked. But Nicholas was not to be
batiled in his scheme OF establishing Russian
ProtectOrats over the Greek Church Through
q solemn mission to Constantnope, he de-
manded a Convention, guarantying rights and
immunities TO the Eastern Church, (which it
was not now pretended were withheld, or were
in jeopardy thereby giving him the preroga-
tive of interference with large portion of the
Sutan's sub ects Aud this demand was urged
on the ground that his honcrwas Implicated
such a convention was necessary ~ an atone
ment for past violations Of the rights of the
Church, which had already been redressed by
the Porte The Sultan, indisposed to share his
empire with Nicholas, returned a decided neg
alive to the demand.
The Russian ambassador left Constantine
ple-Nicholas threatcned-the Western Pow
ers negotiated, and recommended f0rbearance.
Meantime, Nicholas ordered his armies to take
| ,oOoass;n, Of bo on tho n,,,,ho
belonging to Turkey; not he said in an offensive
sense not aggresslvely, not AZ an act of war,
not with view to permanent occupation-but
that he might hold them a. pledge of good
would consent to the very reasonable demand
| he had made upon him In word, he in
tended to place himself in position where he
could negotiate with some prospect of sue
cess The act was an act of war--it was as if
the United States should take possession Of
Canada, with an announcement that they
would hold it till Great Britain would consent
to throw open her fisheries TO the Yankees
mystfy Europe in relation to the real motive
of the act, was an Insult to common sense.
The Porto would have been justified in CON-
sidering this act ~ n cdsu befh. Such were
the declarations of England and France; but
these Powers, in conjunction with Prussia and
Austria, dreading war; importuned the Sultan
to forbear hostlties till they had made one
more effort for satisfactory arrangement Of
!
without obtaining the sense of the Sultan upon
it, treating him, in effect, a vassal of Russia
and submitted it tn the Car who at once
assented to it, constituting it ~ as to embrace al
that he had demanded, and announcing tina,
he would reject any modification that might
DO proposed by tho Sultan. 1t was then sub
United to the Porte, who holding that he coult
not consent 10 il without parting with his Sow
ercignty, declared that he could accept it only
with certain notifications As Nicholas woul,
not agree to thcsc, all negotiations stopped, ant
no course was left to the Sultan but war I,
yindicate his Sovereignty and the integrity o.
his empire, by dispossessng the Russians O
the Prnopaltles, War was then declared, ant
, il ever there was righteous Declaration O
War it was that announced by the Sultan.
Daring the brief campaign that has jus,
, closed, the Turks have been TO certain extent
! successful but nothing decisive has taker
place. Had the Western Powers assumed, il
= the beginning of the controversy, 6rmer
more decided tone, admonishng Russia thai
the occupation of the Principslitics would b,