The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-02

question Of war or resce In Europe.
The following speculations On the present as
pect of affairs in Europe we copy hom tho Boston
Journal Of Saturday. IN Introducing them that
paper observes that they entitled to mere than
ordinary weight, AZ coming from the peh Of a
gentleman who has resided for many years ia Rus
sia His views are clearly advanced, and GER
tainly have much plausibility:
As everybody is specializing upon the probable
results Of the present political condition Of things
abroad, permit me to offer you my speculations
to what may take place. There are 10 many un-
seen elements entering into these matters, and the
matters themselves are so complicated, that of
course there is much uncertainty as to results.
There are some, however, which appear to me
exceedingly probable.
believe that Russia Is determined to make war
upon Turkey, not merely to occupy Moldavia
and Wallacha, but to wrest from that power all
her possessions in Europe, ConstantInople nclud-
ed. will give my reasons for SO believing
believe it because such has been the we'll
known design Of Russia for more than century
back, and she has been only waiting her opportu-
nifty. The Gar probably now considers all things
ready. he will make it religious war; that is,
to lit,erate the Christians Of the Greek Church,
MS csa'ch-from vassalage to the infdels. No
thing could be more polite. He will thereby Sc
cure the support of the whole Christian popula-
ton OF. Turkey, amounting to many mllions--in
Europcdn Turkey vastly outnumbering the Mus
sulmen. by the same means he will make il
foly 'car to his olcn people, thereby adding reli
gous plxenZy TO their constitutional hatred of
their enemy. This will add not a. little to his
strength in fighting the Turk. The Russian sol
der, always formidable, will become hero and
martyr for his church. He is ruled, body and SOUL
by superstitious attachment to it. Another advan-
age is, that whilst he, Nicholas, will have the
dit of combating the infde to free the Christians
christian France and England, should they side
inconsistency of helping the infdel against the
Christians. This at least will be the appearance
Of the thing--and appearances are by no means
unimportant. @
But what convinces ME more than all that the
Russian Emperor has resolved to wage war against
the Turks, and for nothing less than the conquest
of European Turkey, is the Extravaganza Of his de-
,nands Of the Sultan, the peremptory and even
offensive manner in which they were presented,
and the tenacity, against all influences, with
which he adheres to thom believe that, in all
this, no intended to provoke war-to make it in
evitabe. The Sultan could not yield-how could
he, without utter humiliation, giving up every
attribute of sovereign? What should we think
if foreign power demanded of us the superin-
tendence of our religious affairs matter Of
right? Should we grant it, / need not answer
such question.
There is still another reason, and to my mind a
very powerful one, why the Gar should be seri-
ously bent on war. He has been engaged in a
bloody and Ruthless contest with the Circassians
for more than twenty years. They are still I'M
snbdued and formidable as ever. Their country
borders upon the Black Sea, and through the
Dardanelles they receive their supplies of warlike
stores, and with them recruits, consisting of adj
venturers of all nations, which does much towards
enabling them thus successfully to beat back their
enemies. The Turks, no doubt, from their en-
nifty to the Russians, wink at this, and probably
encourage it. So long as it continues, the Gar,
from the experience he has had, might well de-
spair of subduing these formidable mountain tribes
But give him Constantinople, and thereby the
command of the passage into the Black Sea, and
to his enemies-and he can do it in no other way.
have never seen this, as it appears to me, most
important political consideration taken into ac-
count, in specializing upon the present designs of
Nicholas.
There is much also in the personal character of
the Emperor to convince me that he is in earnest,
to the fullest extent, in this business. He is n
proud, stern, determined man. have often seen
him when grand duke, and had opportunity to
know his character as it then was and / have seen
no evidence of any material change in him since
he was made Emperor. What he wills to do he
will at least try to do. He is not easily put back
or frightened. That he is ambitious there can be
no doubt, and, as everybody knows, he has vast
means to crafty his ambition. He is vergng to-
wards declining life, though now active and vigor-
GUS. He has accomplished much by diplomacy,
something by arms, though nothing particularly
brilliant. Would 1t be at all wonderful if such a
man should seek to signalize the latter years of
his reign by effectng that which has SO long been
darling object with his imperial predecessors and
his nation-the seizure of Constantinople--a prize
of such ncalculable value to Russia, giving her a
free passage to the Mediterranean and to the
ocean, whereas now it is in the hands of power
of necessity unfriendly to her, and upon which
she is dependent for its use, whilst her northern
ports, from which alone her fleets may issue with
out asking permission of others, are one-half Of
the year closed by the rigors of winter? Is it to
be expected that such power will always be con
tent thus to be shut upi
The world has been comparatively so long al
peace, there seems to be vague idea abroad that
war is scarcely possible. Would that it were So
But | fear that the passions of men, whence
''come wars and ightings," are much the same
as they ever were. should rely but little upon
any favorable change in this respect for the pre-
servation of peace. Certain it is, that the war
like preparations of the European nations, collec
lively, are now great, if not greater, than they
ever were. This would seem to imply, at least
very little confidence in the pacific intentions OF
each other.
| But it may be said that these ornaments are
kept up, not SO much for the purpose of aggres
sion or defence, as to preserve internal tranquil
ty-to keep down the revolutionary spirit 80 wide
ly prevalent. This is no doubt one object, and a
principal one. Let us suppose it to be the chic
object. Whom do the nations most menaced will
revolution most look to, to prevent or suppress it
Undoubtedly to the Emperor of Russia. None
SO ready as he to render assistance in doing this
and none SO able. May it not be supposed thai
he seeks the conquest Of European Turkey, among
other purposes, for this very one-to place himself
in position more effectually to overawe and sub
due the turbulent elements so dreaded by him and
his brother despots' Look at the advantages il
would give him. He would completely encirclt
Europe one side 1t would bring him directly
in contact with Hungary, one of the most dreaded
foci of the revolutionary spirit and by possession