The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-10-13


importation Of grain can only be carried on to
a sufficient extent at an enormous cost In
word, there will be a scarcity, mot famine,
but a large increase of prices for the necessa-
res of life J and let the bodies now separately
combining and clamoriDg for addition TO their
wages, raise some leading spirits to amalga-
mate them into one strong union, and there
will and must be a desperate trial of the deten-
dd eSt Carthage, one way or other
At Preston, the manufacturers have declared
to close their mills rather than yield to the de-
mands- of the "turn. OUTS This is a crisis.
If the employers can retire from business Tor
season, the workers must starye; and, between
the two, what is to be the fate of the nation !
The Bank interest which rose to ~ per
cent at the date of last letter. will in all prob
ability be raised to 5, and even to per cent.
before Christmas Bread will be one shilling
the loaf War, if it falls out must accumulate
evils The boast of prosperity is not 80 we'll
founded as its seeming. There is nothing for
despair, something for hope, and very little for
exultaton in the present actual condition and
aspect of the times. We trust that America can
send us large quantity of Indian corn Pray
do.
THE TURCO-RUSSIAN QUESTION.
Upon this momentous quarrel arGRment is
exhausted, but speculation has, unfortunately,
ample though altered grounds to be as busy
and as uncertain as ever. Upon the SIC volo
sac j,beo, of either of two despots crazed by the
long practice of absolute power and the indul-
gence of self will, hang The destinies of millions
Of their fellow creatures; whilst they them
selves are in so critical position, from the ac-
| ton OF the fanatical passions they have infa-
med, that they may even reluctantly be plunged
INTO war, since returning were as dangerous
| as 90 DER"
This, indeed is the immediate peril; and only
the Danube food, rolling between the inimical
| and exasperated forces of savage Muscoyite
and wild Turcoman, can be contemplated as
The probable oonservator of the peace of the
world. 1t is somewhat interesting to cast q
look over the portion of the earth now occu-
pied by such various races and disturbed by
such religious elements, and ponder on the age
when the mission of St Paul instructed its
Christian Churches and enlightened it's Pagan
people From Jerusalem, Damascus, and An
tiocb, if we glance towards Cilicia, with Tarsus
Pamphyia, Lycia Cara, Lydia, Pisidia, Phry-
gia, Cappadocla, Galatia, Bthynia, Mysia, and
Pontus-a region in which Smyrna has sue
ceeded Ephesus-and the miserable Sart is all
that remains of the gorgeous Sardis the Asiat-
ic domlnlons OF Turkey stretching TO the dir
tant Caspian; the Nile and the Persian gulf
present an aspect of prodigious repulsion if
presided over by well-organized and efficient
Government but, even in their disjonted state,
capable of producing successful resistance to
invasion. And her tributary possessions on the
European side are by no means destitute of
| strength; for the parts of ancient Roman terri
tories, partially conquered, in Thrace, Dacia
Mesa, and Macedon, are remodeled under the
names of Moldavia Wallachia, Montenegro
Servia sc, could, at all events, furnish forces
and supplies to throw weight into the balance
against foreign aggression. We think 30 little
Of the Turkish Empire that in spite of its dis.
location and weaknesses, it is we'll to call to
mind the extent Of its irregular resources Even
if left to itself, as there appears too likely
chance she may be, Russia would not have so
easy task as is generally imagined in redu-
cling the Empire to subsection. Still, the other
great nations of Europe would be mad to allow
the Russians to occupy Constantinople and
beyond that, the ambition of the Car need not
aspire, for it would settle the destinies of every
other country, and dwarf them beneath the
| gigantic sway of the Northern autocrat.
| Russia having rejected the Turkish modif-
| cations of the Viennese note, and rejected
stance, it is clear that no guarantee of the four
Powers could reconcile Turkey to settlement
| upon the construction of which there is de-
ciared and decided dfference-Russi reading
the document in the sense of Prince Mentzi-
choff 8 ultmatum, and the negotiators agree
ing to the amended distinction of Redschd
Pasha. The meanings are therefore opposite,
and no guarantee could render them identical
hereafter, or be opposed to any pretension of
| Russia, founded upon its avowed interpreta-
ton. But what is still more inauspicious is
| the fact, that we can no longer look for per-
| feet concord among the referees Thus the
issue depends on the breath of the Padischah,
and the influence of the war party by which
| he is urged on. In his Divan the principal
ministers are at open variance and the walls
| of COnstantnople are placarded with vehement
appeals to the populace to rise in arms, and, in
| common with the infuriated troops, avenge
the insults to their country and faith, and not
suffer themselves to be betrayed by the treach-
cry of pretended friends-by French or Eng
sh Intervention Should this cry prevail, the
western Powers will not it is suggested, feel
themselves bound to resort to warlike meas
ures, and the French dem-ofhcial journal, the
| Debats, states, the combined fleets are only
offered to ascend to the Bosphorus, in order to
| pIotect the Sultan, if need be, from his own
subjects. On all hands there are preparations
for the worst. The third Russian corps is re.
inforcing the first and second on Bucharest !;
Servia has proclaimed kind of neutrality !;
and the meeting of the three monarchs of
Russia. Austria, and Prussia, at Olmuz, on
the 23d, accompanied by the representatives
OF France and England, is anticipated to lead
to most important conclusions. IL Nicholas
can detach the youthful Francis from the COM
mon alliance, Of which there il already an in
cipient and significant demonstration, the new
combinations would manifestly destroy all the
! past and leave the world for him to hustle in
with far improved probabilities of success. 1t
would be turning the first trick in his game ;
and then be might Try his hand on absolute
| France and constitutional England and see if
| it were possible to SOW the seeds of disunon
there. We shall have at last literal transla-
ton Of deiiriunt reyes plectdntur Achipi and
where Paul preached the Gospel, the scenes
of sangunary battles between Greek Chris
tians and Mahometans.
The news from India and China is import
ant though not decisive. Burmah is desolated
by famine, and ravaged by Dacoits; and the
cholera RACES in the upper provinces of India,
where Saadut Khan, a Wholesome Momund
chief has taken possessiod<bf the Kohat Pass,
and evies contributions on all within his reach.
| From China the accounts are much Of the
same tenor as by preceding arrivals. The
imperial forces are inactive irresolute, and ap-
parently of non effect, whilst the Instruction
is spreading into general anarchy, and it is said
Ta-Plng marching on Pekin. The conse-
quence is, a great depression in trade, and to
use common saying, everything out Of sort"
The merchants seek measures which cannot
be sdopted-the adventures are prohibited
from mixing in the melee Of war on either side
and even in regard to the contest itself, there
is less doing with gunpowder than with gun
powder tea. A characteristic Chinese exhorta-
ton to the army is reported, which, If genuine,
beats aught incentive to valor that ever was