The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-01
The Last stem IN the Turkish nearna.

dietons on the truth Of which they had every rea-
son to rely. War declared by Turkey, nobody ex-
pected that Russia would recede from her posi-
ton, or evacuate the principalites Nobody
iancied that under the circumstances, Turkeys
menace would prove a mere empty threat.
Neither the announcement that Turkey had
ordered a fresh levy of $4,000 men, nor the
statement that the veteran General Paskiewitz
had been ordered to take the command Of the
Russian army in the Principalities, cen have
given rise to the faintest shadow of wonder.
Enabled as we are by our rapid communication
with Europe to follow the progress of affairs
almost day by day, and instructed of the de-
signs and feelings Of the various contending
parties, by the omniscient press, we can almost
in every case anticipate the natural occurrence
OF events, and comment, in advance, ON the
course to be pursued by the leading actors
upon the scene
These advantages enabled us to foretell the
obvious issue OF the Russo-Turkish difficulty as
soon as England and France, realizing their
true interests, retired from the prominent po-
sition Of leading mediators, and assumed the
more modest role of spectators Of the conflict
tween Russia and Turkey inevitable. Successful
negotiation between one power which only
aims at conquest and another which is but
struggling for the preservation of her national
existence, would be as impossible as success
ful appeal by lamb to the feelings of a wolf.
The sword was the only mediator left; and now,
at the time of this present writing, it is more
hon obah 10 hot hoe no ba1 nd tha
business of the campaign commenced in ear
nest. As our readers are aware. the Danube
lies between the two armies and both fear to
cross it, lest, in case of reverse, it should in
tervene to intercept their retreat, and expose
the fugitives to pursuit from which no escape
could be found. The Turkish General has
offered to run the risk, if an additional force of
so, 900 men be placed under his ORDERS and, in
one sense at least, it would be infinitely pre-
ferable for the Turks to fight in the provinces
where they have no faithful subjects who would
be materially injured by the war. On the other
hand, single defeat in Moldavia or Wallachia
would probably cause the total ruin Of Omar
Pacha's army. and leave the south shore Of the
Danube without any adequate defence against
any of the three divisions Of Russians who are en-
camped on the north. This consideration seems
to possess such weight that one is inclined to
view Omar Pacha's proposal as additional evil
dence of the rash impetuosity which has already
been imputed to the Turkish forces Should
the Porte be unable to furnish the required re-
enforcement. or should Omar Pacha think better
of the project it is not unlikely that the deci-
sive battle of the campaign may be postponed
for the present. Hitherto, Marshal Paskiewitz'
has been chiefly remarkable for the science and
prudence he has displayed in his movements in
the field: and these are qualities which his ad-
vanced age will rather have strengthened than
effaced He is far more likely to entrench
himself in his present encampments, and to
await the advance Of the Turks, than to cross
the Danube and risk the fortunes OF the cam
paign in Turkey Proper, unless his chances
of success are such as to amount to positive
certainty.
All the other European powers have acted as
it was obvious they would some weeks back.
The British Cabinet preserves the most cautious
silence with respect to its intentions Lord
Aberdeen is sorry that war should take place,
but by no means promises to interfere. The
Times is studiously obscure, and occasionally
inconsistent. In point Of fact, the state of pub
lie feeling in England is such that an open dis
regard of Turkeys fate would not be readily
tolerated by the people while, as may have
been gathered from the extract from the Stand
ard, lord Aberdeen's organ,) published in our
columns yesterday, the government is fully
alive to the folly Of stepping in, at the risk Of a
| war, to rescue from ruin power that must ne
cessarly fall to pieces, ere long, from its own
| inherent weakness.
From France we have the usual budget OF
contradictory opinions Those journals which
are supposed to speak the sentiments of the
government refuse to credit the rumors Of war.
They will not believe that peace has been dis
| turbed until few thousand men have been
killed in battle 1t is needless to add that this
| affectation of disbelief is but cloak. or pre-
| limnary for unconcern. On the other hand
Louis Napoleon is represented as being ex-
| tremely anxious to avenge the old affront he
endured at the hands of the Gar when the lat
ter refused to acknowledge the Empire and his
marriage. We are not prepared to vouch for
the authenticity of this statement; and whether
it has any solid grounds or no, we are loath to
believe that even Louis Napoleon would carry
despotsm so far as to sacrifice the real inter-
ests Of France to private pique. So far as we
can Judge, France. like England, will remain
neutral for the present
A similar course has been resolved upon by
Prussia and Austria The former deliberately
defines her position. and after showing that
she has really very little apparent concern in
the fate of Turkey, avows her intention of
attempting to mediate. Such attempts, after
the sword has been drawn, are but a poor
apology for neutrality. Austria has acted
without speaking. The reduction in her army
is the best evidence that could be obtained OF
her determination to stand aloof from the fight.
For the present, therefore, Russia and Tur-