The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-26
The Dardanelles-War in the East.

The Dardanelles-War in the East.
The question Of questionable vexed,
Proteah and impending question of Rus
sian interference in Turkish affairs on the
pretext OF protecting Christians Of the
Greek Church from the Turk in his own
land. is at last coming to its s%anguinary
crisis. The reading people Of this coun-
try have been surfeited with changeful
news and varied comment on this question,
according as this or that urn Of the diplo-
matte wheel betokened war or peace. The
universal sympathy Of this nation has been
with the Turk. Strange as it may seem,
intolerant as is his faith. different as is his
manner and %tyrannical to its ultimate ar
bitrariness as is his pol cy, yet the Repub.
lican of America has sma spont. given him
his sympathy. aud if he could, would will
ingly lend him none and munitions.
This sympathy Of the Western Democrat
for the Eastern Despot. is no marvel, when
we reflect that it has been prompted by
tbs native ~magnanimity of the Turkish
character, conspicuously prominent in the
hospitality given to Kossuth and his com
patriots at Katuhia. II is quickened by
the conclusion, that il Turkey succeedsin
beating back the marauding Muscovite.
and preserving the integrity OF his Empire,
that Hungary will have an ally in a neigh
Dor hostile to Austria, aud Italy, a friend
Of liberty by the force Of circumstances,
the more powerful because she will afford
In organization ready in arms and devot-
ed in spirit.
We had the news the other day that the
Dardanelles had been passed by the COM
bined British and French fleet. The Oar
danelles is the gateway to the great CAPT
tai Of the East. 1t is celebrated in song
and heralded by history. Associations
cluster ,hickly around it. II opens 10 the
Mediterranean the pent up waters of Mar
mora, which running though the Bospho.
rus from the Euxine, create q rapid cur
rent by no means easy to stem.
Many a feet before that Of the French
and English hayo ventured the destiny Of
empires on its waters. Long before the
castles, which now frown on either side
Of the stream, locked up the capital Of
Turkey from the Franks; long before the
miserable town Of Dardnselles, peopled by
it, two thousand Jews. rose on its shores.
the famous cities Of Sestos and Abydos
here glittered in glory, and revelled III
Oriental luxury. Here, at the narrowesi
point, the bridge of Xerxes spanned the
straits; here the memorable army of ALEX
AMBER, returning the Persian attack on
Greece, under PARMENIo, crossed from
Europe to Asia; here, the Ottoman cres-
cent, which now wanes before the supe-
rior fleet, winch, but the other day. sailed
between these ti~me-renowned shores, was
first planted by SULIEMAN in the fourteenth
century; here. the war-like descendants
Of SHErEMAN erected the forts which the
traveller now looks upon as he moves to.
ward Constantinople, to protect that city
from the adventurous Venitian; here, al
this point, whore the Oriental despot sur
veyed his million m%yrmidons in 'ships by
the t~housands;,' hereS where European
aud Asiaiic civilizations now meet each
other-is the Rubicon Of modern Turkish
destiny. II has been passed. Under the
pretext of protecting the Sultan from his
own subjects. but really to defend him from
the Russians-the French and English.
simultaneously with the land forces from
Egypt and Persia, move toward the North.
to defend the Empire from the %rapacious
mcursions Of the Gar.
One hundred and twenty thousand
Turks, under the command of OMER
PASTA, stand behind the Notifications
south of the Danube and along the Black
Sea from Varna to the capital, resolved
10 defend the latter with all the z~ealotry
OF their religion and the despair of patriot.
ism. The Russians, safely encaraped in
Moldo- Wallachia, north Of The Danube,
arc ready to move over the stream. pass
the Balkan, and unless stopped, again take
Adrianople, and then plant the standard
Of the Gar on the seven overs. The
war has been declared. The rex steamer
will give US accounts Of hostilities. Des-
perate courage against disciplined strength
patriotism and religion against the love
Of aggrandixement and glory-these are
the motives of the hostile soldiers.
We await the issue. with the hope that
out Of the thunder Of the artillery the hor
ZION may grow clearer and man may be
better assured Of his rights and privileges.
We trust that this collision Of the East
with the North may provoke from the
FORMER . better liberation toward Chris
aians, and check the latter in its mad
scheme Of universal dominion.
Ohio Statesman.
An Arkansas Widows Revenge.
On the morning Of August 25th, says a
correspondent OF the N. o. True Delta,
writing from Hot Springs, Arkansas, a
widow LADY who keeps q respectable board.