Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-09
The rrath Conceded about Ras.Ia.

The Trath Conceded about Russia
In . Blackwood's Magazine for November "
hnd valuable paper on the Oriental question. Til
article is excellent alike for the manly rebuka II
ministers TO The Aberdeen cabinet and eor the ;nfo
nation 1t affords respecting the capacity of the TurK
to defend themselves. At this crisis its aupearand
is timely. o~'NN
The autocra, according to " Blackwood," chose III
present year Tor making his designs on Constantinc
pie, because the abuse iavshed on Louis NanoleoH
by the English press had persuaded Nicholas that
alliance between Great Britain and France was i'm
possible, at the present time, for any purpose what
ever The imbecility through which the Aberdee
ministry was deluded by Russian diplomacy, and tn
manner IN which that ministry succeeded, for so Ion
tIme in quoting the fears of the British people, ar
also faithfully exposed. A frank Acknowledgment.
is made OF the superior sagacty of the French govern
ment, IN penetrating at once the real intentions q
Russia; and the deserved compliment is paid 10 Lou
Napoleon OF saying that, but for his skfu INSTRUCT
uons to his ambassador at Constantinople the design
OF the Gar would have remained masked even longea
than they were There has never been n doubt O
lhiS point among observant and sagacious persons
this side of the Atlantic; but it requires some man
ness tor British periodical to admit what is at ono
censure OF lis own government and high praise TO
a rival one.
The capacity of the Turks to resist the Russians Il
considered, by Blackwood,a much greater than
popularity believed. The regular army of the SutaA
Is estimated by the periodical in question: at so OOd
men Inc auxiliary contingents, from dependent pro
vlnces, such as Egypt, Tunis, Albania &c. are conI
puted al ilo, 600 more and tae corps of reserve
composed OF soldiers who, having served six years
nave returned again to Their homes, but are liable I'd
pe called into active service at any period within
seven years from their discharge is set down at al
additional 10000. To these add $4,000 irregulars
IartaEs, Cossacks from Asia Minor and other will
tribes, excellent for skirmishers and total of 45O 0O
electives is obtained. This, be it remarked is not
army ootalnaole only by spasmodic effort, and Ger
tain not 10 fdsl over one campaign, but one whicl
could probably be maintained at that standard, will
proper enorts, Tor long series of years. For tenn
porary struggle, in which, by convusive effort thd
whole force of The empire is reused for last desper
ale attempt, Backwood y estimates that the Sultan
can rally not less than million of soldiers and thos
among the oraVest and hardest in the world, though
deficient doubtless in discipline
NOR Is 1t the opinion of Blackwood that Con Z
stantnople can be captured easily, even If the CzaA
IS able to throw overwhelming numbers into the scale
he Danube is the first natural obstacle in the patti
OF me invader This, overcome, the Balkan presents
itself AT either of these two points, but especia
at the last very inferior forces could hold in checl
superior 9 ones tor long time. But even if the Dan
aDe ana Balkan were successfully carried, Constant
nople, according 10 BIackwood, would be almost i'm ]
possible TO be taken. This great natural capital d
Eastern Europe IS shut in, the land side, by ran
ges OF hIlls, which, if sufficiently defended, would
render the city probably impregnable. 1t is wei
hHo"it 'hd ConStdhllhOpe, though beSIeged tWentYA
1our tImes' has been taken but six times In the las
siege, q few thousand Greeks. altogether unused id
war, defended 1t Tor fifty three days against two hun
dred and htty thousand Turks then the most warlike
natlon IN the world, led by Mahomet the Second, the
greatest general OF the age 9 The strength and ma
lufal resources OF Consantinope" emphatically says
Black woods Magazine, g account for the agony Of
the Byzantine empire having lasted several centur4
ies'
The contest, in the opinion OF " BIackwood," can
not be OF long duraton if Austria and Russia stand
neutral. In that event the French and British fleets
sweeping the Black Sea, shutting up the Russia ports
there, and sclZng any harbors that may be useful o
them, or whose loss would iniure Russia, would soon'
terminate the naval part of the war. Meantime, with
French force, acting with the Turkish army, and
French generals, French engineers, and probably
French artillery, lending their additional assistance
within the Turkish army itself, there would be but
small prospect OF Russia making permanent headwayl
on land. Should Austria and Prussia however take
sides with Russia, the event Of the war, according, to
8 Black Nood" would not be certain Throughout q
Europe, says that periodical, the democratic party
would raise It's head Hungary and Lombardy would
be quickly in arms Germany and Italy would be the
attleelds and who shall forelell the issue of the
strife !"
We quote these opinions not because they are news
The Bulletin has expressed most of them from the first;
but on account of the quarter from which they proceed
The torres of England have ." BIackwood " for oneI
OF their principal organs; and if they condemn RUSSIA
she must be indeed eariulIy in the wrong.
WHITE MoUNTAINs.-The White Mountains loom-
ed up Yesterday morning in all their glory
bn phrln i,,f he cf ro;d