New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-06-20
CONTINENTAL W.aR.

After all the mutterings and threatenings fol-
the last two years. affairs in Europe begin at
last to assume decidedly bellecose aspect.
Turkey has been aroused from lethargy of cen
turtles by the audacious aggressions of her proud
and powerful neighbor. Her foreign policy has
Of late assumed a manly tone Of determination
and Independence, worthy the days OF the Ca
liphs Her present attitude challenges the adj
miration and respect of the world. In her resist
ancs to the arbitrary and unjustifed demands
Of Austria, relative to the Hungarian refugees,
she evinced heroic and resolute spirit, and
now with equal decision, she hurls back the
arbitrary demands Of Russia and prepares with
calm deliberation to defend her soil and her
rights When the comparative power and
means of the two nations are considered this IS
certainly very bold posture for Turkey. She
is feeble indeed with the giant Russia. Besides
Russia in the North, she must also encounter
the hostility of Austria in the West. Austria
bound to Russia by close ties and mutual de-
pendence, and embittered against Turkey by
recent difficulties, would inevitably rush into the
combat on the side of Russia. Pressed between
these two massive powers, poor Turkey, we fear,
is destined to be crushed into atoms. Despite
this appalling combination, Turkey maintains a
bold front She is collecting her troops and
sending them to the frontier, and preparing with
ell her resources to meet all the perils that
threaten her. and to resist to the last the attack
on her independendence.
1t is difficult to discover the cause Of this
quarrel. 1t is wrapped in dark mystery Of
diplomacy. Russia, it is said, presses very faI
her insolent claim to have her Car recognized
as the head of the Greek Church, to the extent
of exercing species of jurisdiction over Turkish
subjects 1t is said, too, that she has fixed her
appetite on some desirable port in the Turkish
domipions which is need for her growing trade.
Either cause will be sufficient pretext for an
ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS power to invade a
weak and defenceless one. But will France and
Great Britain stand idly by and see Turkey thus
overrun and absorbed by Russia. This is diff
cult question to answer. From recent intelli-
gence it would appear that France, at least, has
manifested some determination to resist this
pretension; but, after the course pursued by
both Great Britain and her in the dismember-
ment.of Cracow, We confess that we have feeble
hopes of any very enegetic opposition being pre-
scented to these designs of Russia. Russia has
been for years seeking some 'pretext to invade
Turkey. Napoleon wisely decided to trust the
cause Of France to the valor of his troops sooner
than permit the unjust designs of Russia on
Constantinople; although desiring peace, he did
not hesitate to check the growing power Of des-
potism. Nothing else being able to conciliate
Russia, he prepared for war. AT his word the
world trembled under the tread of his mighty
columns, and the clash of arms again resounded
throughout Europe; and, should his degenerate
nephew, now backed by England, quietly per-
NIT the dismemberment of Turkey, it will need
no foresight to predict that in twenty years Eu-
rope will be Cossack