The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-07


declaration of war on the pant of England and
France against Russia
The War In Europe-Thc Beginning Of
the End.
| The recent publication of the extraordinary
secret conversati between the Emperor Nj
cholas and Sir George H. Seymour, touching
the manifest destiny" of the Turkish empire.
renders certain and inevitable the fearful ulti-
matum Of a universal complicated and bloody
war in Europe. The Rubicon is crossed, and
France and England are entering into q conflict
which thoughitmay not last as long will in all hui
man probability result in more numerous and
more radical changes in the boundaries and DO
litical systems of the Central and Western
Powers of Europe. than were achieved during
the twenty-five years Of the wars of the first
French revolution.
The first inquiry sugges ted to the mind in
view of this terrible drama before u is what
is to be the termination of this deadly struggle
among the European Powers? Primo facis.
| the general conclusion will be that Russia
| hemmed in upon the Black Sea and the Baltic
| by the fleets of England and France, and cut
off from the support of Prussia and Austria,
while a nucleus of French and British
CLERGY to the Turkish forces the gene
raj impression will be, that Russia must,
in the end, succumb, and accept the terms of
peace which the Western Powers may be
pleased to dictate as their 1ltimatum. This,
however, is but superficial Judgment of the
| probable issue Of the grand impending strug-
| gle. The political nap of Europe may be
changed from tie Rhine to lie mouths of the
Danube, rom Tie Scheldt to the Apprentices
dynastes and kngd ms and principalties may
| disappear like grass before consuming fire.
religious systems and traditions, social insttu-
tons and distinctions, old and venerable as the
castles of the feudal ages, may be engulphed in
the horrors # another Reign of Terror, and yet
Russia may come cut of the smoke and ruins
of the conflict intact in her western bounda-
ries sole occupant of the Turkish dominions in
Europe and with the summer residence of her
Car looking out upon his long desired haven
Of the Golden Horn.
The English journals lay claim to a vas.
amount Of virtue, integrity selidenial and gene
rosity Oh the part of their Cabinet in refusing
to accede to the tempting overtures of the Car
for the division of tie spols of the dying
Turkish empire But it may well be questioned
whether, in this selfcomp lacent refusal to CO.
operate. with the Car in the appropriation of
the plumber, England is entitl d to any credit
whatever on the ground of lofty and disn-
terestei magnanimity. Policy is the full ex-
PLANTATION of her generous forbearance in regard
TO Turkey. Suppose SIZE had entered into the
proposed secret allnce with Nicholas upon
the basis of an understanding as between
gentlemen: the first step to the reduction of
Turkey to the terms involved would have in
stantly aroused the resistance of France. The
French steam navy, built expressly with the
view of meeting the possible contingency of
rupture with England, would find little difficult
ty in landing, in single night, fifty or hun
bred thousand men upon her shores, and less
difficulty in exciting an. Irish rebellion and in
furnishing the insurgents with arms and NUM-
tions Of war The acceptance Of the Cars pro-
posals W III J, have inv, lvel il word, the al
Tentative # war with France. This contin-
gency, in giving full employment to the fleets
in the undisputel occupation of the Turkish
dominions. The Gar, in his eagerness for the
prize, overreached himself lie has shown bis
hand, and England, in refusing lis alliance,
has only consultel her interest in a coalition
with her more immediate and combustible
neighbor.
What is the position Of England and France
towards Turkey At this very moment it il
substantially the sort Of protection proposed by
the Emperor Nicholas. Turkey this day is
only under the psotcctorate Of England and
France, instead Of England and Russia Her
sovereignty Is an abstraction her independence
a fiction. She Is, IN fact, but little better Than
colony under the ,oint occupation Of the
Western Powers. They may divide her terri
tories as they please, for the issue with Russia
i precisely Tho same az II the partition bad ab
.olutcly hccn made against bis prior claims and
v.ctcrFcrs. Wlct crc Ervrt a.l g..-l..a. ...J