Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-20


THE ASPECT or THE TURC0-RUssIAN QUESTION
Correspondence OF the National Era
LONDON, March !, 1854.
The reluctance to 20 into actual war, or to
strike the first blow, which has boeu 80 gener-
alIy and, as some think, 30 tediously manifest
cd. il certainly favorable sign of progressive
improvement in tho moral world. Pity tits
that the principle has not been established .
short way farther, and that, consequently,
there would be no danger of the rapino and
bloodshed which now unhappily menace the
fairest portions of the earth. But there are no
symptoms Of any abandonment Of his purpose
on the part of the Russian autocrat who, on
the contrary, seems to be resorting to every pos
sible fnesse which may carry on, even . little
longer, the crooked and designing policy which
has marked his course from the beginning
Court Nesselrode in July, declared as strongly
as language could express i, that his imperi-
GUS master would not relinquish or recede
from tho least Of his demands and to the pres
emit crisis, it must be confessed, he has stuck to
his words. The latest allied measures, however,
should seem to make continued subterfuge next
to imperative, if resorted to in order to pro-
crastinate tho fnnl rupture.
England and France, with tho concurrence
Of and backed by Austria and Prussia have
despatched really ultimate ultimatum to st.
Petersburgh, to the effect that the Emperor
must undertake to evacaate the Principalities
by fixed day, (it is said the Goth of April,)
and to comply with this direct interrogatory
whether or no, within six days; otherwise, his
declining the pledge will be considered equal
to declaration Of war. The bearers Of this
commanding proposition from all the four
Powers will have reached the Russian Capital
within few days Of this date, and soon afser
the middle Of the month the answer may be
expected, and, if he can abide the Ides OF
March, will be grave question for the Car
Of the North. AT present, little or no hope is
entertained Of his yielding; and should the
state Of the weather permit, the probability is
that he will try the fate Of battle by an attack
on Kalafat and movements across the Danube
below, into Bulgaria, before he can be con-
fronted by the expeditions now leaving the
ports Of France and England A signal vic.
tory might abate his sense Of humiliation, and
he might then cOndescend to hear reason, with
out appearing to be influenced by an appre.
hension Of danger. Having struck great
blow, he might be magnanimous, and forgive
the adversary he had endeavored to ruin, and
80 grievously injured
Meanwhile, Turkey has concluded the tri-
partite treaty, offensive and defensive with the
Western Powers; Austria has assembled q very
considerable force ON the Servian frontier-the
flank Of the Russian right wing-and there is
u statement of negotiations in progress between
the Four Powers and the Porte relative to de-
fning the future position Of the Greek Chris
tians in the Turkish Empire The latter il q
very important step, in every point Of view. If
effected without consulting Russia, or lending
the slightest ear to her arrogant claim to the
right Of intervention, it viii cut the ground
from under the hypocritical feet of the Gar,
and put an end to his religious pretences; for the
Greek population being by this act secured in
ell desirable privileges and reforms, under the
guarantee Of Europe, they could need neither
help nor protection from Muscovite sympa-
thies, and might well repeat the dramatic
phrase
"We want no aid
And least of all, such aid as thou wouldst bring"
The tampering with Saxony and Bavaria
has no doubt helped to produce the effect of
confirming Prussia more strenuously on the
opposite side, IA well as in deciding any waver-
ing which might have existed from natural
causes on the part of Austria and turning the
balance to the point Of safety and Justice; and
the tricky faithlessnss Of Russia, ovinoed in
the palyy expedients to get the wedge of jeal-
ousy in between France and England, is rem
dered 30 transparent that no human being
could be misled by such despicablo receptions.
The Emperor Of France is insulted and his
ambassador fattered within the same week.
England is held up as selfinterested COM
blatant, seducing the alliance Of unconccrned
France, las il the Mediterranean were nothing
to her, and cajoled through her Quaker depu-
ties within q similar limited period. Any
thing, for the nonce, to mbserve the purpose
Of frand and wrong. 1t is miserable specta-
Gle What will history make oft?
The Greek insurrection is still on foot in Al
bania and Epirus; but the accounts from these
quarters do not show whether il is spreading
or contracting. France and Austria have de-
olarod against it, England has sent frigates to
Prussia, and the Turks are marching strong
corps. under an able commander, towards Arta
and Janina whilst it is whispered that King
Ohio has secretly stirred up the movement,
and that the pirates, who swarm on these
coasts would be much delighted with any OPP
portunites for the exercise of their professions.
The Suliotes are also said TO be rising in arms;
and 80 tho plague extends its sphere, and we
recur to the original vague apprehension
the child unborn may rue the day which shall
sec unprinciplcd ambition light the flame over
which We yet, for moment brood in all but
hopeless detection
The storms in the Black Sea- and the severe
frosts in Moldavia and Wallachia, have con-
tinued and enforced truce among the beliger-
anita by land and water. But the note Of prep
aration on all hands bidsus look for immediate
blows and sanguinary work, before our. new
moon wancs Would il were an epic, and the
divine inter SIT might be prayed for, to avert
the misseries which it is appalling to think tho
insane pride Of one man is inflicting on mil
lions of his fellow men.
The getting ready Of the Baltic fleet under
Sir Charles Napier is pursued with wonderful
energy, and BY tho beginning of April the
Cattegat will witness such display Of naval
armament AZ has seldom or never been seen
before. The Russian squadrons, amounting to
~ ships Of tho line altogether, are disposed Of
in Cronetadt and two other harborp where If