Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-11
WAsH1NaToN NEWS AND GOSSIP

endon and the British Minister. at Constau,i-.
nople, has been very generally read by public
men here, and is the subjeotofmuch speculation
among them. 1t is regarded as embracing in-
direct proof that the misunderstanding be-
tween Russia aud England is to result in
long and hazardous war, the great end of
which Tin the way of its effect on the future of
the civilized world no man knoweth. Diplo-
matte papers are proverbially deeeptiOus. That
is, they must not be translated to mean pre-
cisely what the same words might be taken to
say, when used by any othersthan dipiomatists.
Thus, in these notes, England makes out
very fair case against Russia But it must be
remembered that it is England showing only,
concerning the occurrences of which the series
OF dispatches treats. We find many here who
place little faith in it, under the belief that
the conduct of England in the affair has been
the most reprehensible. Thus, in 1914, it
IS we'll known, there was the secret under
standing between Nicholas and the Eng
lish Ministry, which the Emperor desired, in
1853, to renew. 1t was then admitted, on all
hands, that the Turkish empire was-''a dying
man." and that so far as the interests of the
existing continental Governments were con
cerned, it would be worse than madness not to
come to an amicable understanding as to Tur
keys future, when that Empire should be ne
more. So, it will be perceived that the zap
Proaehes'' Of Nicholas to the English Minister
are precisely what might have been expected
1t is further we'll known here, that however
well disposed towards tolerating christianity
the Government of Turkey may be, there is no
such thing as liberation, in even Europear
sense Of the term, in the Empire, out Of the
Crank Quarter" of ConstantinopIe. Indeed,
we hear that Stephen A. Douglas, during his
recent visit to that city, was spit upon in the
street by Turkish boys, and denounced us a
Christian dog" We instance this fact, mere
ly to show the utter want of power in the
Turkish Government to enforce the liberal
principles with which it is undoubtedly i'm
pressed. Out of Constantinople, everywhere.
the case is worse. No Christian anywhere in
European Turkey is allowed the ordinar y priv
ilsges of citizenship, though the wealth. edu-
cation, enterprise, and character, as well as
three.fourths Of the poT ulation in mum ers) are
Christian. The Government whatever the
Sultan may endeavor to make it) is but make
despotism, more especially towards its Chris
tian subjects, who are but the most abjecf
slaves of the Turkish under-oficials, who rule
just as their forefathers ruled ole hundred
years ago-learning nothing yet forgetting
nothing. The great bulk of the Sultans Chris
tan subjects are of the Greek Church, and
look up to the Car as the head of their Church.
as religiously as the Latin portion look to the
Pope rs their spiritual father. Long since, the
Sultan, by treaty, accorded certain protec-
Church subjects, to the Gear, almost necessary
to their existence while the Sultan has Mt
power to otherwise restrain the hatred of his
Mahometan subjects against them. Shortly
before Menchikoff went on his recent cels.
brated mission, Louis Napoleon, in the face Of
his virtual obligation entered into in connec.
ton with England, Austria, and Russia, tina,
they would, one and all, maintain the statu,
Of affairs in Turkey, intact, by sending feel
to threaten the Sultan, forced him to consep,
to changes in the relative privileges of his
Latin Church subjects, violating his treaty with
the Car, and injurious to the rights and in
terests Of the Greek Church there The mis-
sion of Menchikoff was to restore the status OF
the Empire thus disturbed The fact that
France was the cause of the disturb ancc. in
hagrant violation of her pledges, is doubtless
the reason why Nicholas refuses las explained
in this correspondence, to consult Louis Napo-
leon in taking his measures with reference to
Turkey. 1t is very evident that he is deeply
incensed against France On the account Of her
conduct in this affair.
Now, the correspondence accuses Nicholas
of unexampled perfdy, in prosecuting the
mission of Menchikof, while protesting to Eng.
land that his views were peaceable towards
Turkey. This is all wrong. England had
been beforehand informed, formally and care,
fully, OF tbs mission and its purpose, as we'll as
Of the fact that an army was to be sent to the
Danubian frontier to support the demands OF
Menchikoff. These demands were not in vio-
lation of the understanding of 1874 between
Russia and England, as they merely asked the
Sultan to undo what France had forced him
to do, violative of the original status, and to
give guarantees which would offectually pre-
vent France from again causing such di fl
Guilty.
We present the above facts from our own
recollection of the published political history
Of Europe for few years past. They are the
impressions made on our own mind at the time
1t strikes us that two efficient causes have got
Turkey into her present state, out of which in
calculable governmental changes all over Eu
rope threaten to arise, while the entire de-
struetion of her Empire is to be the sure
result. First-French intrigue Louis Ma
poleOn has doubtless backed the Sultan in
resisting the demands of Menchikof, making
it apparent to him that he would be as
much injured by France, on scceding, as by
Russia, On refusing. Fanaticism ON the part
OF the Turks is the second, and perhaps by far
the most important lever operating to hurry
the Sultan on to his ruin. il His Mahometan
subjects are as crazy for religious war at this
day, against all the Christian world if neces-
sary, as in the days of the Crusaders. Mich
olas, acting under the belief that France must
ho phan I>ol L.