Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-02-17
From the Manchester Guardian
War and Its Effects upon Trade.

tain peace; and the Sultan and his advisers. even
during the time when their arms were crowned with
victory, and when they appeared to be making rapid
strides, both in Asia and in the Principaities have
never failed to sten with dignity and respect to the
councils OF the great European powers, whose desire
1t was to maintain peace, and to acquesce in eyerv
proposal which was consistent with the honor and
independence OF Turkey. with view tn attain that
end IT, therefore, we are 10 have war; there can be no
misunderstanding to who shall be held responsible
in the eyes of the world and of posterity The res.
ponsibyswhlch will rest on the head of the Rus
saA Emperor will be greater than any one sovereign
since Napoleon has dared to assume. He acts in d.
rect opposition to the advice of all his allies and
even OF those whose feelings and interests are most
identified with those of Russia Prussia as well as
England, Austria as well France. all equally con-
denim the course which Russia appears determined
at all hazards, to pursue. The butchery at Sinope
has obviously brought the question of peace or war
to the necessity of an immediate decision The
French government has authoritively published to
the world the orders for the combined fleets 10 enter
the Black Sea, consequent upon that event.
The electric telegraph has already announced the
fact, that, at this moment, the combined fleets of
England and France occupy what the Car has
stated he regards Russian lake. The object of
this step has been openly avowed by France and
England to the Russian court, to be nothing less or
more than to keep the Russian ships within their
own ports and to prevent another disaster such as
that which occurred at Sinope Russia has already
stated that she would regard such movement as a
declaration OF waras active interference in the
hostltes which at this moment existing between
that power and turkey; and we must own that
cannot see how any other construction can be placed
upon 1t. ii two states are at open war with each
other, it is impossible to make distinction between
operations by land and operations by sea- And if
other states take part in the latter, il would follow
that they Immediately implicated as partisans in
the common hosttles. 1t remains yet TO be seen
what reply the Emperor of Russia will return 10 the
notification of France and England thus made; but
both in Paris and in London is fully expected that
the Ambassadors of Russia will be Withdrawn and
open rupture proclaimed. If there remained any
doubt of these consequences following from that
cause, there seems 10 be with respect to the
treatment which the note sent by the four powers
from Vienna will receive at the hand of the Russian
Government.
If, then war be inevitable the first and most i'm
portan question to this neighborhood is the effect
which is likely to be produced upon tho commerce
of the country. 1t would be great error to Judge
of the present times by the past. The impression
which the experience of half century ago has left
upon mems minds as to the effect of war upon the
trade of the country, would be very imperfect cri-
terion of what is to be expected now AT that time
continental war was synonymous with the closing
OF the continental trade. AT that time our ships
could not sail TO any part of the world except in
fleets under convoy. 1t is true that these circum-
stances were much the result of the character of
the war as of the existence of the itself. But
in both these respects, a war now undertaken by
England and France against Russia will differ wide
ly possible from those which affected the war
fifty years ago. All the rest of Europe is with
U.s. The United States must sympahise if not CO.
operate with US in the struggle against Russia. The
Black Sea and the Baltic will be the only portions
of the ocean where our ships may not, during such
war, pass with little interruption they do now.
In the Black Sea, even, the only port which Russia
could hold for week after the commencement of
hosties will be that of Sebastopo where no trade
whatever is carried On Odessa, the contrary, the
great trading port, would be in possession Of the
combined fleets first approach. We shall have
as free ingress and egress for merchant ships
at present. In the Baltic shall have equal
cess at present. to every port except those of Rus
sia which will be efecually biockaded. Whatever
naval force, therefore, Russia muster, will be as
much confined to her own ports as If they formed a
part of her terra frma Beyond the blockading lines
in front of Sebastopol, in the Black Sea, and the
Russian coast in the Baltic, English ships may trade
as freely as they do now. So far, then, the only
ortion of commerce that possibly be affect
ed will be that with Russia.
But with Russia, the event OF war, it will
be difficult. if not impossible, TO impede any part Of
our trade. The seapos may be closed; but the en-
ormous land from tier will be open. Already the high
tariff of Russia large share of the British
manufactures consumed in that country TO be SNUG
gled the land frontier from Germany. Any
further impedement thrown in the way Of trade, by
the blockade of the seaports will only increase that
channel of supply No doubt the cost may be in
minlshed but those will be evils which will chiefly
fall upon the subjects of Russia. Again. far as
regards the supply of the raw produce which we re-
quire from Russia in the first place OieSsa will be
open TO US. But, independent of that, we have
little fear that the produce Of Russia will not find its
way across the land frontier into the neighboring
provinces and that by of canal and river ma
vigation, and by aid of the cheap continental rail
ways, it will reach shores in nearly the ordinary
quantities.
Still, so far regards the great trading interests
of the country, could be undertaken which
could possibly interfere SO little with them. OuI
! great American trade north and south, colonial
trade throug ghOu the wosii, Australian, Indian
and China trade, and even our trade with the whole
continent of Europe that of Russia only partially ex
cepted.-may 60 on exactly as heretofore, without
the slightest impedment and without the slightest IN
creased risk while every port belonging to Russia
will be Theoretically sealed, and every ship she pos
sesses within them No doubt Russia may grant let
ters of marque, but it will be difficult TO find those
e who will be daring enough to make use of them M
' der the circumstances we have described.
On the whole therefore, while we deeply deplort
the necessity. which appears to have come up
at last, that must take up our arms IN earn
est in defence of rights common to the whole OF En-
rope we are yet satisfied that we have comparatively
i little to apprehend that will be injurious to our tTad
in comparison with the importance OF such an event
# gag~Ihe London Daily News comments upon tn
decline Of drunkenness in The higher classes IN Eng
land, believing it 10 be especially true with regar
to this vice, that in changes OF society Inc prevalen
6 vices 60 out at the lower end 4: -4
II +" Hall century ago. Mr. Pitt was known 10 b
killing himself with port wine. and nobody spoke
ID thought of the catastrophe in the way we shoul
;, now If such thing were happening. Ministers an
M Ps said foolish and mschievous things in public
e and were merely declared to be drunk. Gout AM