The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-03
The War Question.

poets Of peace, we have not yet lost faith in the
chances OF some solution being found which will
avert the dire alternative to which they seem TO
point. The speech of the Queen of England,
whilst II recommends tina; her people should pre-
pare for the worst, still breaInes decidedly pa.
eitc Tone and holds out the hope that every effort
of negotiation will be exhausted before hostilies
are resorted to. The failure OF Count Orioh's
mission to Vienna, which, it appears, had Tor its
object the formation of league with the &c man
against the Western Powers, has removed one ele-
ment OF uncertainty from the consideration Of the
question, which had impaired 10 it lis most danger
Gus aspect. In the political isolation of the Car
We see the prospect of speedy settlement of the
question, either by his timely submission 10 the
stern necessities Of his position, by the lorma-
ZION Of such powerful combination as will eticc.
Ugaliy crush him.
The affairs OF Europe have, in fact, arrived at
a crisis which will no longer admit OF paIatvcs
temporary exFediens. Something must be
done quickly, and done ell; ciuay. 10 put an end
10 state OF things VIII oh menaces the peace OF
the world and paraly yes its commercial operations.
The war between Russia and Turkey has now
been carried on for nearly a year--lor the inva-
sion Of the principal'tIes was an act OF war-and
yet no advance has been made towards the settle
ment OF the question at issue. The position of
the other powers has. up 10 certain point, been
an independent regards the bclligcrcnts,
for, without favorlng either side, they have been
endeaVOrmg to stay by negotiation the progress
of hostilirics, and to effect accommodation be-
tween them. Finding the pretensons OF the Car
irreconcileable with the claims OF Justice and mod
Grafton, and inconsistent with the future safety and
peace OF Europe, they have now openly espoused
the cause Of Turkey, and it is clear that must
very soon have either a European war between
the allied powers and Turkey, arrayed on one
side, and Russia, and such of the German States
she can drag into her quarrel, on the other, or
else some general and comprehensive adjustment
of the rights OF the different powers, similar 10
that laid down by Lord Palmerson's project
Matters have, in fact, arrived at a point which
will only admit of one the other Of these alter
natives, and II on y remains for US 10 examine in
favor of which the probabilities lie.
Ii is evident that the Emperor of Russia has
been all along counting the impossibiIi,y OF a
cordial union being maintained between the gov
ernments of England and France, from the tradi.
iional luminosity which has so long existed between
the people of the two countries. lie also reck-
oned upon the sympathy and support Of all the
German and portion OF the Northern Powers,
from the consansunry and similarity that existed
between their respective families, thrones and gov
ernments How far the first of these suggestions
is we'll funded remains TO be seen; but as regards
the second there is no doubt of the disposition Of
the German Powers either 20 remain neutral or
side with Russia. Besides the motives that we
have Just enumerated, the German States stand in
natural awe OF The ovcrgrOwn power OF Russia
its close propinquity 10 them, and the enormous
masses which il bring into The field. But
there is a and important obstacle which has
revealed itself in the progress of European ciyili-
cation, which opposes itself 10 the successful car
rying out of either Of these ideas by the German
Powers. The great popular, social and religious
mfr hI-h
ries ago by the efforts OF Luther, Calvin, Knox
and other enlightened minds of that age, was also
political in its effects and divided Europe into two
great camps, swayed by principles OF the most
uncompromsing hostility towards each other.
All the North of Europe-England, Holland, and
Northern Germany-cumhned The power and
force OF the revolution Of that day; whilst the
South OF Europe-Ilaly, France. and SPain-were
urrayed in opposition to it, and in support of the
old order Of things. That distribution Of The ma
teriaI power, impulses and opinions Of Europe is
at the present day entirely altered by the political
revolutions, enterprises, and experiments OF the
last half century. The principles OF popular or
parliamentary government, more or less defined,
have taken the place in tnc public mind formerly
occupied bv the controversies OF the Church of
Rome with the Protestant sccts. The popular
masses Of France, England, Italy, Germany,
Spain and the North Of Europe, have now a COM
mon bond oil sympathy and brotherhood, what
ever may be the form OF government which acct
dent has imposed upon them. AS counterpoise,
the power OF Russia has grown within the last
two centuries into a sudden strength and prPpond-
cranes menacing the social, political, and religious
systems OF the rest Of Europe.
1t will he seen from this rapid retrospect that
the distribution of the social and political OLE
ments OF Europe is entirely changed at the pres
emit day. and there is more or less OF league
amongst the masses against the barbarous princi.
piles OF daspetsm on which the Government oil
Russia is based. The Gar in fact resembles,
both in his attributes and his attitude, those great
desiroyers OF civilization and of the human race,
Genghis Khan aud Tamerline, of whom he may
be said TO be sort OF residuary legatee. 10 the
DAYS Of the latter was witnessed the same specta-
Gle that we behold to-day-Chrisans and Turks
forgetting the religious differences in combined
effort TO oppose bounds to the unsuitable ambition
OF their barbarian invader.
The failure Of the Gar to induce the German
Powers to abandon their neutral position for active
cooperation, is therefore TO be attributed less to
any want OF sympathy for his cause than 10 a
wholesome dread OF the enormous force OF pOpu.
lar opinion, welded by France and England
the two great representatives in Europe Of the
parliamentary elective systems OF government
II should be remembered that this is not mere
quarrel between Russia and Turkey it the
beginning OF that grea, conflict Of principles
which was fOreshadowed by Canning, some thirty
years ago, in the celebrated speech which he de-