Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-14
MORNING. JULY H. is't.
WAR OR PEACE.

WAR OR PEAlE.
Thor, ;.,nuch more % presumption than at reason
in The opiniou advanced by same Ct tie p"''''t jour
mails TIM, recent events frreshadrw an e"Tly conclusion
y, The war between Russia and the Allies. II wckuo"
unytbin, of the policy OF the Western Powers alo
of the resources Of Russia and the energy OF ITS gov
eminent. the war has just begun.
I, must he apparent 10 every person who VIII renee
upon the matter, that the circumstances ana e''e' "
III. re,ulse Of the Russian army before Sllis'ri"' "
been greatly exaggerated by the partisan press "
France and England. 1t is inc"ncei'aoie 'ha' ."In
90 tbousand Turks should not only r'Pe' "'
ss.,,, &c mn army of one hundred thousand Russians
,,, ,,,.-;v ropt and drive them from tie field. lc'
,;s :. ,be substunce of the statements OF the British
newspapers.
,rba, the Russians made n desperate attempt 10 car
~ Silistria by assault aud that they were rep"'se'
with immense carnage, Is MOI an hPf'o"o.
story; but that their retreat across the l'ai'npe a'o
evacuation of the PrincipalitieS, was the neccssaf!
rcsul; of that defeat and of that exclusively Is u
proposi;ion too absurd for belief. The resistance q
the Turks was as heroic us the assault oil the nus
slams, and their loss, even according to English state
monts, was proportionably Us great. Why thei
sbouId the Russians abandon the siege, and quit tlt
field in precipitate flight! Omar Pasla had shown nj
disposition TO assume the offensive, and the Alice
are s,il lingering nj Iarua. The story is improba'
bic on its face.
The less partial and more reliable English Journals
suggest this explanation Of the repulse and retreat o'
,hc Russians from Silis.ria: Ii became manifest, attei
,he pcccssion of the German Powers to the Western
alliance. that Russia must release its grasp of the
Iriucipalities, and fall back upon n line of defensive
oncra;icus. Wishiu: to give an air of triumph to his
r,..r.at b. some successful blow, P~askiewitch resoiv-
,d TIN, Silistria should fll at all hazards. But Slis-
,ria would not ~capitula,e and could not be taken, so
a.. Russians were forced to retire from the field not
only without glory but with the otlium of u positive
defeat. Moreover, it is suspected that Austria Is not
honestly with the Allies, and would gladly seize any
opportunity to save Russia the modification and DIS
ast.r OF n defeat. In this spirit she proposed to oc-
cupy the Principaliies with an immense army
meaning TO protect the dolniuious of Russia FROM In
yasion bv the Allies. The Gear, torcseeius the ne
ccssi.y of abandoning the Priucipalities and the pros
meet of an Anglo French armyon Russian soil, glud!y
accepted u proposition which held GU, TO him both an
opportunity Of decent escape, and the promise OF ef-
tective aid in an emergency. This explanation Is at
least plausible, If subsequent events should dlscrcdit
j..
What probability then is there of an early restora-
ton of Peace! Isi i, thought that the Cur is fright
eued by the slight reverscs on the Danube! Then If
his resolute energy of character mistaken. ot
Gsuntless courage and innexiblc tenacity of will, he
will not be intimidated nor driven from his purpose
by the rcpulse at Siistria. On the contrary, all the
energies Of his nature will be reused and his pride
will bc intlained with the burning desire to retrieve
the honor OF his arms by some signal success. he
has the sagacity to see that he cannot conclude peace
Mt this coniuncture, without consenting to the sacrifice
Of his reputation aud his position in Europe.
Is it thought that the resources OF the Russian en-
pire are unequal TO a contest with the allies "i iur-
key! Then is history very stupidity read. Russia
WAS never great in aggressive war, but l" inHinciole
in defence. With what heroic endurance did she
contend for centuries against the Tartar dom,natioi'-
in the end emerging from the struggle i'll triumph
How often did she rcpcl the invasion OF the Poles,-
r,,;p,o,cly chustising tioir violence and usurpatinn
with terrible vengeance. And in later times, did she
repulsc the Swedish Charles, and drive back the Sui
tan to the gates of Const0ntinople. Still later, she
won imperishable glory by the defeat and destruction
Of the most magnificent army which men have seen
in modern time~.-The patriotism of the Russian
people is intensified by religious tanaticl7in; in fight
ing for the Car they imagine they are sustaining the
cause of Christianity and are under the special pro-
lection of the Almighty. Their qualities of character
are precisely those which would be most effective in
defensive war. Patient, docilc, brave, Injured to pri-
walton and hardship, aud capable OF great physical
exertion and endurance, the pressure Of invasion
would only develop their strength and love OF coun-
try. The Russian nation is invinciblc.
But, it is rash to presume that Russia will fight this
t., .. Nou. vhn hal Tho sprrpt Sym-
pathy, and ultimately will get the open aid of
every conservative government m Europe. Even II
England and France were anxious to intlict any seri-
Gus blow upon the Russian empire fru'-
sia AMI Austria would not allow it. And, this
diversity of object will in all probability provoke n
rupture OF the coalition, and drive Austria and Prns-
sa to declare openly for the Czar.
II is impossible thut the war between the Allies OF
Turkey and Russia can terminate soon. Stimulated
nv the popular sentiment and emboldcned by sue
cess, England and France entertain views and pro-
claim a purpose which they vchemcntly dlscianhcd at
the time of the declaration of war. Then their only
object was to maintain the independence and Integrity
of Turkey; now they propose to disnlember the nus
sian empire, TO wrest from the Car advantages when
he has dearly bought by long years OF struggle, anu
to reduce his position and his power in the political
system of Europe. lie must not only abandon his
Trauscaucasian provinces, they say, but tho Crime"
must be taken from him, and perhaps FINLAND ne
must consent to IL revision of his treaties with the
Porte lie must submit to tho destruction OF his ma
val power in the Black Sea, and must release all con-
troll over the navigation of the Danube. Will Austria
and Prussia assist i'll imposing these hard conditions
on the Car, Does any body imagine he will sub
nit to them, or that his people would submit to them
ii he were willing They arc keenly sensible to M
tional disgrace they have splendid conceptions OF
tho grandeur of tho Russian empire, aud Of the part
which it is to play in the drama of history. Before
they will submit to the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the empire
and TO the extinction of all its glorious traditions and
splendid promises, they would re-cnact the tragedy OF
Moscow, and worse. The declaration OF q war Of az
erosion on the part OF the Allies will rouse the slug
gish but mighty energies of the Russian people, and
impel them to O resistance which no effort and nc
power can overcome.
Such being the policy ard purpose OF the Allies
and such the resources and resolution of Russia, WI
are warranted in saying the war is just begun.
-
THE TREATY WITH JAPAN.
People are talking much nonsense in regard to thu
FRENZY with Japan, and its commercial results. No,