Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-01
The Rellieerent Powers.

como q mighty actnelity.
Between the parties in chief, the almost universal
opinion is, that the c-iminay of the is-nc lies en-
tirely a the door Of Gear NICHOLAS. 1t is not de-
MED that his course towards the Ottoman Empire,
like that Of his predecessors has been unjust and op
pressive in the extreme. Before The world at large
then, the Turks have the morale of'resising an
overbearing tyranny. The apoIogsts of NICHOLAS
may say, in extenuation of his rapacity, that he is
only stretching forth isarm of power for le nggran-
dzcment of his country and the veal OF his suhcrls
Be this true not it affords no sufficient excuse for
the fragrant infringement Of the rights Of flow'
sovre ign. Russia is unquestionably in the wrung,
while Turkey occupies tle yaniage ground Of the'
injured party.
The issue of this war gives glorious scope 10 the
minds and imagnationt of spectators and prophets,
the world over. Some say with perfect confluence
that Russia must eventually crush her weaker enemy.
While Others looking To the prowess thus ar displayed
by The Sultan's soIdery and TO the combined aid oi
England and France, prophe.y with equal certainty
that the Russian Emperor will find it better at the
last to retire within his proper domain and leave the
Turks alone. Tile true result no mind, save One,
may discover.
OF all the great powers OF Earth, that OF Russia Ii
.lcnst understood in its capacities and resources
vague idea of their immensity, without any positive
knowledge of details, ispreyalent throughout Chrsen
dom. An able writer in an English Review OF high
standing has recently given statements, dednced from
various authorities, which tend to cast doubt upon
this generally received opinion.
1t is admitted that little is known of The Russians
in England or indeed inihe countries ncaTent adoln-
ing them. This Is owing chiefly to the policy, which
has been long adhered to- of excluding strangers from
their interior by all manner of restrictions, prohlot'
lions and impedmens. As a consequence, what we
know of this extensive Empire is pretty much what
its autocrat may choose to tell 1t j, natural that
he should magnify and embclsh in his own favor.
The Cars, for hundred years, have been sngacous
men and as far historic representations could i'm
press the world around with sense "f Russian mshi
they have doubtless made The expedient tell to the
fullest extent 1t is right that information thus con-
veyed should be talenwith many grains ofnllowance
And, thus reasoning, it may be that the mmenslty oil
Russian strength and means is rather an exaggeraon
than Stubborn reality. The impressions upon irav'
eers in this respect are almost always received mt The
Court of ST. Petersburg, Where an overwhelming
splendor is continually sustained There too, under
the immediate eye of the Demi-god in power, the
superb array Of Imperial Troops must be grand 70
look upon. But if there be any truth in sundry ac-
count. given by impartial writer's Of the dsploraby
undeveoped condition of the Russian interior, and of
the brutal ignorance and groyeng spirit of the Rus
sian masses it may yet he proven, in the course of the
very conflict which is now progressing that "killfu
deception has been pracliced upon the world hy the
shrcw,ness Of Russian diplomacy, and that Russian
invincibiIity is one of those sembances which have
grown by continued repetition and acqniescncc, into
something very like the Truth.
Tile same writer, to whom We have alluded above,
speak. of the universal corruption of the employees,
and especially the Commssaries of the Russian army
departmental the consequent wrrtched condition OF
the suldery, beyond the reach Of the Empernrs I'M
mediate survrilance-of the di'affecton OF many oi
the Russian provinces, and OF the probability that
they may profit by the first gcn occasion TO reclaim
their sns, nationality. These several statements seem
properly vourhed by our Reviewer and are exhibited
in crfenso with much appearance of reason and truth
We make mere mention of them being something
fresh. And yet, after allthe Reviewers argumenta-
lion he winds up this particular branch of his article
by toleraby full and yeEg candid admission Of Rus
sim strength We let hisa sPeaksfor himself:
"It must not he supposed that by these remarks we
think lightly Of the real power of Russia il once airy
put forth in struggle for empire or Tor national exist
rnce. On the contrary, We deem her l'ivinc'oie on
her own ground and in her interior. European war
might tear way many Of her recent undgesie acqnlsl
lions hut could not harm her life. M':r she has with
out limit; and she would spend them all in contest
If life and DEATH Money she could probably secure
from some quarter other; and Whenever prhciica.
hle. she would make war support war. She VIII
probably br always worsed in first campaign, ow-
ing 10 her scandaous comm ssariat, and The universal
corruption and peculalion which eats away ier re.
sources; hut as soon the struggle b-cane serious
and vial, and the Enpernr g'rded on Ing armour Tor
The strife. We should probably tht scale turned
against any single antagonist ny the mere brute l"rre
of NUMBERS and the ilardhood and insensibiliiy which
distinguishes llie h1uscovile population"
or Turkey, it seems 10 be qnile as difficult, to find
out any thing with accuracy as is in the of her
Colossal enemy. A notion of decrept weakness has
been as generally entertained in regard to her power
as has the idea OF invncible strength attached I"
Russia We see it stated for the first time, that
of late years momentous change has come over that
couotry-hnt n fresh spirit now pervades her inter.
nal admins,ralion-thit new born vigous now pre-
rides over both her military aud financial policy
which has arrested the progress oil her decline and
gives hope OF future very different from The past
As 10 her readiness for defence, an army OF 4O0ooo
men, well equipped, amply provis9ncd and admirably
drilled is circumstance Of noe even by the side of
Russian numbprs Besides. the Turks are pro1erhi.
ally brave, and this time theY fight in good cause
The utmost zeal for national independence seems now
.;,L oil nj
which are pouring in their cuntingents with patriotic
promp,iiude The revenue of Turkey is also said to-
be rapidly augmcnting. That Turkey has thus iar,
in this great QUARREL acted with combination OF pru-
dence and rmness highly craditabe TO her, is an nd
mtled fact And it is well known that up 10 The last
dates of intelligence from the East, her armies have
been gopously victorious. Upon The whole, il might
yet be that Turkey shall be able to Withstand the
Russian bear singlehanded. And with the armies of
England and France, and the financial aclllles which
may be horded her by those nations, We should say
thai, her success might al least be placed upon the
Ii st ofEighly probable events. ...,.
worl or two now to the relative deStrhblcness
of Russian or Ottoman success.
Upon the broad ground Of right against might every
statesman who recognizes such thing as political
morality, must sle with the Turks Bul independent
of ts ground there reasons for wishing sue
cess 10 th' Ottoman arms arising from other consider
a,ions THE belief is common that the Mussulman
,rampes upon the Christian whereas the Russian pro-
tects and cherlshes him. The truth seems 10 he that
the Christians who look TO Christ their head and
retain, in some degree the purity Of The Gospel re-
ceive no protection from the Car: on the contrary
they are said be the subjects of tie ercest Russian
persecution 1t that branch of Christians who look
10 the Gear their head who given TO supersli'
tiou, observances and forms, who in short nrc little