The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-02
The European Question.

Private advces FROM London add something
tion. Public rumor in England charges the
British Minister at Constantinople with secretly
favoring the Russian cause, and ascribes to the
Cabinet feelings of actual disappointment at
the news of the Turkish success at Kalefat.
1t is said that had it not been for the man91vres
Of the ENJOYS of the Western Powers the dis
aster of Sinope would never have occurred:
and in confirmation of this statement the vex-
atious objections so frequently raised by Gen
eral paraguay De Killers are quoted as evil
dence of a secret though ll-concealed enmty
to the Turkish cause. 1t is generally believed
that Prince Albert is not n stranger to this
inconsistency between the language and the
actions OF the government; but while his per
son IS not spared in the public prints, the nation
seems to look forward, with resignation if not
with complacency, TO the ultimate success of
his efforts
In truth, as we have had occasion to observe
over and over again in the course of this con-
troversy, If any one has any thing to gain by
war, it can only be Louis Napoleon. England's
interests are certainly on the side of peace.
She has her commerce to protect, her debtors
to look after, her manufactures to SELL her
taxes to diminish. In comparison with these
the motives which urge her to go to war are
light indeed little more than the clamor OF a
few idle journalists Nor has Russia any sub
stantial ground for plunging into q continental
war. From such contest she could not hope
to escape unscathed Dependent as Russia
is upon England and France for the bulk
of her manufactured imports. and excellent
customers us they are both to her Baltic
and her southern seaports. a war with either
of them would be keenly felt among the IN )st
intelligent and wealthy classes of the empire.
So lar as money and men are concerned, the
Gar is perhaps as well able to undertake
war as any of the European powers. But
where is his fleet? Where would his land
forces be if the whole of the West advanced
through Germany to Poland and threatened
second expedition to Moscow? Turkey has
still less interest to serve by going to war.
She is risking her very existence 1t is not an
isolated victory on the Danube or the capture
of stray fort here or there that can save her
if the war becomes matter Of years. Destruc-
tion to the Moslem would then seem inevitable.
Destruction in defeat under the ruthless foot Of
the Cossack soldery; destruction in victory,
for the Western allies of the Porte would
eventually injure her as fatally as the Gear
himself
Who then, is to gain anything by the threat
ened war i? Not the masses of Europe, curbed
under the strong arm of large standing armies;
not the monarchs, nor the dynasties of the Con-
tinent: nor yet the central Powers OF Europe,
on whose soil the battle would probably be
fought Louis Napoleon is the only man whose
advantage might be furthered by war. 1t
would be of service to him in two ways. lie
could hardly help achieving certain amount
Of military success, and that would not
only add to his material power but would
increase the popularity with which he
is now regarded by his subjects. In
the second place, European war would keep the
public mind in France fixed on foreign affairs,
and divert attention from his domestic policy.
Experience has taught French sovereigns that
tranquility at Paris can only be purchased at
the cost Of peace abroad NJ. Theirs knew it
well when he strove to inaugurate war policy
under Louis Philippe but the old king lacked
the nerve for the task, and allowed Guizot to
substitute peace system, which Graded the
revolution into life. Louis Napoleon has bet
ter chance for placing his foreign relations on
a war footing than his predecessor. Louis
Philippe had but one foe to fght-England-
and Guizot as well as be, saw plainly enoug