Washington sentinel., 1854-06-20
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

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are invested with peculiar interest. As a mat
ter of political influence on our side of the At
lantic, they are Of the highest Importance. The
historian, indeed, viii find it tedious task to
trace the movements Of the belligerents to
describe their battles, which will be almost de-
prived of their due celebrity from the difficulty
Of pronouncing their localities, or to throw
around the inactive operations Of Sir Charles
Napier in the Baltic, the charm and attraction
of glowing narrative. But long after the his
tory Of the war shall have passed from the
memory, and ceased to be the plague Of the
trembling school boy, its influence will be felt
throughout the whole world.
The inactivity Of the war still exists, and will
continue to exist, but slowly and .nevitably it
is tending TO certain conclusion. The czar
may be forced to evacuate the marshes of the
Dobrudscha; en- occasional skirmish on the
Seryian Bulgarian frontier, may revive the
dropping spirit of a glory.seeking soldier, and
Silistria may be forced to yield her brave gar
rison to the besieging army Of the Russians.
But there will be no Marengo, no Austerlitz,
no Waterloo in the land, and no Trafalgar or
Nile viii again assert the supremacy Of the
queen Of the seas. This prediction is founded
on the natural policy Of Russia in her conduct
OF the war. Her paramount object in engag-
ing in that war was her own elevation to the
highest rank among the naval and CONNER
cial, as she now is among the political powers
Of the world. Her means of attaining this OBJ
ject could only be by the subjugation of Tur-
key and the consequent command of the Medi-
terranean through the important port Of Con-
stantinople.
For this object it might we'll become Nicho-
las to make any sacrifice; and by means Of q
prolonged war, and an inactive policy, to wear
out the friendship and the strength Of the al
lies, rather than to seek to achieve glorious
victories and immediate success. And what
must be the result Of such policy upon his
enemies? The war which in England was al
first so popular, and awakened such enthusi-
asm and applause among all ranks and all
parties, from the cabinet, in Downing street,
through the halls Of Westminster, until it was
caught and echoed by the very cockneys within
the sound of Bowbells, has already become a
source of complaint, impotence, and grum-
bling. Debt, the great chartist, who strikes at
the mightiest political powers with the same
crushing effect, as at the humblest beer-drinker,
who keeps his score behind the tapster's coun-
ter, will soon check the widest enthusiasm
which the anticipation Of victory could awaken.
France, the land of glory and of chivalry, whose
name would be justly associated with all that
is noble, generous and brave, but for her
unfortunate maudlin habit Of getting "drunk
with blood to vomit crime" will soon become
weary of q war, where the glory and victory Of
day are snbordinsAs to the slow but sure ad-
vantagcs of final and permanent success;
while Turkey, deprived Of the assistance of the
two great powers Of christendom would fall an
easy prey TO the power which it would be mad
ness to resist in her unprotected condition.
Nor do we think that this state Of things will
be materially changed if the minor Germanic
powers should quit their position Of neutrality,
and array themselves in an attitude Of hostility
to Russia. As mere appendages to the great
alliance, they might render important service;
their proximity to the seat Of war would afford
facilities to the armies ofthe allies, which would
aid materially in the successful prosecution of
the war; But once let France and England
withdraw from the alliance, and they would be
shorn of their strength. Nay, more, the power
and polite mind Of Nicholas could turn their
very opposition to advantage. Austria and
Prussis would be easily conciliated with par
tition such as that Of Poland-and Turkey
would soon share the fate Of that unhappy
pleiad among nations-while Russia, with the
lions share in the parti ion, would feel more
secure in the acquisition Of her territory, by the
support Of these, her confederate IN the trans
action.
For these reasons we have always looked
with distrust and incredibly at the reported
propositions Of Russia for peace. II, indeed,
these reports be anything more than the delib-
crate fctions Of hireling newsmongcrs, il is the
design Of the polite czar to temporize in order
still further to continue war, which he pre-
tends to be anxious to terminate. Ifhis policy
be such as We have suggested, and such II must
be, the issue Of the contest is no longer matter
Of speculation and the glorious balance of
power, about which 70 much has been said and