The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-15

The News by the Arrica-Another Great Vic.
tory by tho rurks-The General Congress.
The full complement Of the Africa's mails
which, owing to the detention of that vessel at
Sandy Hook by the fog. did not reach us until
late yesterday afternoon, brings us the rumor of
another great battle, Tough. at Kalefat, between
the Russians and Turks in which the latter are
said to have been victorious. 1t is also stated
that they had retaken the two islands on the Low
er Danube which they had previously lost Toe
most important fact cleaned from our files is
statement contained in the lastnumber of the
London Times: that the range of negotiations
had been very much contracted as 1t was i'm
possible for the four Powers to entertain fresh
proposals from st. Petersburg which would in
volve the necessity of another reference to Con.
stantinople, and further delay of six weeks
which would bring the decision of the question
of peace or war to the middle of March, and
thus enable the Gar to gain the time necessary
to accumulate an enormous force on the points
where hostilities were likely to commence.
In the project for general congress of the
European Powers, the details of which we yes
terday laid before our readers, there is one
feature which distinguishes it from all previous
conferences of similar character, and
which promises to give permanent effect to its
objects. We allude to the principle of non, in
tervention, which it recognizes as the only
true basis upon which the political relations of
the different governments can in future be main
tanned on an amicable and satisfactory footing
In enunciating and embodying in his project this
principle, lord Palmerston is only seeking to
carry into practical effect the enlightened views
which directed the foreign policy OF England at
the Congress of Verona, for it will be remem-
bered that, when at that conference it was de-
termined that French troops should be sent to
Spain to restore to Ferdinand VII. his liberty
Of action, or in other words, to put down con-
stitutional principles, the Duke of Wellington
protested energetically, on the part of his gov
eminent, against any interference with the
internal affairs of that country. Although at
the Congress of Vienna Lord Castlereagh was
unable, in the conflict of selfish interests which
distracted the deliberations, and, in some de-
gree, neutralized the objects of that convention
of the European Powers, to give full effect to
the philanthropc views by which he was actua-
ted, still some advance was made towards it in
the determined stand which he made in
favor of the long lost nationality of Poland
Had he been enabled to obtain more general
recognition of the principles which preserved
to that country its distinct nationality, iostitu-
tions and religion, many of the evils that have
since deluged Europe with blood would have
been averted, and it would not now perhaps
be necessary to resort to some more compre-
hensive and effective arrangement in order to
secure the respective governments in the undis-
turbed enjoyment of their rights. With the
exception of the stern necessity imposed upon
her by the results of Napoleons restless ambi-
ton, England has ever since given practical
effect to the principle which guided her Euro
pean policy at the periods to which we re-
fer. In the revolutions of 1880 and 1873
and again on the occasion of Louis Napoleon's
coup detat, she was the first to acknowledge
the de fdeto governments of France; and she has
steadily continued to resist ali influences cal
culated to disturb or interfere with the internal
regulation Of their own affairs by other nations
1t is to this wise policy that, no doubt, is ow.
ng the present cordial feeling that exists be-
tween the governments of England and France
The two countries are reaping the benefits of it
in the security which 1t gives them in presence
Of the dangers that menace the peace ofEurope
Notwithstanding all that is said Of the ambitious
designs Of the French Emperor, there is reason
to believe that he is fully impressed with the
justice of the principle on which it is based, and
that he participates in the views of Lord Pal
merston as to the expediency of obtaining its
general recognition by the governments of Eu-
rope. He cannot be fairly taxed with incon-
sistency in this. The creature of the elective
principle himself, his interests lie in course Of
policy which, while it maintains the Just rights
OF the different governments against external ag-
gression, at the same time secures to their sub
Jects freedom of. choice as to the form of their
institutions. For the principle of non-interven-
tion, as defined and established by Lord Pal
merston's project, practically amounts tothis.
If once ratified by the adhesion of all, or the
great majority Of the European Powers, we
shall not again be compelled to witness the ma
tional aspirations of a noble people, like the
or the struggles for freedom of
conscience of priest-ridden population like the
Italians, crushed by the aid of a foreign force.
Neither shall we see the territories of the weak
er Powers wrested from them by force or
stratagem by the stronger, as in the case of
Turkey. In any compact of the European
governments for mutual defence and protection
it will be impossible any longer to ignore the
existence of the Porte. The territories Of that
government offer too rich prize to the cupid
ty and ambition of its powerful neighbor, and
its independence is too essential a condition of
the tranquility of Europe, for it again to be left
unrepresented at Congress which processes to
protect all the vulnerable points at which it
may be assailed.
1t will be asked if it is likely that the Gear
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