The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-17
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

The eastern sky reddens with the signs Of
a terrible storm. Never since the star Of
Napoleon went down at Waterloo has Eu.
rope seemed on the eve Of such general
conAagra,ion. Two millions Of armed men
seem ready 10 20 forth 10 the harves, OF
death. Ten thousand cannon which have
slep, forty years, are now unmasked and
frown on every sea, fortress, and national
boundary of Europe, eager 10 hurl desiruc-
lion and woe, at the bidding Of their mas
tiers. The tramp Of marching armies and
the rumble Of artillery wheels aud camp
wagons jar the continent as in The days oil
Adolphus, the great Frederic, and Napoleon.
Who is the author of all this turmoil and
din of arms Nicholas of Russia, the
sworn "deicader Of peace and ORDER" re-
ceives the damning fame rs the great dis
,ulber of the world. The greed Of the
Northern bear for Turkey is one of the
causes which have brought Europe 10 the
verge of a terrible contest OF passions, in
ieres,s, and opinions. Blu, the question Of
Turkey is far from being the only one which
is stirring the continent, 10 lis rcmoies, lin
its. The cause which is deeper and nigh
tier than the ma ional existence of The Otto
man, lies in the condition OF governments
peoples, and civilization, Of Europe. A
state of transition has arrived. New ideas
are stirring the people with omQifc power
A new and startling period is near. The
Car now clutches a, al the country of the
Turk because his ambition and The instinct
of his nation so lead him, and he takes The
presen, time for The accomplishment OF his
designs, because the prescn, condition o
Western Europe seems 10 indicate The III
vorable opportunity for him 10 strike. All
The powerful nations OF the continent, ex'
cep, his own, for years have been agl'a'eo
with conflicting opinions, with war Of
Interests, passions, and hopes, with struggles
for an improved condition of religious, po'
li,ical and social life. The resolutions OF
'IS and 40 had weakened Austria, and The
strong blows of the heroic Hungarans had
forced her to call OH Russia TO save her from
ruin, by which she confessed herself Sec
ond rate power, and but little more than
dependence of the Car. Prussia is nearly
balanced By two con,ending parties within
herself The prestige Of the country OF
Frederic the Grea, is gone forever. The
selfshness aud pucrillies Of the German
princes have weakened The political power
o! their States, and Germany under lis pres
en-, rule can cas-, bu, blank ballot OIL The
question of Europe's destiny Since Ney
led the Old Guard 10 glory and the grave
in ,ha, last terrible charge on Wellins'on's
forces al Waterloo, France has spcn, most
Of her strength and heroism within her an
cient boundaries. She has been chiefly &C.
cupied in changing her government from
one branch Of the Bourbon family TO The
other, from monarchy TO republicanism, IN
contests between Moderate Republicans ant
the Reds, between National Assembly ane
Louis Napoleon, between monarch'Sls
Republicans, and impcralists. SnoLld the
cold and naughty Russ longer stand in fea
of the nation which had once sent an army
OF four hundred thousand TO his capital!-
And could he believe that England would
seriously oppose his march on Constantine
pie! She had long been his faithful ally
With him she had been hand in hand IT
tina, crusade of fire and blood from 1892 Il
1915, first against French democracy, ant
then agains, The man of destiny, the sian
traitor 10 European repubicanism, who wa:
still 10 the eye Of The monarchisls tie rep
resenlative OF democracy and of new ideas
She had aided him in her diplomacy in
many time Of need. She had played di
reclly into his hands BY the destruction O.
the Turkish flee, a, Narvarino. Would she
now repress his greed for Turkey? Would
England throw herself into The breach Il
keep back The armies of an old ally from
conquest! England! She had for lonG
course Of years been engaged in systematic
and wholesale robbery OF India. She ha1
for centuries enslaved Ireland, reducing
millions Of her sons 10 starvation, squalor
and wre,chedress, and driving them fuei
,iyes and ya.abonds from the land oil lhei'
fathers. She had with her cannon forced
the vile traffic in opium on the people o.
China. She is keeping down with an armed
heel her own struggling and suffering mas
ses. Should she step forward 10 save The
Ottoman Gom the iron legions Of the Mus.
coyi,e! The aris,ocracy of The realm fears
assistance 10 the Turk would aid the reyolu-
tionary patty of the continent. The men oil
stocks, owners of factories, railroads, and
ships, are amassing wealth and enjoying
their luxuries, and fear that national inter
es, in exciting questions may endanser their
profits. The Cobdens and the Brigh,s, mcn
Of commanding eloquence and influence,
had joined Peace and Trade in the marriage
of Selfshness. The royal family disliked
to all the Turk for lear the interests OF their
Germar, relatives might suffer, some OF
which cluster around The throne Of the Car.
Thus reasoned Nicholas and his advisers in
regard 10 the condition of his neighbors and
their liability TO oppose any successful bar
riers 10 his ambition. His own nation is n
unity. Russia is now where France was