Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-01-27
VIII there be War i'm Europe

w III tncTe NC ""i ~ pUc Wv
"The world has been startled by an unpro.
vpked aggression on the independence of
Turkey, which commenced with the note Of
Prince Menschikof, demanding nothing less
than the acceptance of Russian Protecto-
rate over Twelve Millions of the subjects Of
the Ottomop Porte belonging to the Greek
Church. demand which was followed by
the occupation of the Danubian Prncipali
ties that constitute part and parcel of the
Turkish Empire. Almost the whole press Of
Western Europe has been ringing with de-
nunciations of this fragrant violation of in
ternational law, which has placed in jeopar-
DIV the peace Of the civilized world" Such
is the opening OF an interesting article in the
North British Review for November and
hardly had We glanced through it, when the
Boston Atlas Of Jan. 90, came TO hand, hav-
ing this declaration: 1.-THE English journals
almost without exception, agree in regarding
that nation as on the eve of war with Rus
Ella. The Spring Of the present year, there
is scarcely room TO doubt, will find England
engaged in open hostities with that coun-
uy." From France the rumor is that the
Emperor will have every thing arranged
in the Spring for an army Of 10000 mem
100000 saws another writer
Truly, these are signs worthy Of the Mt
ten,ion Of the world. No nation can escape
the consequences Of general war in Eu-
rope. America will feel them-it is hard to
say, whether for veal or for woe, though the
first apparent fruits promise to be golden to
our agriculturists and merchants. On the
2lst of this month flour commanded from
S525 to 9,2j per barrel in Boston, and it
has risen since to about ten dollars. What
will its price be, when the wheat growers Of
Europe become soldiers, and the wheat fields
become fields of battle'
The Review article is upon the religious
and political relations Of Russia, and the Wi
ter gives the keynote by saying, that while
the schemes Of aggrandizement Of other ma.
tons were generally the result either Of the
personal ambition Of individuals or of tenn
porary circumstances, "the tendency Of
Russia. continually TO advance towards Con-
stantnople, is the necessary consequence Of
her geographical position, rs well rs OF her
past course Of religious and political deyc-
lopment. These circumstances have been
operating for ages with the regularity of
natural law, and a crisis has now arrived
which stimulates the intensity Of their ac
ton. Following what we may call the law
of clinical grdpifciion, which formerly im.
PEELED the populations Of the north to press
upon those of the south, the Russians were
Thousand years ago pressing on Constant
nope, even with greater force than they have
been doing during the last hundred wears,
whilst the religious and political develop
ment under which Russia has grown into her
present gigantic dimensions has been such
as greatly TO increase the geographical pres
sure. Placed between Europe and the East,
sine belongs by the nature of her ecclesias-
teal and civil poity more to the latter than
10 the former type of social development,
Notwithstanding the vamlsh Of western CIV
ilizition forged upon her by Peter the Great.
q The Russian Empire is essentially sdife -ent
from those states of Europe which have de-
veloped themselves Under the influence Of
the Western Church and feudai institutions
modified as those have been in several cases
by religious and political revolutions. She
has grown up under the guidance Of the
Eastern church, and beneath the rule of an
Aslatic despotlsm. II is this Oriental char
ec,er Of Russia--in religious as well as po-
ltlcal respects, together with her geograph-
.ical position, and her clinical relations,
which have constantly impeled her to ex.
tend her empire in the East, and which have
given her, for the accomplishment Of this
object, material and moral advantages such
as no other country, however powerful, is a.
bic to command" This view is ably sus-
tanned by historical exposition, showing that
for thousand years it has been the aim Of
Russia to extend her dominion over the
countries around the Black Sea, and that for
eight hundred years since the Russian mon
arch embraced the faith of the Greek church,
she has been nursing and constantly enlarg-
ing most formidable element of strength
We mean the.religious element Says one
who has long resided in Russia, -" however
different in origin aud interests the strange
ly mixed hordes. may be which conslllul,
this giant realm, there exists one mighty hand
which holds them all together--the Byznn
tine church. Whoever remains ont of It
will soon be forced into it /; and ere the com
ing century begins, all the inhabitants o
Russia will be of Que faith" And who con
trolls this mighty church, The Czar him
self All political and ecclesiastical powe
Is placed IN his han1s; he is the Head AM
Ruler, both Of Church and State, and abso
Lutte in both. In 1899, a population Of sew
eral millions belonging TO the Greek churcl
in union with Rome, were vigorously with
drawn from that union, and many priests
who refused obedience TO the imperial man
date, were punished by transportation to 81
bena. The poltico-religious power of tn
Gar is therefore formidable: the recognize
head of the government, the army, aud III
church of great nation, why should nc
Russians fanatically follow his lead and be
come the most formidable enemy of ever.
other religion in Europe' Then there ar
twelve millions of people in Turkey, VIII
subscribe to the creed of the Greek church
Of which the Gar Of Russia is the most pc
tent head why should not the Car long 70
the conquest Of Turkey, and expect it, too
II is clear that Russia has for centuries at
tempted this. At the close of a war in IVA
Russia obtained from Turkey five ports am
the free navigation Of the Black Sea and al
Turkish waters. At the same time Turkel
permitted Russia to negotiate for a singl
Greek church, which was to be built in 'rul
KEY by the Russian government On hi