Washington sentinel., 1854-06-25
From the London News, june 5.

All the struggling items OF war news that
come dropping IN, are OF u nature to strengthen
the belief that the Russians are too weak to
cope with the allies. The Noniteur confirms
the account OF the repalse sustained by the
Russians in their assault upon Silistria. Dis.
patches from Lesser Wallachia announce
victory gained by the Turks at Slatina, an
event which is calculated 10 accelerate the
movements of the Russians in that quarter,
previously summoned to fall back for the pur-
pose of augmenting the numbers brought to
bear upon Slistria. The latest intelligence
positively afiirms the departure of the first de-
tachment of the British troops for Varna; and
from another quarter we hear of the prepara-
tions making in Varna for their reception.
But it is not from the west of the Euxine alone
that we hear of indications of cencious weak
ness on the part of the Russians.
The abandonment aud destruction Of their
forts on the Circassian coast, and the attempts
OF some of the garrisons to fall back through
Mingrelia upon Tiffiis, and followed by hutter-
ing movements, macchings and countermarch-
ings throughout Georgia, that show the exist
ence Of doubts at headquarters as TO whether it
will be expedient or safe to leave so large
fraction of the Russian army in an outpost
where its communications with Russia can so
easily be interrupted by the Caucasian noun
taineers. In the east as in the west, in the
south as in the north, all the movements of the
Russians denote not only painful conscious.
ness that they can only stand on the defensive
against the storm of war their Emperor has
conjured up, but misgivings as TO their ability
to maintain successfully even q mere defensive
attitude. The obvious irressolution, hesitation,
and vacilation that pervade the Russian coun-
ellis of war, are all so many invitations to the
allies to strike at once, and strike home.
With affairs in such position, the question,
what policy is likely to be adopted by the ex-
tremely suspicious, professingly friendly, powers
OF central Europe grows every moment in prac-
teal Importance. The words of the Austrian
and Prussian governments are utterly value
less; actions, from which their real leaning
might be inferred, there are none; the only
resource is to note every Involuntary and un-
guarded expression or sign that escapes from
them. Of this nature are the recently pub
lished programme of the proceedings Of the
dietat Frankford, and the tone generally adopted
by the Austrian press. From the former we
learn that the two great powers Of the German
confederation are treating their lesser brethren
very cavalierly. Both Austria aud Prussia
have given the minor powers Of the coniedera-
tion unequivocally to understand that the diet,
composed of all their representatives, is merely
what would have been called, under the ancien
regime in France, a lit de justice, to register
the edicts of the two larger governments.
Prussia, with characteristic laundering fatuity,
goes further, and seeks to prove, in due logical
form, that the war in the east, being not simply
a war of the confederation but a war which
calls all Europe into play, the articles OF the
fundamental compact upon which the conted-
sequently the minor States have no right to
voice in the decision what part Germany is TO
take. The language addressed by the Prus-
sian cabinet to the diet, translated into intelli-
gible language is simply" Austria and Prus-
sia having made up their minds, it is not the
part of the minor States of the confederation
to argue or demonstrate, but to obey"
This dictatorial language need surprise no
one; as long ago as the time of the Congress
of Verona, a graceless caricaturist toretold how
it would be, by representing the Emperor of
Austria and the King of Prussia pockets
stuffed with little mediatised princes seated at
a council table, with the surviving little poten-
tates of Germany below it, struggling in vain
to get peep at what is going on, but knocked
down as soon as they showed themselves The
minor German sovereigns will have to do what
Austria and Prussia bid them. As to what
Prussia bid them do, if the king and court are
allowed to have their own way, nobody any
longer affects to have the slightest doubt But
Austria? Well, Austria has newspaper press,
OF which the more honest and intelligent mem.
bers have embraced various occasions to show
that they perfectly understand the true inter.
est of their country at the present crisis and
are anxious honestly to express their opinion,
as far as they can do SO with safety. The Ian
guage of these cramped and fettered journals
is at this moment pregnant with meaning.
They allow no opportunity to escape them of
urging the necessity of opening and keeping
free the navigation of the Danube. Taking up
this ground, they skilfully avail themselves Of
the protestations of their court that Russia
must be compelled to evacuate the Danubian
Princpaities. But further they dare not go,
and small blame to them," as an Irishman
might say, considering what plain speaking
has been stated, all their lucubrations consist
of soft sawder' addressed alternately to their
own court and to the czar
Their latest subterfuge is to place the ques-
ton in this light: Unless Russia evacuate the
Austria must declare against it;
as matters stand, Russia cannot make the first
overture to such an arrangement, nor can
Austria again interfere it is therefore, the
duty or the western powers and the sultan to
reopen negotiations by intimating to the czar,
that if his troops are withdrawn behind the
truth, pacific overtures will then be enter
tanned, and no further concessions exacted
from him." This is ridiculous; it is for the
aggressor, who is at the same time the weaker
party, to offer terms and mere return to the
status quo ante would afford no security to
Europe against future disturbances of its peace
by Russia.
But that the clearsighted writer's to whose
publications we have adverted, point to such
conclusion as the most desirable "be all and
end all' of the war, shows their sense of the
real aims of their government. The sole OBJ
lect of the Austrian government is, and has
been, to let Rnssia understand that if they
appear to cooperate with its antagonists, it
IS only to gain an opportunity of serving it;
that their aim is to extricate Russia from the
dilemma into which it has rushed with as little
damage as possible; and this because they feel
that the interests of Russia and Austria are
one, the maintenance Of the despotic power,
and the crushing of nationalities and popular
spirit everywhere.
This being the case, nothing short of futu-
II q 41ro.~r tl,nsr