Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-18

any alscinp! 10 supply Inc ehVbs VIZ"
contrnbaHd of var. The Courts of
Northern Germany. and possibly Of some
other northern States sre reminded that
if they give way TO their priruIe sympa-
lhy with the Russian alliance. they will
forfeit the confidence of their subjects.
and ,ha, even the neutrality they seek to
preserve. will become ere long burde n
too grevous 10 be borne. Aus.ris has
assem- mbled powerful army on the con-
fines of Wallsthio; she has prepared
herself 20 take the field a, "a nome S
notice; and from her command Of the mp
per Danube and the passes OF the Carpa-
thians. she can pour with irresistible
force Oil the rear Of an invading army.
AS long as Austria keeps that position.
and adheres TO the language she has used
throughout this discussion. she holds the
advanced guard OF the Russian army III
check. even though not an Austrian sol
der crosses the frontier. The position
Of Russia becomes not only ore Of de-
fence, but Of danger; and the entire plan
Of the campaign is changed by the vari-
ETY. of attacks 10 which she may be ex-
posed. Her lines Of operation against
Turkey are obvious enough as long as
Europe is neutral: but with the Anglo
French fleets and armies on the left. and
the posi- billy of or Austrian movemen.
on the right, 10 advance on the Bslkin
would be an act of infa,uation. and even
TO hold the Princi palisies is cause of
weakness and embarrassment. since her
line Of operations moy be intersected
by the advance Of an Austrian army on
Jsssay. or Of en- Angl loire nch army op
Grating in Bessarabia.
These causes appear to us 10 account
in some degree for the suspension of op-
erations anu the absence of more posi-
tive intelligence at mcmen. when the
curiosity Of the public throughout Eu
rope is raised TO its highest pitch. The
last propositions from 81. Petersburg a
mount to en- offer to evscuate the Prin-
cipalties in exchange for Nh withdraw
al Of the fleets from the Black Sea and
the Bosphorus; and. although the Empe.
ror Nicholas cannot for a moment have
supposed thes the Westrn Powers would
con,en, themselves with so sterile re-
su.t of thei, efforts and sacrifices, leav-
ing the whole question to be reopened by
Russia at more convenient season. yet
this proposal has proba bly, been made to
satisfy the mos, pressing demand of the
German powers and TO detaeh them from
the Qusdruple Conference. II is impor-
tont 10 note that since the rejection OF
these terms BY France and England. the
has nevertheless been signed: and we
have ye: IL learn what the next move of
The Russian cabinet will be on the re-
ceipt os This intelligence.
While Russia is thus driven TO con
tract her pretensioss and Ia fall back on
the defensive. after threatening the Porte
with summary veangence. the policy OF
the Western Powers which was strictly
defensive al first. and is still defensive
in principle. has gradually led them TO
resolve upon more offensive operations.
TO reduce Russia to accept terms Of
peace consistent with the general inter
es.s OF Europe and the safety Of the Turk
compelled TO attack her. and to inhic,
upon her subjects in the Baltic and Black
Sea a portion Of those evils which Rus
sia has so unrelentingly inflicted on 9TH
era. Ii is. indeed. stated in Paris-we
know not with what ,ruth-that a for
NAL offensive and defensive treaty has q,
length been signed between the Western
Powers. Be this as it may. ii is certain
that England and France cannot lay down
their arms until they have cffectually
prevented the possibility of a Iepe ,i.ion
of these outrages. Had the King of
Prussia signed the Quadruple Conven-
tion when il was proposed to him, such
an arrangement might have had the effec:
of limiting our operations 10 the bjects
contemplated in that instrument. and the
secret allies OF Russia would, of course,
have used their influence and position to
blunt and Iestrain the keenness and force
of the attacks TO which the Emperor
Nicholas is Justly exposed. But as that
Convention was defeated by the intriguss
of the Cour. of Berlin. we are pc fec:ly
free 10 take such view of the case as
ou: policy suggests. and the success of
our nrms may Justify. At present all
these causes. partly military and partly
political. tend TO prolong for while the
suspense which hangs like q thunder
cloud over Europe. Tomorrow the cloud
may fall. and the first results Of the
war will clear away all that is still in
definite and obscure.