New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-04-15
RUSSIa dyND HER VIcTTyM.

We have heretofore been unable, from any
thing positive and clear which has been brought |
u light by the long discussions Of diplomacy
10 decide whether Russia Or Turkey and its
allies lie right, in the pending quarrel, In gen
eral, We set il down as probable, when We see
such 4 dispute spring DIP between the strong and
the weak, that the latter will prove to be in the
right. IL the stronger be known to be the ag-
eressor generally, the presumption against him
Is fortified. If. Id addition, his aggressiyeness
is known to have settled mark in his weak
nsigh hor, whom he has been watching for an
occasion and keeping in bodily fear, Gas Russia
has been doing Turkey and we Cuba,) then it is
alway warrantable to set out, by almost taking
it for granted that, if d hot dispute has begun,
it is most unlikely to be the feeble party who
has flung the first stone.
s We knew, therefore, from the first, that, in
tho present quarrel, Russia was every way
likely to be in the wrong. Still, IN the progress
of the matter and the reciprocal exhibition Of
the grounds of strife, we have ESQ far as We
we're able to understand the matter) seen no
reason to regard the Russian cause as less just
than the Turkish while Russia showed the
greater willingness to come to the terms advised
by the mediating powers.
Certainly. the Russian is to US no government
than can enlist any sympathy with its princi-
pies. But the Turkish is still less SO. Both are
at least equally despotic: but, practically,
they are alike in nothing else. For while the
GAR dominion is able, wise, careful of its obe-
dent subjects, and benehcent towards its pea
santry, whom be has labored to iberate and
raise Up, the Sultans is as weak as it is arbitra-
~, as naughty as il is dependent, and little but
one wide scene of infamous misrule, where the
strong trample at their pleasure on the weak,
where no mans property nor person is for an
instant safe, and where they whom the Porte
arms With its authority usesit only for the pur-
poses Of tyranny and personal rapacity. For
every pasha is little else than q robber. In a
word, we do not believe that worse govern
ment than the Turkish has ever been, for three
hundred years, the scourge of q wide dominion
and Che terror Of its neighbors.
0fthese Governments, then, we dislike the
Turk i far the most. It has ever been and still
3 Is far worse than despotism for it is Govern
mentIpf mere brutal and savage force, holding
reluctant people by only the right of conquest,
and never, in even the lapse Of ages, mitigat-
ing, las almost every conquest has donel the
original wrong Of such q domination into just
laws and d mild administration, which gradual
ly should grow up, as resistance ceases. The
Russian conquests have been far wider ; but
they have been cemented by good policy and havt
advanced civilization over vast tracts Of pre-
yious barbarism Siberia and Tartary have
been greatly improved: the Cossac is no longer
a rowing savage; and the Russ territories on
the Black Sea are, at this moment, making o
progress in population, industry and the arts
Of which peoplein this country have little idea
but which, in reality, almost rivals the rapid
prosperity of our own new States Besides, ths
Russians like the despotism; and surely those
principles Of Liberty are fragrant self contra
diction, which want to impose upon a people an,
other form of government than that which suit
them. There can be no doubt but that som
countries are incapable Of self goyernmens
Russia generally is in that condition; and sh
seems to know il. She wants no change sh
likes her political slavery and we are clear TO
any mans being q slave, if he prefers it,
While thus regarding the Turkish dominion
as one far more to be detested, we acknowledg
9 it one less to be feared, than the Russian. Thi
able power, directed by q single will and lonl
transmitting from sovereign to sovereign til
same hereditary purposes and policy, is a grea
and natural dread to the Western States d
Europe It's policy marches before; its fore
follows Sweden, that once swept away its ar
mics with handful Of men, lies at its mercy
Austrian half-reduced to dependence; Prussi
scarcely wristbands its will. England appre
hends her in India France remembers the pre
pheey of her mighty warrior, to whom Russi
was fatal.
But what is all this to us I Except for tn
kindred freedom of England, what need "
care, The governments of all the. rest al
such that it matters little to us whether I'll
Gar or their present masters rule them. No
indeed do we see any probability that the Ru
sian asoendaney will make its way any furthe
/ on that side. 1t is only Turkey that she thres
tens or can reach.
Certainly, we should not like to see all III
rope turned into one vast despotism. Nor {
can well be that Russia will speedily take POI
session Of Turkey in Europe; and that the POI
session Of Constantinople will lead to the brenl
ing upsof her empire, as it did to that of Ii
Roman For she will transfer thither her mai
capital a Caesar will be left in ST. Petersbur
or Moscow there will be d double soyereignt
in separate regions; and division is sure
ensue. Such is our vision; and it seems to i
most palpable one.
In short, nothing that we are told by til
general outery Of Western Europe against Ii
despotism of the Gar can make us friends to til
turban'd Turk We hayn't forgot that we hate
him, for the sake Of the Greeks Nor can v
for the sake Of England and Frances fears, nj
all the talk about the 4 liberty of Europe
cease to remember that the upholding of Turks
is TO maintain in the cruelest slavery full twel,
millions Of Greek Christians, whom the Osma,
lee has been for centuries grinding into powde
If the Allies mean to protect the Porte, let the
at least rescue our fellow Christians from TIL
abominable sway.
Such have been our general reasons for di
senting from the opinion in favor Of the Sulta
which our people have 1--WE think too hastil
adopted from the English and French journa
Meantime, We must also ayow that the rece
disclosure Of the strange confidential commu
cationa between Nicholas and the English Min
Try throws quite new and by no means fay
E i. -. H. nksa 70 Of Ous