The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-08-04
From th. New York Herald.
TIE CRISIS OF THE EASTERN Dlt-
FICULTY.

TIE CRISIS OF THE EASTERN DIFF
FICULTY.
The reply Of the Emperor Of Russia to The
demands of the Austrian and Prussian Caol-
nets confirm the view we took yesterday oi
the present aspect Of the Eastern question:
BY the evacuation of Wallachia the Gar
seeks to divest the question OF those extra
peous elements of difficulty arising from tn e
intervention of German interest, rs regards
the free navigation of the Danube, and to
limit IL 10 the direct issues which have brought
Lin, into collision with the Western Powers.
I, tbi, Observation-Disclosures voluntary or
for,ed we will not stop to inquire-he only
cop.uts the dictates Of common prudence.
Ii be so important to the coalition to Sc
cure the conditional support of the German
Powers, it becomes the more necessary for
him 10 neutraiizc the motives that impel
those governments to afford the Western al
lance a limited cooperation. fit be true,
as asserted, that the rcvcrses which his armies
have experienced under this retrogade move
mcni, is a matter of strategic necessity, he
shows tact in seeking to impast to 1t such
coloring as will serve to confirm the waver-
ing sympathies of his German neighbors.-
The real truth of the matter we however be-
lieve to be that the evacuation OF the south
em Principality is part of concerted plan,
long since agreed upon between the Russian
and German Cabinets, and which was made
an indispensable condition of the subsequent
friendly action Of the latter. We have now
arrived at the eliminating point OF the diff
Guilty which is to determine what the inten.
lions of the German Powers really are, and
how far their double faced diplomatic profess
sions towards both interests may be relied
upon by either.
There is nothing in the reply Of the Car
10 the hypocritlcal German ultmatum which
indicates any disposition upon his part to
finch from the contest. What he offers now
he hns offered before, as, indeed he was
bound by consistency with his own demands
to do. In fact his new proposition divests
his former concessions Of any value that
might have been attached to them. BY re-
serving what he terms strong military po-
sition in Moldavia, he seeks TO obtain an adj
vantage that he did not before possess, and
carries out the invarable policy Of Russia
since the time of Catharine-of only compro.
missing each fresh aggression for some posi-
tive benefit, either in the shape of territorial
acquisitions, or of political prercgativos that
may serve as the basis of fresh encroach-
ments. 1t was the proud boast of the Carl
M that Russia had never engaged in any war
which had been unattended with some COM
pensatng benefit.
In reviewing its history for the last ccntu-
~ and half, it will be found that in but
few instances has this remark been falsilicd.
Step by step, and with Il steady and unwa-
vering perseverance, has the policy which it
cmbodics been carried out; and IFS fruits are
now 10 be seen in the vast territorial impor-
lance and great political performance to
which this but lately barbarous, and still but
partially civilized empire has attained. North,
east, west and south, Russia has been gradu-
ally extending her territories and her sway,
until Europe, terrified at the growing mag
nitude of her power, now seeks to impose
limits to her expansion. The destinies of
nations are, however, placed in other hands
than those OF the short sighted politicians
who behold in the great changes that are
gradually developing themselves in the So
cial aud political relations Of the world but
fresh opportunities for the advancement of
their own selfish interests, and the more gen.
eral enslavement of mankind.