The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-18

Although the indications presented by the
intelligence which we published yesterday are,
we own, of a most unfav orable character to the
prospects Of peace, we have not yet lost faith
in the chances of some solution being found
which will avert the dire alternative to which
they seem to point The speech of the Queen
of England whilst it recommends that her
people should prepare for the worst, still
breathes decidedly pacific tone, and holds out
the hope that every effort Of negotiation will
be exhausted before hostilities are resorted to-
The failure of Count Orloff' Is mission to Vienna,
which, it appears, had for its object the forma-
tion of league with the German against the
Western Powers, has removed one elemen ofun-
certainty from the consideration of the question
which had impaired to it its most dangerous as
pect. In the political isolation Of the Gear we
see the prospect of speedy settlement Of the
question, either by his timely submission to the
stern necessities of his position or by the form
alton of such o powerful combination as will
effectually crush him.
The affairs Of Europe have, in fact, arrived at
crisis which will no longer admit Of paliatives
or temporary expedients. Something must be
done quickly, and done effectively, to put an
end to state of things which menances the
peace of the world and paralyses its commercial
operations. The war between Russia and Tur-
key has now been carried on for nearly year
for the invasion of the Principalties was an act
of war-and yet no advance has been made
towards the settlement of the question at issue.
The position of the other powers has, up to q
certain point, been an Independent one as regards
the belligerents, for, without favoring either
side, they have been endeavoring to stay by ne
gotation the progress Of hostities, and to effect
an accommodation between them. Finding the
pretensions Of the Gear irreconcilable with the
claims of justice and moderation, and inconsis-
tent with the future safety and peace Of Eu-
rope, they have now openly espoused the cause Of
Turkey, and 1t is clear that we must very soon
have either European war between the allied
Powers and Turkey, arrayed on one side, and
Russia, with such of the German States as she
can drag into her quarrel, on the other, or else
some general and comprehensive adjustment Of
the rights Of the different Powers. similar to that
laid down in Lord Palmerston's project. Mat
tiers have, in fact, arrived at point which will
only admit Of one or other of these alternatives.
and IL only remains for us to examine in favor
of which the probabilities lie.
II is evident that the Emperor Of Russia has
been all along counting on the impossibility of
cordial union being maintained between the
governments of England and France, from the
traditional animosity which has so long existed
between the people Of the two countries.
He also reckoned upon the sympathy and
support Of all the German and portion of the
Northern Powers from the consequently,
contiguity and similarity that existed between
their respective families, thrones and govern
ments. How far the first of these suppositions
is well founded remains to be seen; but as re-
CARDS the second, there is no doubt OF the
disposition of the German Powers either to re-
main neutral or side with Russia. Besides the
motives that we have just enumerated, the Ger
man States stand ia natural awe Of the over
grown power Of Russia, its close propinquity