The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-02-21
From The London Times, JAN "a.
TIE EASTERN wAR--DEATH BLOW TO ALL
HOPES OF PEACE.


correspondent, is authentic, and that this Ian
guage, which seems to exclude all hope o.
peace, has been addressed by the Cabinet o.
ST. Petersburg to the Austrian Government
Yet tho last propositions, which have been ac.
ceded to by tho Porte, were not formally sem
| from Vienna to ST. Petersburg until the 18th
inst. and would not reach their destination
before tho 10Th; it Is, therefore,, impossible
that this declaration of Russia can refor tc
that communication. Russia, however, was
| doubtless aware of the form tho negotiation
had assumed, for tho Austrian Government
had caused some intmation 10 be made to the
Emperor Nicholas of the proceedings of tho
-Four Powers. With view to prepare him fol
the acceptance of the propositions when they
should arrive. It is, we suppose. to this friend
ly communication, made by Austria as the
Power to which tho Emperor Nicholas had O.
riginally referred as his nearest ally, that the
imporious answer which we havo already pub
lished has been addressed. From the circum-
stance above mentioned, il cannot be consid-
cred as the formal answer of Russia to the
-Four Powers dated the 18th of January; but il
| this document is genuine, it is impossible to
| express in stronger language the insoent dis
dain of the Emperor of Russia for everything
which tho united diplomacy of Europe has
been laborng to effect. He throws overheard
not only tho negotiation, but the negotiators
themselves; and, to render his reply more con-
temptous to Europe, he addresses it moro es-
pecially to Austria, as the Power which has
hitherto been most anxious to promote paci-
fication. and most reluctant to break with Rus
sia. The efforts of the Four Powers during
the whole Summer and Autumn of last year
were directed to two points-frst, 10 nterposo
their good Offices between Russia and Turkey,
a n n q IA, no. lich ba ta1 pf
ropo in tho affairs of the East; and, secondly,
to propose tho basis of arrangement which af-
ford to both parties an honorable retreat from
a mischieyous and disastrous position. But
the Emperor of Russia now replies categori-
cally that his quarrel is with tho Porto alone,
and no thinks fl. to ignore the fact that the
continuance of this war or tho conclusion Of
peace has become q matter of preliminary i'm
portance between himself and every other
great Power. In the same spirit he names as
his Plenipotentiary, not an envoy to be sent to
a conference in somo neutral town. as he had
previously offered to the Austrian Government
to do, but Prince Gortschakoff, the comman-
der of his forces on the theatre of war. This
Plonipotentiery is only to be approached by
the suppliant Ottoman Government on two
conditons,-the one, that no demand laid
down by Prince Menschikoff is 10 be departed
from the other, that the present difference is
to be settled between Russia and Turkey alone.
We know not what Che remainder ofthis COM
munication may be, o. in what precise form it
has been made, but we know enough of il 10
perceive that no answer could have been Civ
en- moro fatal 10 the hopes of peace or moro
Numerically opposed 60 the couciliatorv terms.
which the -Four Powers have accommodated.
lfthis is the language addressed by the Empe-
ror Nicholas to Austria, il is needless to in
quire what viii be the fate of the subsequent
communication of tho Four Powers united
If however, the Court Of Vienna still retains
aught of that spirit and dignity which it has
often preserved in its severest reverses, it can
not but feel that tho Emperor of Russia has
put an unoxampled affront upon It. Through
out this negotiation, Austria has been under
stood to be in more confidential communities
tion with Russia than the Western Powers
Austria had received the most positive assu-
RANGES that no territorial aggraHdiZement was
meditatod, and that Russia wGs prepared to
treat.
This last point was put forward in express
terns in the Vionna Protocol Of the tho 9Th of
Dec. What is the declaration now addressed
to her? That Turkey must find hor terms Of
peace in Prince Menschikoffs note and Prince
Gortsehakoff's head puaiters. If that bs the
ultimatum OF Russia, meditation is nt an end;
and, if any doubt have hitherto remained in
the minds Of tho German Courts that doubt
must be at an end also, for this rejection of the
whole basis of arrangements includes the
they have formally and distinctly
recognized. They have declared with US, that
these questions affect the distribution Of pow
er in Europe, and that in no case can terrific
rial limits Of the Russian and Turkish empires
be changed by this war; They wished Ike
us, to accomplish those ends by negotiation -
but they find, as we do that Russia laughs at
such propositions, and that they can only be
enforced by war. Under these altered oir-
cumstances the German Courts will have to
consider the effects of such blow aimed at
their nearest interests, their independence.
and their consistency They will, we trust,
re Consider their position--that of England
and France is already decided. It is not us,
but to Austria and Prussia. that this last de-
elaration applies with all its force, and to them
it is emphatically addressed.
In tho meantime, there is ample evidence
that orders have been sent to tho army on the
Danube to prosecute tho war with increased
activity and to carry it at the earliest possible
moment across that river. All our accounts
concur in stating, as was TO be expected, that
the Russians were collecting their forces in
Little Wallachia for a combined assault on the
Turkish lines at Kalafat. On the 18th Prince
Gortschakof was in person at Krajova, and
was concentrating his forces at Radovan, a
place on the road from Krajova to Widdin.--I
The Turkish outposts are at Crotoin, station
on the same road, about ten miles tn tho south;
for this and for several other neighboring villa
ges arc still in possession of the Turkish army,
and must De taken before Kslafat itself can be
approached 1t is SO essential to the operations
of the Russian army to gain possession of Kal-
afat, and to retrieve, as far as they can, tho
reverses they have already suffered from troops
which they affected 10 despise, that we have
no doubt the attack on that place will be re-
newed over and over again, and at any COST
Already the losses sustained by tho Russians
in tho battles of tho 9th, 9TH, and Sth inst.
wero such as to compel them to draw off until
the arrival of reinforcements. But, even i'll
Kalafat be carried at an immense sacrifice
Widdn remains on tho opposite bank of tho
river, well fortified town, with works Of great
extent, and in better condition than those of
any other fortress on the Danube, Widdin caa
only bo taken by regular seigo. and to UNDER
take such yield requires the passage of the
river by an entire army. Near Galatz the