The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-02
THE RUSSIAN QUEsTIoN-cHAEGE OF P0-
SITION

send individuals.
THE RUSSIAN QUEsTI0N-CHAHGE OF P0-
sITI0N.
Ii is not fair for a Teacher to inculcate today
lessons contradictory to those he taught yester-
day, without announcing and explaining his
change of views. 1t is not fair for Leader
suddenly to assume ground precisely antago-
nistic TO that he has heretofore held, without
informing his followers of the fact, and of the
reasons therefor. With the New York Tribune,
we recognise the Law of Progress. When con-
WINGED of an error, let us ALLURE it that a GER
tain opinion was cherished by our fathers, or
has been advocated by us, is not a reason why
we should cling TO it, when proved to be I'M
sound But men who undertake TO lead or
represent Public Sentiment, have no right to
reverse their views or policy, without announc-
ing it.
The Tribune last year denounced Russia, and
upheld the cause of Turkey and its allies: this
year, it denounces the latter, and upholds the
former. Last year, it prayed God to crown
the arms of the Allies with triumph: this year,
IL prays for their defeat, and that Turkey may
be swallowed up" by Russia. Not until we
brought to light this astounding inconsistency,
did it intimate to its readers its change of
opinion
1t attempts to justify itself by assuming, that
the whole question in regard to the war has
changed the question now is, who shall pos
sess Turkey? With due Difference to our CO.
temporary say, this is not the question.
The relations Of the several parties in the war,
TO one another and TO Europe, are unchanged.
Russia is still the overgrown aggressor; Tur-
key, the aggrieved; the Allies, actors the
defensive. 1t is not Turkish ambition that
threatens Europe; the Sultan asks but to be
let alone. 1t is not the ambition Of the Allies
that originated the war, or prevents peace.
They have sought nothing, they ask nothing,
but the integrity of Turkey, and security for the
Nations of Western Europe. In all the nego-
tiations at Vienna, nothing more was named
or suggested. Russia was called upon, not to
make reparation, not to cede an inch of terri
tory, not to pay the expenses of a war provoked
by her rapacity-but, simply to give guaranty
of her determination to abstain from aggression
upon Turkey, by consenting to such a reduc-
tion of her armament on the Black Sea, as
would preclude hostile projects, but answer all
pacific purposes. After close examination of
the reports of the negotiation, furnished by
both sides, we assert that the Allies demanded
nothing which related TO their exclusive inter
ests, nothing which did not concern specially
the preservation of Turkey and the welfare of
h. Al
ststement-cannot produce single particle of
evidence proving that down to the close of
the Vienna Conferences, a. few weeks ago, the
Turco- Russian Question had changed in sim
gle essential point.
The Tribune assumes that the Turks can no
longer remain possessors of Turkey. This was
not its position last year. What new light has
1t since obtained? AS TO the abstract question,
whether Turkey can be preserved under its
present dynasty, whether the habits or religion
of Its people are insuperable obstacles to prog.
ress, whether 1t must not gradually decline, until
IT fall under the domination of some European
Power, We are not now called upon to discuss
it. This much is certain-the essential con.
dition of Turkey has undergone no change
since the day when the Tribune bade her God
speed, chronicled with exultation her Victories
over Russian armies and prayed that Russia
overwhelmed with defeat and disaster, might
be taught I" to mind her own business" Then,
forbearing, as we have done, TO discuss the alb
stract question Just referred to, it looked at the
right and the wrong of the controversy, and
invoked the judgments of Heaven, not its bless
ings, upon the gigantic wrongdoer.
We cannot accept the reason offered by the
TIitune in justification of its present pro- Rus
: sian position. 1t is no more question to-day,
who shall possess Turkey, than it was when that
paper was anti-Russian. The Sultan has not
the remotest idea of divesting himself of empire.
There is less prospect now of any Immediate ap-
preparation of his territory by Russia, than there
was at the commencement of hostilities. And
the entire action of England and France, from
the beginning TO this hour, gives no evidence of
apurpose or disposition on the part of either to
do what has been justly charged upon Russia.
The Tribune, like other hearty haters of Eng.
land, may speculate and suspect but it has
to-day no more ground for distrusting the pur.
poses of the Allies than it had last year, when
it denounced them for their cowardly efforts to
prevent war. Is it reasonable for that Jour
nal now to impute to them design to partition
Turkey, because they are doing precisely what
last year it berated them for not doing? We
do not pretend to look so far into the Future
rs our contemporary; for, when a war between
the great Powers Of the Earth is once com
menced, God only knows what revolutions,
political and geographical, it may bring in its
train. 1t may be that Turkeys doomed-it
may be that before the bloody drama shall close,
all parties may have changed their positions.
But, looking At things as they are, we boldly
assert, thst no change thus far has taken place