The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-04-26
"VHE FOUR POINTS"


now turned to quarter and the result of these
gotiatons machinaons-call them what you willis
looked for TN stsreotyped phrase with intense anxiety
is exceedingly Notifying to that though associated
with class of those gifted mortas who much deep
or into ml-stones than other people, we cannot throw
light that bottomess region ofdplomacy where
the masersprits of darkness like the know nothngs, la
Dor in secret and rewarded openly. We pore with
respectful Difference the oraces of the London
Times, which "exerts such empowering influence
all parts of the known world and most especially the
Anglo press but regret say that before
have well made up opinion in conformity with the
oracle il has received inspiration and of
sight Of land without ruddcr, compass pilot We also
read the speculaons of the Legencer and the Courier
and Enquirer but learn nothing from these but gentle
echoes of the oraees of the high priest of the Times
We are therefore, left to grope way by the Pickering
light that and flashes from the dark cloud Of
diplomacy, leaving in darkness visible" moment
afterwards
All learn with nyhing approaching to certainty
is that the questions issue between the regulators of the
balance of Europe and the power TO be regulated have
been narrowed down TO four points and that of these the
third is the only that presents any nsuperabe diff
Guilty in its adjustment This point will be sufficiently
illustrated by the proposition of the allied powers and the
of the Russian penpoentary, given in various
European journals and letters from their correspondents
for the correctness of which, however do not hold
selves responsible According to these authorities
third proposition of the allies is as follows:
The object of the revision Of the treaty July 49, ls
should be completely attach the existence the
toman empire to the European balance power
end the preponderance the Black sea- The
arrangements to be made in this matter depend
diaey the events of the for settled
at present 1t is sufficient to have indicated the princ
ple."
To this the Russian plenipotentiary replies
Revson Of the treaty the 18th July lslI to attach
more completely the existence Of the Ottoman empire
balance of Europe: do not refuse to an under
standing in formal conferences for peace the which
the three courts propose to put end what they
the preponderance of Russia in the Black sea- condition
that in the choice of those there he of
lure to infringe upon the rights sovereignty of my august
master on his own territory"
And is stated that he has his court for further
instructions this head
The point here stipulated is ito put end the pre-
ponderancy of Russia in the Black sea-" to which the Rus
sian minister assents provided ait does infringe upon
the rights of sovereignty of my august his
territory In the present state of things this certainly
perfectly reasonable since the allied powers have
thus far not gained and apparently likely gain
any advantages the Gar that justify in the slightest
degree claim to interfere with his rights of sovereignty
in the Black anywhere else Such concession
would at once be acknowledgment that Russia wanted
either the power the spirit maintain her independent
position as great and powerful empire 1t is condition
we feel assured the Gar will submit to so long as
sistance is possible There this moment nothing in
the relative condition Of the parties in this that goes
to sustain the and prcpoerous peensons of the
allied powers that would furnish the Car with
for
if they had him at their feet and could dictate the
of his humiliation If therefore, this point is be made
the sine qaa non of peace believe it far distant indeed
and are greatly inclined to suspect that the missions
Lord John Russell and NJ Drouyn rHuys to Vienna are
not to forward but delay if ultimately prevent
ton Of hos,iltes.
The most striking aspect however in which this eastern
presents itself view the interference of the
AngloFrench alliance with the preponderance Russia in
the Black With the same and indeed much stronger
reason might Russia take exceptions the preponderancy
ofthe AngloFrench alliance in the Pacific the Atlantic the
Mediterranean the Baltic the Red the Yellow the White
and the of all colors She has much
jealous of this universal peponderancy in every other
they have TO be jealous of her peponderancy in the
Black sea- large portion of which is bordered by her
territory and Of it by their apprehension
future danger from the progress of nation is just ground
of war; Russia has apparently quite much to fear from
the AngloFnch alliance that alliance has from her. and
would have been at least jushable in calling the
States ofwesern Europe maintain the balance power
The against the Gar and the invasion of his terri
tory by the allied powers is sheer Of aggression
and Of defence; and is based assumption which
IL successfully maintained will be fatal to the ndepend
of nations least all those who of sufficient
sequence in the present. the future excite the
jealousy apprehensions of Great Britain France
which oppose any obstacles to the establishment of
great equilibrium Of power in the New well the Old
World II rests universal Intervention, and claims
right to clip the wings of nations whenever they aspire
too high fight begin to expand their wings wide
or uer anticipation OF leaving the nest They must
have their wings cut their nails paired and if necessary
their necks wrung lest per they should scratch
the gardens of their neighbors The attempt
the very abstract idea Of imposing conditions of peace
Russia in the present state of the preposterous
as insulting great and independent power at this mo-
t standing bay with its Assailants and deng thos,
efforts which have already nearly exhausted one and il
peated will eventually exhaust the other Is this time to
impose conditionsf
The arrogance of such attempt would not be ap
parent had Scbastopo fallen it likely to fall
rying with it the destruction of the Russian fleet and