Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-03-22

The Aggressive Pelicy Oh huSSla'
There has been no better subject
for British rhetoric than this since
the commencement Of the present
strife. Russia is the barbaric con-
queror, which, like Gengbis or Ii
mour, threatens to sweep over the
whole realm of civilization, and bury
it under the night Of her gigantic
shadow. It seems to rs, that among
all the political nightmares that ever
afflicted the repose of politicians,
this is the most grotesque and unreal.
Mr.. De Garouski has pointed out,
in his thoughtful and striking. though
rather disjointed essay, that Russia
has never interfered in the affairs of
Western Europe,e except at the press
ing solicitation of some Of its lead
ing powers. The last was by Aus
tria, and the next to the last was by
Great Britain. 1t is worth while to
remember this. -
But the power Of Russia to endan-
ger the independence Of Western
Europe, is the yeriest chimera ever
imagined. In fact, if we did not
know that there was an intense Gu
|pidity to monopolize the commerce
of the Black Sea and the lower Dan
ube, we should be utterly at a loss
to guess the reasons for England
plunging into a great war to protect
I'sthe Turks and civilization"
One of the most striking points in
the debates that attended the late
Ministerial crisis, was a statement
made by Mr.. FL. Drummoud, to the
following effect: Soon after the
Peace of 1916, the British Govern.
ment commissioned the Duke oil
Wellington, to draw up statement
upon the military power of Russia
Its power and defence. The report
was made and put away where the
clerks who govern England generally
store the iabors Of the men who
ought to govern tin an official
pigeon-hole. Many years after, when
the Duke came into power, the
matter was revived, and it was found
that the Government of Austria,
Prussia, and Bavaria, had instituted
similar inquiries, and the reports all
agreed in the important points, that
Russia could do nothing in the way
| of aggression on the rest of Europe.
and that all the other powers of Eu.
rope would perish in the attempt to
destroy Russia.
1t is precisely in the teeth Of these
two positions, that the Western Pow
ers have waged the present wall
They have waged a general fury or
the danger Of Europe being overrur
by Russia, and they have undertaken
Ito put down the power Of the Cza'
within bis own territories.
But what really are the aggres
sions of Russia, since the peace o.
1915, that should awake the jeal
ousy of England? A small exten'
sion of her borders between the Gas
piar and Black Seas, and a slight in
crease of her civilizing influence ovel
the robber hordes of Central Asia
This is the whole. In the meantime
Great Britain has acquired the hal
of the Burmese Empire and the whole
valley of the Iodus, from its mouth
to its sources, embracing popula
ton greater than chat Of the United
States; and all this by the sword.
France in the same time has con
quered the the extensive country O.
Algeria, and taken possession Of Va
rious islands on the Pacific. Why
should one country be heldupasaspec'
linen of unprincipled aggression and
the others be allowed to pass as pat
terms Of moderation and forbearancel
History will not SO regard them, but
will faithfully judge nations by the
use they make Of their coDquests.-
Hitherto those of Russia have been
the extension Of order, industry, do
nestle peace, and the security Of
property-in short, of civilization, in
the place of barbarism. We have
no desire to zsee such progress ar
rested. s
During the year 1888, an old col
ored woman, named Mary Ridgely,