The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-03-07
THE PROSPECT OF PEACE.

We are apparently no nearer peace ina
we were couple of mails ago, though til
British press so confidently expresses itsel
on the point. Russia, il appears, from tn
diplomatic circular and The despatch Of Coun
Nesselrode of January 5, still declines to con
sent to any modification Of her frontier By th
cession Of territory in BessArabia, and objects
To any vague fifth point, under which othe
territorial concessions might be demanded o
her. She consents tn throw open the Danube
and neither to erect nor to maintain strong
places on the Black Sea, she stipulates tha
some permanent protection shall be affordcC
t. the Christians in Turkey; as to the rest
she proposes to surrender Kars iE exchange
for Sebastopol, aud conceivcs that with thi,
the Allies should BE- satisfied. If the Ian
guage Of the British press can be regarded
ms, IN any measure, criterion of the ntrn-
tions of the government, England will de,
nand more substantial guarantees for peace
than these. France is ready, it appears, Ia
negotiate on any terms which the Car is
willing TO suggest; but unless Lord Caren.
don has stated a aIaring faIseh"od, the En-
peror is of one mindEith the British govern
ment.
II appears certain, however, that the masses
of Europe nre tired of war. In the language
Of the DebafS, "bnth conquprors and con-
quered feel a moral necessity for peace" In
Russia, us well as France and England, civii-
zatOn has implanted the conviction that there
is something better to be done with flesh,
blood and muscle than to tear them in shrcjs
with ball, steel and grape. The h"rrid mas
sacre at the capture Of the Malakotf gave the
first impetus to the sentiment; and nothing
has contributed more powerfully to extend it
than the wholesale destruction of those mira
cics OF art and science, the docks at Srbasto-
paper before quoted, wars used 10 last thirty
years; at present humanity RECEIVERS from the
deuson at the end of two. We noticed the
other day that the desire for peace was so
powerful in Austria that Vinncnse newspi.
per which veturcd to doubt ITS advent was
vigorously suppressed, apparently to.the salts.
faction of the people. A similar sentiment
has seized such hold of the public mind at
Paris, that the most violent anti. English ar
tcles have lately found their way into the
papers in anticipation of difficulties being
thrown by England in the way Of n treaty of
peace. Nur is there any doubt but the same
view will obtain with the bulk of the British
people. The war has always been opposed
by the Manchester men; the merchants Of
London and the sea beard cities, whn some
time since we're resolHte for the prosecution
of h0stillies, now speak hopefully of peace;
Parliament is evidently well pleased at the
prospect OF the popular feeling in Russia
ii is impossible to speak with any confidence,
from the want of free press and free speech
in the dominions of the Gar; but there, too,
the WEAKNESS of the war must he decided, or
Alexander would not nave vrntured, IN the
face of Constantine and the strong war party
among the mobiles, To have made concessions
for the Bake of arriving at basis of nego.
tiatons.
Should the war now be brought to close,
it will figure strangely in history. Neither
side can properly call itself the victor. If the
Allies have taken Sebaslopol, the Russi ms
haze, .tap II ,,Ny,, 4
excess of material damage has doubtlcs, been
inhict d on Russia; but the loss of moral
prestige has been felt by the maritime nations
who, with Sardinia and the Ottoman Porte to
back them, have only just held their own
against their single opponent. Neither side
can be said tn have byen reduced to sue for
peace. Lord Derby says that the opinion on
the Continent of Europe is that the Western
Powers have sent to ST. Petersburg to beg
for peace; and though it is easy to detect in
this assertion the dishonesty of II partisan,
there is unqucStionaby much truth in it. On
the other hand, ihe Count Of Nesselrode ad-
nIils, in his diplomatic circular TO the Russian
Ministers abroad, that une OF the chief motives
which have pressed Russia to negotiate has
been ''lhc existence Of II coalition, the tendcn-
cy Of which WAS every day to assume larger
proportions" In other words, Russia nego-
tatcs in order not to be braten by II European
coalition. 1t will not he until the terms OF
peace are made known that the exact proper
ton of glory and disgrace can be- mcted out
to each combatani, ard then it will doubtless
appear that the only conqucror has been
Louis Napoleon, whose arms have been his
pen, and whose troops have been diplomatic
circulars II Russia is beaten, she will have
been beaten in the cabinet more than in the
field.
Ley The polllicHl friends of the "Euro.
pean Democracy" contemplate the establish
mrnt OF large royglot Red Republican
journal ut Augsburg, Saxon!, wh'ch will be
twice the size OF the London Times, and
will be written in English, French, German,
Italian hnJ Polish.
,-S,- "Root hog, or die" is now rendered
us follows: "Penetrale the sub soil, my por-
cine friend, or early expect an obituary notice
on thy unlimely demisr."
t4y- Perhaps it is not generally known, as
il should b., that salt put in the mouth VIII
4. .I,.,a Nttl tlSiv On