The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-22
The Prospect Of Peace.

peint. Russia, it appears, from the diplomatic
circular and the despatch Of Count Nesselrode
Of Jan. 5, still declines to consent to any modi
fcation Of her frontier by the cession Of terri
tory in Bessarabia, and objects to any vague
fifth point, under which other territorial con-
cessions might be demanded of her. She con-
sents to throw open the Danube, and neither TO
erect nor to maintain strong places on the
Black Sea; she stipulates that some permanent
protection shall be afforded to the Christians
in Turkey; as to the rest, she proposes to sur
render Kars in exchange for Sebastopol, and
conceives that with this the Allies should be
satisfied. If the language of the British press
can be regarded as in any measure, a criterion
of the intentions of the government, England
will demand more substantial guarantees for
peace than these. France is ready, it appears,
to negotiate on any terms which the Gear is
willing to suggest; but unless Lord Clarendon
hts stated glazing falsehood, the Emperor is
Of one mind with the British government.
1t appears certain, however, that tn e masses
OF Europe are tired of war In the language
of the Dtbats, both conquerors and conquered
feel moral necessity for peace" In Russia, as
well as France and England, civilization has i'm
planted the conviction that there is something
better to be done with flesh, blood and muscle
than to tear them in shreds with ball, steel and
grape. The horrid massacre at the capture Of
the Malakoff gave the first impetus to the SEN
timent; and nothing has contributed more
powerfully to extend it than the wholesale
destruction of those miracles of art and
science, the docks at Sabastopol. 10 former
days, says the French newspaper before quoted,
wars used to last thirty years; at present hui
mainly RECEIVERS from the delusion at the end
Of two. We noticed the other day that the
desire for peace was go powerful in Austria
that Viennese newspaper which ventured to
doubt it's advent was vigorously suppressed,
apparently to the satisfaction of the people.
A similar sentiment has seized such hold of the
public mind at Paris, that the most violent
anti English articles have lately found their
way into the papers in anticipation of difficult
ties being thrown by England in the way of
treaty Of peace Nor is there any doubt but
the same Wow will obtain with the bulk of the
British people. The war has always been op-
posed by the Manchester men; the merchants
Of London and the sea board cities, who some
time since were resolute for the prosecution OF
hostilities, now speak hopefully of peace; Par
lament is evidently we'll pleased at the pros
pect Of the popular feeling in Russia it is
impossible to speak with any confidence, from
the want of free press and free speech in the
dominions of the Gear; but there, too, the weari-
ness of the war must be decided, or Alexander
would not have ventured, in the face of Con-
stantine and the strong war party among the
mobiles, to have made concessions for the sake
of arriving at basis of negotiations.
Should the war now be brought to close, it
will figure strangely in history. Neither side
can properly call itself the victor. If the Al
lies have taken Sebastopol, the Russians have
taken Kars: one offsets the other. The excess
of material damage has doubtless been
inflicted 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 to have been 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 q partisan,
there is unquestionably much truth in it. On
the other hand, the Count of Nesselrode ad-
mits, in his diplomatic circular to the Russian
Ministers abroad, that one of the chief motives
which have pressed Russia to negotiate has
been "tbe existence of coalition, the tenden-
cy Of which was every day to assume larger
proportional In other words, Russia nego
tiates in rider not to be beaten by European
coalition. 1t will not be until the terms of
peace are made known that the exact proper
ton Of glory and disgrace can be meted out
to each combatant, and then it will doubtless
appear that the only conqueror has been Louis
Napoleon, whose arms have been his pen, and
whose troops have been diplomatic circulars.
If Russia is beaten, she will have been beaten
in the binet more than in the field.
POETRY OF CRY LIFE-THE Snow CLAD HILLS
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