St. Mary's beacon., 1858-09-09

The Plenipotentiaries Of the European Pow
ers assembled In conference at Paris have COM
pleted the loug-talked OF, and apparently ard
u0aS task. of the Reorganization Of the Danu-
bian ipalities-Moldavi and Wallachia-
and have now only to arrange as TO the nayi-
cation of the Danube, which will coWpletely
settle "the Eastern question" They have de
cided that there shall be q sort of administra-
tive union Of the two provinces, and that they
shall have q representative assembly based on
a very high electoral qualification; but the po-,
litical union, the independent Government, and
constitutional monarchy, which the Rouman
people demanded, and which France and Rus
sia seemed at one time anxious to grant, have
been completely ignored, and the rule of the
Sublime Porte left IN statH quo as absolute as
ever, and as obnoxious to the Moldaviats and
Wallachians.
There were many good and cogent reasons
for the adoption of this course by the Euro
pean Powers. Tie great object for which the
Crimean war was undertaken was to protect
the gdrkish Empire; when after two yeaTs
exhaustive and wasting csnipaign, peace was
concluded, one of the chief articles in the trea-
ty was an agreement to preserve and guard
the integrity Of the Turkish Empire. If the
Powers which signed that treaty had aided
tMo of the richest and most important provin-
ces of that Empire iii shaking off the Sultan's
yoke. and forming State totally independen:
Of Turkey, except as regards the payment Of
an insignificant tribute to the SuZerain; if
they had disregardsd the Snltan's protest
against this proposed dismemberment of his do
minions and thus not only deprived him Of
the Principalites, but encouraged all the Chris
tian provinces of turkey TO declare their indie
pcndence aud establish governments OF their
own, how could they have reconciled such
conduct with their previous promises so solemn
ly given, and would it not have been practi-
cal stuiti6cation of the policy by which Sabas-
topool was besfeged and Russia driven Beyond
the Pruth?
The union of the Principalitics as an inde-
pendent constitutional monarchy would have
been exceedingly unsatisfactory, very danger
ous to Austria; inasmuch as it would almost
certainly, have led to widespread discomfort
among the Rouman subjects OF, his Apostolic
Majesty, and probably snong bis Sclavonian
provinces. England which had no direct in
te-cst in the matter. and only desired to pre-
serve peace and avoid creating future causes
of contention, by strengthening the Porte and
weakening Russia, saw that were a Rouman
kingtfoth 10 be set up on the borders of Rus
ss:35, Austria. and Turkey, the last named would
be essentially and serinusly injured; that Aus
tria would be exposed to constant danger and
internal strife aud disaffection; and that Rus
sia would take advantage Of that state of things
to make the new kingdofh a second Greece,
whence she could intrigue against Turkey and
injure her rival, "ungrateful Austria" She
knew that were this to be the result the object
for which the Roumans were contending name
| ly, 'indeper,trnce, freedom and material prog
ress,' would not be attained, and therefore, she
resolved that it was safer, wiser and better not
to disturb relations between the Principalities
and the Sultan, but to coniine her e4eitlons to
obtain some substantial amcloraticn of the
administrative system hitherto practiced by
the Porte. After considerable negotiation she
has at length persuaded France that her views
were wise and ought to be adopted; and the re-
suit is that the Conferences have reorganiZed
the Principalities as England Thought it should
be tohe. Russia is said to be displeased, and
Moldavia and Wallachia are ready, "with
arms in their hands, to declare their indepcn-
dence." 1t is not likely, however, that Rus
sias displeasure will asstinie any very danger
Gus form, and past experience OF Rouman in
surrections l1s4Sl justifies the belief that they
are lot ihuch TO be dreaded.-Jca1tH ~ Com
merce.