, 1866-10-14

L Significant Artlc4e on the Eustem
Question.

L Significant Artlc9e or the Easteru
Question.
The following article on the political stu
attoa ef Europe and on the policy that Rus
sta oEEht to follow, is translated from the
Rt1ss'sa torTe*peRderct. organ OF the War
Ministry In St. Petersburg II has produced
immense sensation in that capital:
The events which recently occnrred in
EnroIer the paEtfal agitation which troubles
the East, the general suspense which has
euf!iFed to the peace concluded in Germany,
definitely ssttlca-in q word, every event,
every synptom now occurring In Europe,
has much concern fox the Russian nation. In.
asmuch as she fully understands how peace
= necessary to Russia IN order to complete
Eurated only few years since.
"bnt Il peace possible with all the changes
Which Lave just taken place in Europe
some are for the affirmative, others for the
negative, and both parties, nuraerously rep
shsap'op.dia,.s ss"'~i- ".sasc".s-tr -A''+s-- I"
"Russia. cay some politicians, has no in-
rope, which Is too psobable; she ought to
draw the sword only to defend her real H.
teTests, and 1t is only in the East that
those interests exist Therefore, the ORR
not propItious, the Occidental Powers are
not inclined to dissolve, or rnther to as
stst, their s.ms folded, In the dIssoiu.
tton Of the Turkish domination, and to
substitute for 1t the autonomy mud complete
independence Of the Christian races 1fcer-
tain powers keep up, permanently Sort Of
fermentation among tho Christian population
Of the East, u they datter their national
Passions, they are far from Wishing 10 free
them from tho slavery under which they are
crushed. On the other side they know how
to wleld that sword Of Damocles to compel
the Porte to act as they like. As to US, who
do not believe that the hour ofliberatson has
struck for the Christians IN Turkey, we can
but advise them to unite all their strength
10. ame1sorAte their fate and we'll
being and to patiently whit the day when
their Independence Will be possible. Let
Europe asslst them, and Russia shal1 applaud
it; but II Russia we're to Join other powers
simply to emulate them In their intrtruee
for using ae tool the Christian populations
Of The East, It would be insanity. The time
will come and pe!haps It is not, distant
ties which hound them to Russia, and the
sincere tympathy which VIC have always
shown for them, will tnrn their eyea upon
u.s. Till then, let us observe the greatest
cIrcumsspection IN the opened questions. and
"0thcr Russian politicians believe that the
decisive opportunity Is at hand. They say !:
We do not reopen the Oriental question On
the contrary, our wefl-nnderstood interest
commands Us to postpone Tor tho present
that esentualfty. But It has been risen again
without the participation Of Russia. On tho
one side Anst7sa, since her defeat, Is pushed
forward to the Eaat BY her friends In Eu-
rope; they try to place her ut the head OF
The sfsvonfc races On the other hand,
Turkey Is fighting against dangers which are
obviously above her strength. II Is evident
that the Occidental Powers are trying to
] set1}e the Oriental question at the exclusion
Of Russia. Shall we remain motEon1ess when
eyery one ana everything moves about us
! The principle OF natIonalities Is assuming
concentrating her whole strength. Italy had
began 10 york her unity before Germany.
Russia would then be the only country con-
demn1ng that prlnciplc, and that In face Of
| her co~Tcl1g'onfsts Of the East! We do moi
aspire after conquest--we: do not wish to e4,
| tend our swsy In the East but when the
| Christian popula atious, who groan under the
Ottoman yoke, begin to str, would Russta
alone withdraw her sympathies from them
OnEht VIC not to support their efforts!
A. to the Russian Government, 1t would
be difficult to predict now the attitnde Il
| will assume to meet future events. It ha.
] not taken yet any measures shadowing ita In
ttntions, and We tnust leave to the future K
Inform us what one Of the two opinions VT
have Hketehed shall Fave preyailed In ths
| imperial councils"