The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-30
The Disturbed Relations Of Russia and Am,
tria-Anosher Sick Man.

The Disturbed Relations Of Russia and Aus
tria-Anosher Sick Man.
1t is announced from Europe that there is 0
dangerous complication in the relations be-
tween Russia and Austria, and it Is minated
by the London Times that the Immediate cause
of this new European trouble is to be found in
Russian intrigues for the further disintegration
Of the Austrian empire. II was hardly to be
expected that Russia, whose frontier has been
carried 80 far westward solely by the dismcm-
berment Of other nationalities, should preserve
her equilibrium in view Of the spectacle that
Austria has presented in the past summer; and
it seemed not at all natural that she should
remain quiet while Europe was radically re-
constructed and settled into new balance. In
the position of Austria, assailed on the north
and the south, there was an opportunity for
Russia to settle the score Of revenge that she
had against her ncighbor for the failure to
come forward when England, France and Italy
joined hands with Turkey against the giant of
the north. Moreover, this troubled position Of
Austria afforded most tempting occasion to
Russia in another respect. Austria, it must be
remembered, is composite empire, and was
even more eminently such last summer than
now. Her great elements of population, divided
by races, were Slavic, German and Italian.
The success of the war against her deprived
her at blow Of nearly her whole Italian ele-
ment and so crippled her in the German
element that she is no longer regarded as
German Power Seeing these portions Of the
Austrian empire thus reverting to their original
nationalities seeing the Italians Of Austria
absorbed in one direction and the Germans
in another, it is only natural that Russia,
the great Slavic Power, should conceive
the possibility Of finishing the matter
by an absorption Of the Slava We
cannot argue that she did not conceive that
possibility by her having apparently kept
quiet; for the war was very short and the con-
ceptions Of Russian politics are sometimes very
slow. Russia, moreover, may have . more
effective way of operating in this matter than
by open war; Indeed, open war for the pur-
pose of the obliteration Of Austria would in
volve the interference Of the Western Powers.
In the midst of the recent war the Emperor
OF france lntlmateu 10 fruSela tnat AuStr1a
must not be debased from her position as a
great Power. Such Power in her place is
necessary part Of the balance, and the Empe-
ror allots to her thirty millions Of people.
Another war, therefore, to strip the new sick
man of additional millions of her population
could not be permitted, and Russia works
by surer means, in the intrigues, doubt
less with the people, limited at in the
telegram. Whatever circumstances may
give rise to it, or whatever form il
may take, II seems certain that the next col
lision in Europe must be on the border line
between these two Powers. Austria shut out
OF Germany, defnitively limited in every other
direction, can only grow towards the east and
can only do that at the expense, directly or in
directly, Of Russia. Russia, while resisting will
also always be aggressive. Such is the char
acter OF the two Powers-the pcrsistency of
the one and the stolidity Of the other-that d.
plomacy can only avert the collision for
time. II must come, but we do not believe
that il will come just yet.