The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-11


IL, GOO, COO Christians against only 1000, 900
of Mohammedans, will at once assert itself as
predominantly Christian people, which will
soon use this newly-gained influence for the
establishment of its entire independence.
A submission to the Russian demands
involves, moreover, so great humiliation
that il will hardly prove any respite for the
downfall of the Turkish rule; but Greece
increased by Crete, and now governed by a
King who is nearly related to the Car will
at once make undisguised efforts for the an
nexation of the southern provinces of Euro-
pean Turkey, Thessaly, and Epirus, in which
the Greek race prevails, and for instigating
the semi-independent princes of Roumauia and
Servia to cooperate with her in expelllng the
Turks from Europe, and in partitioning the
European dominions OF the Sultan. The Gov
eminent of Constantinople is fully aware that
no reforms whatever can prevent these move
ments from taking place, for they are now
more than a struggle for religious equality;
they are, like the similar movements in Italy
and Germany, the yearning of nation for
self government and national consolidation.
Will the Turkish Government, to which
this character of the national movements
among it's Christian subjects is by no means
unknown, gather up courage for precipitating
the decisive contest2 single-handed war
against Russia would, of course be ended
almost as soon as it was commenced. The
only possible help for the Turks would again
be foreign aid. The Governments of England,
Nance, and Austria undoubtedly sympathize
with Turkey against Russia; but will they dare
TO help Turkey? In England, since the Cri-
mean war, the popular aversion to interference
n foreign uuarrels has been steadily on the
Increase and it is not probable that the Tories
are willing to defy this popular sentiment,
now especially when the passage of the Reform
bill has so largely strengthened the radical
Il -. -, stez 49,.
to a new Eastern war. The Emperors of
Austria and France have but recently ex-
changed views on the present aspects of the
Eastern question. The step now taken by
Russia was undoubtedly anticipated, and
formed one of the subjects of their converse
tions If we could rely on the boastful Ian
guage of some semi official organs of the two
empires, France and Austria are determined
to make stand against a really aggressive
policy of Russia in the East. Whether their
boast will be carried out must soon become
apparent. Any move of this kind on the part
| of Austria and France would at once bring
Prussia to the side of Russia. Thus a war of
/ the grandest dimensions may break out, with
/ Turkey, Austria, and France on the one hand,
and Russia and Prussia on the other.
The further development of this Russian
| Turkish complication will be awaited with in
tense anxiety. If Turkey declines to comply
! with IL e Russian demand, and if Russia, in
| return, threatens with war, efforts will un-
| doubtedly be made, as was the case before the
| Gelman-Italian war, and in the Luxembourg
| question, to attempt peaceable solution by a
new European Congress. New delays may thus
| be caused; but the tide of events will not be
| turned. Isolated movements in European poll
| tics may be novel and surprising in their
| origin and uncertain as to their end; side issues
| may for some time draw off attention from
the great questions of the Old World, and
| lead to strange, ephemeral combinations;
| but the final goal toward which European
! society is drifting with irresistible force, ap-
pears in ever greater clearness ty the eyes OF
the interested nations. We have no longer an
isolated Italian, or German, or Austrian, or
| Turkish question, but one central question of
the reconstruction of Europe. What wise
seers predicted as long as fifty years ago is
now becoming fact. The people which was
so haughtily looked down upon and despised
by the council of monarchs and statesmen at
the Vienna Congress in 1915, has learned to
understand its power. 1t summons the heirs
Ofits oppressors before the bar of universal
eternal principles, and demands to know on
what authority princes can dismember ma.
tions and dispose of them as of chattels ac.
cording to their will and pleasure. The deci-
sions of 1915 are declared null and void; the
| right of every nation to restore its national
unity is more and more acknowledged, and
thus the way prepared for reconstruction Of
all Europe on the basis of the nationality
principle.