The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22

rarlly shorn of its splendors, promises to
become once more the chief city of the en-
pire. Russian ambition has naturally enough
revived with her improved position. Now as
nuch-now, perhaps, more than ever-she
regards herself as the inheritor of the tradi-
tons, the rights and the duties of the Eastern
Roman empire. The great question in the
East-no matter how much it may seem to be
forgotten-is whether Christians or Mohamme-
dams shall continue to rule on this side of the
Bosphorus. The Christianity of the whole
East of Europe is of the Greek Church.
The millions of Russia are the most ortho-
dox of the orthodox, and the Emperor
Is by universal consent the head of
the Church. In Turkey in Europe there
are some twelve millions of Christians
and not over five millions Of Mohammedans.
The Christians are not unnaturally impatient
of Mohammedan rule-all the more impatient
because of the inequality of numbers. This
impotence is kept alive by Greece on the
south and Russia on the north. In fact the
common Christian sentiment which pervades
Greece, Turkey in Europe, and Russia, makes
the Greek kingdom and the Christian portion
of Turkey lean upon Russia as their natural
protector. Russia accepts the position and
champions the cause. We do not say that
Russia courts war; but we do say that Russia
has not retired from her high position as the
champion Of Christianity versus Mohammedan-
ism in the East, and that the difficulties which
make up the Eastern question are as little
settled now as they were before the Crimean
war broke out. The antagonism of race and
the antagonism of religion are as pronounced
as ever, and until race and religion cease to
have meaning the question still will remain
whether twelve millions of Christians should be
ruled by four or five millions of Mohammedans
1t may be unjust to compare the Mohamme-
dams to the negroes but, without wishing to be
unjust, and only desiring to bring the question
home, the question of the East-that is, limiting
the case to Turkey in Europe-is very much
the question we have to settle in the South.
Shall four millions or shall eight millions rule /?
It is not to be denied that our difficulty will be
more easily solved than the difficulty which
threatens the existence of the Turkish empire.
The way to the end with us is more simple;
useful.
It will not be wonderful If war is again
STAYED off. Russia is not yet prepared to pre-
cipitate matters. The Western Powers, es-
pecially France and England, have strong
reasons to seek the preservation of the Turkish
empire in all its integrity. There are arrange
ments which might be made, but the possibil
ties are so numerous and so dangerous that
any new arrangement is dreaded. Every
Power is fearful of every other. Neither
France nor England, nor Austria nor Italy nor
Spain nor Portugal can entertain the idea of
Russia enthroned in Constantinople. A Greek
empire including the islands and running north
as far as the Balkan is a possibility of the
future but the time for such an arrangement
has not yet come. A Hungarian en-
pire, including the Herzegovina, Bosnia
Servia, Bulgaria, Wallachia, and implying
the mastery Of the mouths of the
Danube, is another possibility but the time
for this is as remote as the other. The one
thing which the Western Powers dread above
all others is to see Russia mistress of the Oar
danelles, and thus powerful and dangerous
rival to them in the Mediterranean. Besides,
the breaking up of the Turkish empire would
bring France and England into collision with
regard to Egypt. Both have interests at stake
in that ancient seat of empire-a country long
in the background, but destined yet to revive
and reveal somewhat of its former glory. But
neither France nor England is in position to
yield to the other We are disposed, there
fore, on the whole, to take it for granted that
in some way peace will be patched up and
that the ''sick man" will be the object of
European attention and sympathy for another
generation. We live however, in the age of
steam, electricity and the newspaper, and
therefore give our words with caution. We
may be right; we may be wrong. Time will
reveal whether the one or the other.