New-York tribune., 1869-01-05

from obscurity ana impotence to the rank OF n
first.class power long since threatened the expul-
sion OF the 0smanli,' Gas they call themselves
from Europe. The Russians being Christians
of the Greek rite as are a majority OF the
people of European Turkey, the sympathy
between the two peoples rests on grounds quite
Ineligible, anu were long ago proclaimed.
Russian victories have driven the Turks sue
cessiycly out of Podolia, the Crmea and Bess-
arabia in Europe, as also out OF Georgia ana
other Asiatic provinces But for the Jealousy
of Russian ACKNOWLEDGEMENT eyinced by Great
Britain and France especially the former. the
Turks would have already been driven
across the BospOrus, as they inevitably must
be- Though so long resident, il is notorious
that they are merely encamped III Europe.
They do not belong to it; and the farest
quarter OF it cannot much longer be held by
them. mo
Intense corruption in the government and
ruling caste has produced impotence; impo-
tence is rapidly producing disintegration. Wal
lachia and Moldavia, the only two provinces
still nominally retained by the Sublime Porte
north of the Danube, have been united as
Roumania. and are now ruled by Prince Charles
Of the Prussian royal family, who yields but
nominal allegiance to the Sultan. Greece
achieved complete Independence, after heroic
struggle, between the years 1921 and 1927,
though the new kingdom covers but portion
of ancient Greece, and includes but few OF her
islands. Seryia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, in
the northwest corner Of the Empire, accord
but the merest fgment of sovereignty 10 the
Porte. There can be little doubt that de-
cided majority of the Christians of these, and
of Bulgaria and Macedonia also, await but the
opportunity and the signal to unite In a vigOr-
ous effort to drive the Turks out of Europe.
Greece, being absolutely independent, is the
natural focus of anti Turkish aspirations Rus
sia, as the big brother of Greece will always
be suspected and accused of fomenting h0stili-
ty to Turkish rule. These cbarges-often false,
always exaggerated cannot blind clear vision
10 the truth tliat the progress of events, the
rapid growth of Christian civilization, have
rendered the permanence of the existing re-
gime simply impossible. The Turks have over
staid their welcome Gf they ever had one) and
must go. Had Russia no existence, this would
have been as true as it now is Nay, 1t is quite
possible that Russian aspiration, by provoking
British jealousy, has prolonged the sojOurn OF
the Turks in Europe.
The presence of the Turkish and Greek en-
voys at the proposed conference is blunder
which precludes the hope of good result
Were they both absent the Great Powers
might possibly arrive at the rational conclusion
chat the Turks must he served with notice TO
quit, and that a Federal Republic, or Constitu-
tional Monarchy, should now be established on
the downfall of their balefu dominion. Euro
pean Turkey, united with Greece in Federal
Republic as large as France, and az populous
ms Spain and Portugal united, would afford
firm buwark against Russian greed; whereas
it's present state invites aggression and com
pels Intervention. The conference will, doubt
less, prove a failure but the expulsion OF
the Turks from Europe, while il may he post
poned, cannot thereby be prevented.