The New York herald., 1869-08-28
Tho E..tera Quessiss-Psae. or War.

cor NUMBER OF years past the Eastern
question has occupied tho attention OF the
world; 1t has long been stock article OF dis
cussion in Europe and in this country. The
battle of Navarino brought 1t into notice, and
it has since occupied very promnen. place
before the public. Innumcrable essays and
books have been written on the subject and
we are as far from any definite result as ever.
The Crimean war was an attempted solution OF
the problem, but the experiment proved to be
so enormously expensive in blood and treasure
and so barren Of results that the European
Powers have very earnestly tried to avoid
repetition of it. The source OF the whole
trouble consists in the very peculiar r6le the
Mohammedan Powers play in European poll
tics. From the position they once occupied as
masters Of the Mediterranean basin they have
fallen 60 low that Turkey owes her position in
Europe to the jealousy Of her more powerful
neighbors. OF late years the Sublime Porte
has been having hard time of it; snubbed
on the Danube by Austria, badgered by her
late vassal, Greece, she is now in great rage
at her troublesome subject, Ismail Pacha, who
has certainly most curious and original ideas
Of fealty to his sovereign, and who, SEEM
ingly very much elated at the prospect of the
profits he is going to reap from the Suez Canal,
which passes through his territory, has been
junketting around at the different courts of
Europe, from whence most suspicious whispers
have reached the ears of bis master, the Sui
TAM As In the case Of the trouble with
Greece, Turkey will not be allowed to go
to war If it is possible to prevent her.
Not from any motives Of humanity do
the great Powers step in and try to
allay difficulties; but it is the fear Of the
consequences that might ensue that drives
them to this course. II Turkey, Greece and
Egypt wanted to indulge in a little fight in
which it would be impossible for them to get
any outside help, they would find nothing in
their way to crafty this desire. The great
danger, however, Of Russla's interfering In
this little arrangement keeps the remaining
Powers very active in maintaining the peace.
The Suez Canal has given a new shape to
the Eastern question. 1t has changed the re-
lations Of Egypt wonderfully and has made
very important parsonage Of the Pacha. 1t
has rendered the control of that narrow neck
of land, which no longer unites Asia and
ton of who shall control the Black Sea be-
comes comparatively unimportant when placed
along side of the one which now challenges
the attention of the world, which is, who
shall control the Suez Canal? That Is to
say, who shall hold control Of half the COM
merce of the world7 Who shall control that
golden stream which for four centuries has
been flowing to the West, and which has car
ried with it the control Of Europe? Which
gave Venice and Genoa and Florence their
power and wealth, and which, when 1t left
them for Spain, took that power with It.
Which made England what she Is to-day and
in the attempt to secure which America has
just constructed that wonder Of the age, the
Pacific Railroad.
For the very reason that the control Of the
canal would give its pQssessor undue power
the quarrel which at one time seemed Sc
rious between the Sultan and the
Pacha has been smoothed over by the
friendly Intervention of the other rulers.
The reconciliation, however, was too quick
10 be hearty; the viceroy has temporized by
the advice of powerful friend, perhaps; he
dare not fight alone for fear that Turkey might
crush him. He Is, however, determined to be
entirely Independent Of the Porte, and when
ever he sees an opportunity will eagerly en-
brace 1t. The Sultan, on the other hand, is
equally determined not 10 let Egypt go without
a struggle, and although not first class Power
Turkey can make very respectable display
of forces. She has an army Of some eight hun
dred thousand men, a considerable navy, and,
although In bad financial condition, she has
nevertheless large resources in Asia to draw
upon. The result of war with Egypt, in
which other Powers would certainly be in
volved, would probably result in the expulsion
of the Turks from Europe. The Sultan knows
this, knows that he only remains in Christian
Europe by suffersnce but should general
war occur he could rally thousands of his Ash
atic subjects around the green banner of the
Prophet for the last desperate battle with the
hated Christian. Breach-loading rifles, how
ever, would be more than match for the most
exalted fanaticism, and few iron-clads would
easily master the elaborate but old fashioned
Notifications of Constantinople. The fall Of
the Turkish empire, however, would be marked
by such wars as the world has never yet seen
all the nations Of Europe would be involved
and the classic shores of the Mediterranean
would be the scene Of battles beside which
those of Hannibal, of Caesar and of Napoleon
would appear insignificant.
The war cloud which has threatened Europe
for the past few years may burst at any time,
aud the Suez Canal may become the innocent
cause of boundless misery and suffering. For
while il will certainly call into being new COM
. ss.iu exis.a isassa4..s L.