Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-02-05
JUST SO.
The Importance ef Con IisfdntiHo-
pie, TIE Qtteeis @Ctty
TFrom the Landau Snactatar Dac o6

iIHe importance or rl'O1l SfdHt tt1tO-
pte, tie Queen City
lFEom the London Spectator, Dec. 90
The speciality Of Constantinople, the vir-
ture for which men have fought for IL for
twelve hundred years, is just this, that any
strong man who holds Is and the territory
immediately north Of it3gcan hit any
body he likes without being bit in return .
he strikes out at ease, while his adversary hits
bis knuckles against pillars. That does not
matter If he is weak, like the latter Greek
or worn-out barbarian, like the Turk ;Ibut
suppose be is once strong aud Aggressive
RomanOf master Of Constantiaople would
have an unassailable depot or fortress, with
a huge dockyard, the Sea Of Marmora, on
the eastern side, inaccessible to any flag but
his own huge close harbor, the Bvspho
rus, In front and huge fortress, which be
would build at very slight expense-for
twenty 100 Founders on Monsell carriages,
would shut the entrance against anything
hut bird upon the west. He could build
fleets forever which nobody would even see,
and could strike any place in the Mediter-
raneaD without n chance Of reprisals. If en-
gineers may be trusted, any man 10 he pro
fessioA with European workmon, couple of
millions. and absolute power, could place
Constantinople beyond the reach of assault,
making OF IL fortress TO which Cronstadt t
would be toy-and a British fleet with q
Napier on board did not take Cronstadt.-
Nobody would be able to get near it, any
more than to get near Toblo>k, while its
owner could get near anyb 1dy, as the Vice
roy of Toblosk caunot do, lie would be q
long-armed boxer, master at once. of, the
Mediterranean aud the Black Sea, Of the
Danube, the months Of tbs Nile would
control or menance the northern coast
of the Mediterranean, where the PRES
.nt Is so great threatening Marseilles, and
Naples and Athens, and Trieste all at once
aud of the southern coast, where the future
is so possible. Moreover, be would be driv
en- partly by the prestige OF his capital
which would make it the resort of all the
disconteRted in Western Asia, partly by his
own natural hunger for beApdful proper
ties easily scquired-for revenue, in fact
to-conquer Asia Minor and Egypt, which
would lie. as IL were at bis doors aud, II
he were deeently prudent, would ask him
to come In. The ,ellahs would accept Sa-
tan if he rid them IF the Pasha and let them
have their lands as Russian villagers in. the
interior have their lands. This would be to
seize the fairest couniries in Asia and the
only country in Africa worth having &c
possess regloAs which, wisely governed,
would yield endless cash, and open routes
TO any conquest the Gar might, From judg-
ment Or ambition, or even caprice, he srtiiy
desire. Behind, in the cold north, would
lie myriads Of obedient soldiers, by bis side
timid though jealous eneRies in front, a
rich population, ready to be seris. The
Czar would be an armed man in porch
ready to rob any passenger weaker than
himself, but almost unassailable by the po.
lice of the world. He migh not wish to as.
sail any bod y---tbat is possible theory
about any politicisn-but he wo1d have
every temptation to do it, he could not be
hurt II he did, and be would be very muct
pressed by tn, SO around him TO thy, more
pressed than the Infbian Eiceroy is to ami
hilate the last vestiges Of native independ-
ence.i He would be surrounded, in fact, by
races who need strong order, to whom be
could give strong order, and whose conquest
would therefore seem an act of mercy. NJ
doubt he could, III too dangerous, be resisted
IN the end. The rise of America has alter.
ed all European conditions, and it is diff
hcult TO conceive the power 10 which the
English speaking people, opce united ia Of
frnsive and defensive alliance, con.d MOI
dictate terms Of peace, or rather the ulti
mate limits of war. But the statesmen o
Europe have hitherto held it wiser not L
let affairs arrive at so extreme point o
teasioD, to insist that no power should rise
to such height as to be unassailsble, to lay
down the prOviSD that a nation which hal
nataral advantages such as Russia has il
her SHOWS and size, and England in her in
sular position, should not be allowed TO con
queB other and equal advantages, and thu
combine very many modes Of attack will
very few necessities for defense. The
statesmen may be wrong In their opinions
we by no means deny it-but they are no
wrong in their facts, namely, that Russia, II
getting Constantiuople, would get hundred
oppurtanities Of attack without incuIHnl
one extra liability for detepse. .tnat Constan
tiRoPle is the natural fertRess of the world
the one position IN which it might be posi-
BILE 10 build up power tAat would compe
the remainder ofmankind, ifthey liked in
dependence, to sleep always under arms.