The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-21
CONSTANTINOPLE.

The Spectator gives the following impressive
view Of Constantinop!e, as point of military
and naval power, and Of the results which Eu.
ropean statesmen fear from the acquisition of
it by Russia:
Russia in possession Of Constantinople would
be in just that position; and so would Germa-
ny be. IL she were suzerain from Pesth south
wards; or, for that matter, England, If she had
railroad from Scutari to India. The special
ty OF Constantinople, the virtue for which men
have fought for 1t for twelve hundred years, is
the territory ediately north Oft can hit any
body he likes without being hit in return. He
strikes out at ease, whilst his adversary hits
his knuckles against pillars. That does not
worn-out barbarian, like the Turk; but sup
pose he is at once strong and aggressivel A
RomanOff master OF Constantinople would
have an unassailable depot, or fortress, with q
eastern side, inaccessible to any flag but his
own; q huge close harbor, the Bosphorus, in
front; and huge fortress, which he would
build at very slight expense-for twenty 100
Founders on Monsell carriages would shut the
the west. He could build fleets forever which
nobody would even see, and could strike any
place in the Mediterranean without chance
OF reprisals.
II engineers may be trusted, any man in the
Of millions, and absolute. power, could place
Constantinople beyond the reach OF assault.
making maxim OF it fortress to which Cronstadt
would be toy-and British feet with o Ma
pier on board did not take Cronstadt. Nobody
would be able to get near it, any more than to
get near Tobolsk, while it's owner could get
near anybody, as the Viceroy Of Tobolsk cannot
40. G .x ne would be long armed boxer. master
Sea, Of the mouths Of the Danube, the mouths
OF the Volga, and the mouths OF the Nile: would
control or menace the northern coast OF the
mediterranean, where the present is 80 great;
threatening Marseilles. and Naples, and Ath-
ems, and Trieste all at once; and OF the south
ern coast, where the future is so possible
Moreover, he would be driven, partly by the
prestige Of his capital. which would make it
the resort OF all the discontented in Western
Asia, partly by his own natural hunger for
beautiful properties easily acquired-Sor reve-
nue., in fact-to conquer Asia Minor and Egypt.
which would lie, as it were, at his doors; and,
II nc were decently prudent, would ask him to
rid them OF the Pasha and let them have their
lands as Russian villagers in the interior have
their lands. This would be to seize the fairest
countries l OF Asia and the only country in Africa
oa morsn aaaVing; 70 passess regions which. wisely
routes to any conquest the Czar might. from
judgment or ambition, or even caprice sheartily
desire; b Behind in The cold North, would Be
though jealous enemies; in front, rich poptl.
lation, ready to be serfs. :.
&The Gear would be an armed man in q porch.
ready TO rob any passenger weaker than him.
self, but almost uDassailable by the police of
the world. He, might not wish to assail any-
body--that is possible theory about any poll
tician--bnt he would have every temptation 10
DO II; be could not be hurt il he did, and he
would be very much pressed by those around
roy is to annihiiate the last yestiges of native
independence. He would be surrounded, In
fact, by races who need strong order, to whom
he could give strong order, and whose con-
q:.es.. -sc; ee;ssssaSTS seem an act OF mercy.
No doubt he could, ii too dangerous, be resist
ed in the end.
The rise Of America has altered all Europe
an conditions, and 1t is difaSult TO conceive
thepower to which the English.speaking peo-
pies, once united in offensive and defensive al
iapce, could mot; dictate terms OF peace, or
rather the ultimate limits OF war. But The
statesmen Of Europs nave hitherto held it
wiser not 70 slet aff6sra arrive at 30 extreme
point OF tension, 10 insist that no power should
rise TO such 2 height as to be uhassaaiab e-~to
Lay down tho prOviso that a nation which has