The New York herald., 1870-10-12
The Eastern lnostioa-Rsssis showing Her
Hand.

along tho west and southwest borders The
reason why has not been so clearly apparent.
At the same time our attention has beon called
to the fact that M THEIRS mission to the Court
of st. Petersburg was a complete and unquall-
fed failure. Meanwhile 1t has been apparent
to all the world that the Russian press was In
antagonism to the government policy, which,
since this war commenced, has been like that
of Great Britain--a policy Of masterly mac
tivity. Some days ago we gave it as our
opinion that Russia had her eyes once more
fixed upon Constantnoplc; that the bitter
memory of her Crimean dofoats was revived;
that she saw her opportunity, and that II the
national will was yielded to she was In
proper mood to undo the work of the treaty OF
Paris. II now appears from our latest tele-
graphic dispatches that Prince Gortschakof
has made demand upon the great Powers to
| undo that portion OF the treaty OF Paris which
shuts The war vessels Of Russia out OF the
Black Sea. It appears further that the Mos
cow Gazette, which is supposed to be Inspired
| by the government, has become loud and some
what alarming on the situation. 1t calls upon
the Russian government to be cautious but to
be ready. With the fall Of Franco s'the
Polish delusiop is dispelled forever. Have VIC
not also German delusion, which also in the
right moment shall be dispelled? The West
secure, the South will follow the simple laws
of fate"
This language is not enigmatical. 1t is
simple, clear, Ineligible. It means-if il
means any thing-that the Russian people soc
their opportunity, and that, although not alb
solutely impatient of government inactivity,
they are determined that the opportunity shall
not be wholly lost. We can see no good rea-
son at present why Russia should make
raid either upon Prussia or upon Austria.
Neither from The one Power nor from the
other has Russia anything to apprehend; and
an attack upon either would by all the world
be denounced as Vandalism of the widest
kind. But we do see-we do recognize
| signed the treaty Of Paris, and for a march
across the Pruth if that demand is not re-
spectfully listened to. Among warlike and
warning Powers the laws of war are not un-
fair. There is one Ineligible law of war--a
law which is just as forceful in civilized as in
the power, and he can keep who can. It
was the principle of this law which humbled
Russia in 1856. 1t was the principle of this
law which humbled Austria in 1859 and in
1866. 1t Is the same principle which has
humbled France in 1870 Might is now on
the side of Russia, in SO far as her Southern
policy is concerned. Prussia has enough, and
perhaps more than enough on hand. France
is powerless for foreign effort. Austria is so
busy with internal reforms that her neutrality
could be easily secured. Italy and Spain are
similarly occupied. Great Britain is the only
Power that can be counted upon as likely to
offer resistance to the conversion Of the Black
Sea into Russian lake, and to the march Of the
Russian hordes upon the city of Constantine.
But it is a question whether, after all, Great
Britain could not be induced to stand aloof
from the contest in consideration of certain
important privileges. Great Britain needs
Egypt; the march of progress will be him
dered until she obtains it. Why should not
Great Britain and Russia agree? Russia in
Constantinople would be no dangerous rival to
Great Britain if the Viceroy of the land of the
Pharaohs were a subject of Queen Victoria.
But for France Egypt would have been pro-
vince Of the British empire long ago. Now
France cannot hinder. If Russia marches
quickly southwark the British government
may find it convenient to take part with the
great Northern Power in the reconstruction of
Europe and the East We are not, therefore,
at all surprised at the growing activity of
Russia. It is her destiny, as she believes, to
re-establish the Eastern empire. 1t is her
ambition and her hope to sit enthroned in
Constantinople The door is now open, why
should she not enter in and take po ssession?
It is not to be denied, however, that the
Great Western Powers dread nothing so much
as to see Russia a power in the Mediterranean.
Spain, France, Italy and Austria would sink
into the condition Of third rate Powers. Great
Britain does not desire it, much as she longs
for Egypt. OF all the Powers Prussia would
have the least to lose by Russian aggrandize-
ment in the South for Prussian statesmen see
that the more Russian ambition and Russian
SCreDGCl are ulrocLeu 10 tno meuIIeffdueaH CHo
greater is the opportunity for Prussia to make
herself mistress of the regions around the
Baltic In the interests of all the nations of
Europe, Prussia alone excepted, Russia should
be kept out of the Black Sea- out Of Constars-
tinople, out of the Mediterranean. If this war
is prolonged Russias opportunity will
last and Russian ambition will be
dangerously provoked. IF Great Britain
is wise her statesmen will put forth their best
efforts to bring this war to a close. 1t is
simply absurd to say that the belligerents will
not listen to reason. The voice requires but