The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-01
sPIRyT OF THE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED
STATES IN THE EAST.

musty parchment of treaty, has suddenly
arisen and put the statesmen of old Europe
on the qui Ci0e. Those who we're instrumen-
tai in framing the treaty in 1856 did not
foresee that they we're only patching up the
old difficulty and that this traditional carbun-
Gle of Europe would open anew. Aud yet
they might have foreseen 1T. For the last
fourteen years Russia has been smarting un-
der the humiliating conditions which were
then imposed upon her, and she now openly
declares that she will tolerate them no
longer She will not abate a jot of her
demands. The second note addressed by
Prince Gortschakoff to the British Cabinet
may be considered more conciliatory in its
terms, but is in substance only the reitera-
tion of the first. The statesmen of England
may cudgel their brains for peaceful adjust
ment of this vexed question, but there are
only two ways in which it can be solved-by
war or by yielding to the demands of Russia.
n adopting the latter course England will
acitly acknowledge that the blood and trea-
sure poured out during the Crimean war were
spent in vain.
In England the general aspect was
more pacific. There was an improved
feeling on Change, that delicate barometer
of British sentiment and opinion. The Lon
don newspapers treated the subjec more or
less pointedly in their morning issues A
leading city journal, which is supposed to
speak under official inspiration at critical
moments in the history of
Great Britain, asserted conspicuously
in tho name and behalf of the English
people, that, ''desiring the maintenance of
peace, we stand on the maintenance of peace
guarantees and the reputation altogether
of the claim to supersede the obligations of the
treaty of 1856" The principle involved here,
if it should be adopted by the Cabinet in
Downing street, would restore the original
cause of difficulty and danger. This state
of affairs can scarcely occur, however, if we
are TO believe another London paper, which
alleged that it had an official statement
to the effect that 'Russia has decided to
withdraw her demand and submit her propo-
sition to the decision of the conference
Here we have ''the conference" spoken of as
a fixed fact. If this important meeting
should be held we are to presume that peace
will be preserved, as Russia will either gain
her object or be forced to submit-for the
present. at least-to the solemn arbitration
of her national peers, delivered in friendly
council
From the guarded statements of the Rus
sian Minister in this country during the in
terview with Herald reporter we understand
that Russia seeks no territorial aggrandize-
ment, but will remain firm in her rejection
of that clause of the treaty which keeps her
war vessels from entering the Black Sea; and
bno mas i've nuIuTeu HOuSauu ROOu reasons
ready to back her demands. In the face of
these events it is we'll for us to examine
whether the interests of our country are in
volved in the East. There are American
statesmen who hold that the United
States are not concerned in any
of the political questions that have
set the Old World in commotion. They say
that the Monroe doctrine should be our line
of conduct. The doctrine of complete nom
s..Ia i'd Nl,1k u
which it was proclaimed. The United States
were then a seeond-rate power. Out of the
late struggle we have arisen great, regene-
rated nation, and now occupy a commanding
position in the world. For all practical pur-
poses of communication we have been
brought within few hours of CONSTANT
nople, and are daily creating new interests
for ourselves in the East Our immense re-
sources, our industry and the late inventions
of science have raised this country to posi-
tion of grandeur.
There is an old maxim that says, "NobLesse
o6Age," and it may be affirmed with equal
justice, Grandeur obliges. Those statesmen
who think that we have ho political interests
in the Old World are behind their age: for
during the last few years the foreign element
has been steadily flowing to our shores, and
its influence has made itself felt in the framing
of our foreign policy.
attention of our Government. In case of q
war between this country and England-and
such an emergency may arise if we take into
account the late utterances of General But
ler-Russia can render us effective assistance
She can deal deadly blow to the most che
rished interests of England by barring her
passage to the East.
There is another consideration-a moral
one-wbich our administration will do we'll
not to forget. OF all the European powers
Russia was the only one that evinoed sin
cere sympathy for our cause during the late
war. If the Cabinet of st. Petersburg had
followed the seductive advice of the Emperor
Napoleon, in order to bring about formida.
BILE coalition against this country, the SoutE
might have been able TO constitute herself
into an independent State. 1t is notorious
fact that the Emperor Alexander repellec
these insidious proposals. He did ever
more for at the most critical mo
ment of our struggle he sent q fee
into our waters in order to attest, by tn,
presence of the imperial flag, the sympathiei
of his government for the people of thii
country. But, say Machiavelli and his fol
lowers, gratitude should not be the line o.
conduct in political actions. We believe tha
this doctrine is as false as il is hackneyed
Gratitude in public and private life is no
only virtue, but matter of sound policy
and States, as we'll as individuals, acquir,
credit if they stick to their friends A firm il
Wall street would bring disgrace upon itsel
if, in critical moment, it should desert it
business friends. Does not the moral of thi
also apply to the firm of Grant Il Company il
their political relations to the firm of Alexan
der & Co. at the present crisis of affairs
We do not think England will declar
war against Russia without the assistance 0