Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-17
RUSSfA'S OPPORTUNITY

RUSSiA'S OPPORTUNITY.
In his history of the Crimean war King
lake asserts that Russia took the wrong
time, in 1858, when all the other European
powers were at peace, and able to unite
against her, to push her designs against
the Ottoman Empire. Policy" says he,
required that for entertainments against
Turkey he should choose time when Eu-
rope, engaged in some other strife, might
be likely to acquiesce." Russia found to
her cost that she made mistake then, and
learned to wait and watch for her oppor-
tunity. Humbled by the result of the war
she consented to the treaty of 1856, but
she has never given up her designs upon
Turkey, and has always cherished deter
mination to break the bond and push
her plans Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at the first
favorable turn of fortune.
1t is not therefore surprising to learn,
in the midst of the Franco-Prussian war,
that the Gear gives notice he will no
longer regard the treaty of Paris, de-
manding a revision of the eleventh and
thirteenth articles, by which the Black
Sea is neutralized and Russian as well as
other vessels of war forbidden to enter it
except for very limited purposes. The
occasion which Russia patiently sought
has at length come. Now, if ever, is her
opportunity. A repetition of the alliance
Of 1853 against the Gar is impossible.
France and Prussia, two of the parties to
that combination to sustain the Porte,
have each other by the throat in struggle
that is tasking all the powers of both, and
preventing them from attending to any
business but their own. Austria is with
uotstrengtht to spare, and too muchinterest-
ed in the contest between the belligerents on
the west to risk war with powerful add
versary on the east. There is therefore
no monarch but the British to join the
Sultan in opposing the encroachments of
Russia. and how far England may go in
resistance fs by no means apparent.
There are difficulties in the path that cause
her TO hesitate. Russia is powerful foe.
She win strain every sinew to carry her
point She knows that failure now is
failure forever in all probability, and the
struggle will be intensified by this fact.
She is no doubt thoroughly prepared for
the enterprise, ready to dispute the pas
sage of the Dardanelles with her iron
clads. and pour troops in any desirable
numbers where they may be necessary to
the success of her plans. We have had
reports of enormous preparations, the
meaning of which was some time ago
suspected, and now made entirely clear
by the demand of Gortschakoff A fight
with such an enemy will not be the holi-
day affair which the Crimean expedition was
regarded to be when undertaken. England
has been fattening upon neutrality, and
will dislike to quit the game OF plum
dcring her neighbors under this guise-
She will not only lose the chance of pick
ing the pockets of France and Prussia, as
she has been quietly doing under solemn
declarations that she is keeping good
faith with both, but she may be exposed
to trial of the Alabama game upon her
self; chance for retaliation in kind on
that score would not come amiss to ouI
American tars. The knowledge of this
fact is probably the secret of the intelli-
gence which comes over the cable that
she is willing to reopen the Alabama
question with our government, to discuss
it again in all its length and breadth, and
probably TO settle it if she finds she must,
but not otherwise. In yenturing upon a
war with Russia she runs the risk of being
overpowered by an enemy whom she vol
unfairly seeks, and of meeting just retri-
button for her sins against other nations
which result she fears most is better
known in her secret councils than Is man
ifest in the open talk upon the streets O.
London and Liverpool, but the intimatior
that she desires TO settle is an omen tha
she sees danger ahead If she fails to OPP
pose Russia, the position in which sh,
will stand as lacking in courage and force
to make a manly fight will be humiliatine
to every Englishman and a disgrace to tn,
government This is Englands dilemma
let us see whether she is equal to the oc
casion or not. Her embarrassments arr
m advantage to Russia. adding another
TO the many convincing reasons whicl
lead to the belief that the hour of the GA
TO strike has come. and that the event