The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16
FROM OUR EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL FILES



The following article, from very recent issue OF
the journal known as The IolitiE of Prague. which
well known TO be the organ Of the Austrian Savs
presents the Eastern question somewhat new
light az
A MATTER OF AUSTRIAN CONCERN.
Says the P0tdtk, whose language we condense:-
In this great aud momentous controversy we are
immediately and first OF all interested III what Aus
tria believes she can or ought 10 10. II has been
stated Ia several quarters, tnat the Vienna govern
ment is disposed to let England take the steps
lii The course TO be adopted by the Powers directly
affected by the Russian reputation OF the Treaty OF
OF the Cabinet OF London Identical action presup.
| means. Have the two governments In this case,
| either the one or the Other2
IL il Old traditional axiom that the interests OF
England and Austria in the East are tae same, and
| exactly because IL Is Old, and at Tune
| seemed to be confirmed by events, 1t Is STILL con-
| hnually repeated, and 1t has been elevated into
| norm TO regulate the nature and fashion OF our
policy to-day. Doubtless England and Austria have
| formerly had common interests In the East, which
| Imposed Oh them common policy; but many things
are changed In the lust twenty thirty years, and
the austria Of other tunes has ceased TO exist She
Is no longer mainly concerned in maintaining heI
power and p1est0e III the East, Tor her have
deprived her OF both ana yet 1t Is true. Austria ID
deeply affected by the Eastern question: when for
her much more than q mere question OF exercising
little more or little less political influence Ia
The Eastern question is an emlnenty Slav qucs-
ton, and, being such, can easily transform Itself
into an Austrian question: Let the Austrian gov.
eminent thoughtluiIy regard the development OF
events in the Balkan Peninsula from this standpoint,
and let the statesmen in Vienna who determine
the policy OF tile monarchy allow themselves 10 be
guided by these considerations IN choosing their
course OF action. Ia the meantime Count An
drassys voice is more powerful In Vienna than ever
and the seml-oIicia' organs In Pesth blow the war
| trumpet against Russia. "A with Russia,n
says the Poster Logd, would unite the vast ma
jorty OF the Austrian natonaties;' to which 1t
adds, nj we could speak Of the popularity OF
In the Austro-lIungarian monarchy, such q contest
| would be popular Oue.n Is II really SO?
| The Magyars self-complaccnt enough to sup
pose that the other Austrian peoples, TO graufy
| them will begin TO chafe and fIme against Russia,
ana we can pardon them these illusions when we re-
collect that IN the last lew years Hungary has been
the centre around which the Austrian policy has re-
/ voved But tins same Austrian policy and the Aus
| TRAN nationalit.es have notnlng in common; the
Vienna government does net identity It's policy with
the interests OF the Austrian peoples and the latter
Will also refuse to identity their sympathias with the
policy OF the former But o government policy, and
| especially one implying vigorous external actiOn-a
| great war, for example-has It's diacuties when 1t
Is so feeby supported by the majority OF the popua
! ton would here be nallibly the case Ii the
Magyars are OF opinion that they have some advan-
| tages TO reap in a war with Russia, We may blame
their temerty in exposing their political existence
before II 10 threatened, but after all it is their
business. The Magyars, however, are too sanguine
II they expect the olavs to plunge into conflict
with Russia only to bear, II victorious the Magyar
| yoke.
Let it not be imagined in Vienna and Pesth that
the Sav mathematics win enthusiastically engage
| In a war FOR German Magyar interests. Ii we
except the Poles, VINO hold among the Slav peoples,
| an exceptional position with regard to Russia, ali
An Austrian war with Russia is compatible neither
| with the interests nor the sympathes Of the Sav
| populations, and those whom 1t concerns should
ponder this well before they enter hostilities.
The German Austrlans boast That by their attitude
| ia the struggle which is new proceeding they have
hindered Austria from drawing the sword against
Germany. and we Slavs desire war with the
Russian empire just as little as the Germans do with
Prussia.
THE EASTERN QUESTION.
The Prague journal, Narodny Ltsty, says:-The
Eastern question Is not merely Turkish one; 1t is
matter that nearly touches the whole Slav race.
The step taken by Russia is morally jusdable, and
I'LL friends OF the slavs, especially we, the genuine
brothers Of the Russians, hail this act with sincere
pleasure, hoping that 1t is the lorerunner Of a -four
| lshlng and happy future 10 tile olav peoples.
! Another Bohemian paper ti'rohoh) Is Of opinion
| that In case oil war there VIII be a revolt Of the
South Slavs IN favor OF Russia, whose triumph would
| thus DC secured.
| RUSSIAN REGARD FOR ENGLAND AND FRANCE
| A HERALD correspondent, while on MS way from
| Amiens 10 Dieppe, CHANGED to meet with Russian
| gentleman OF nigh standing IN the empire, with
| whom he entered into conversation, and from whom
| he gained the following lntormation:-
/ Last evening on the train met Russian gentle
man Of influence In the empire OF the Gar, VINO,
after leaving ST. Petersburg thus journeyed through
| Prussia via Berlin, thence to Brussels and Lille. lie
said that the Russian people as unit would sustain
| the position OF their government the Eastern
question, and that yet, anomalous as IL might
| in deep. sympathy with France. He stated
| that national friendship between Russia and
| Prussia, though neutral as far as the advance OF
| material progress was concerned, was not an
\ arnity founded upon the reciprocal sentiments OF
the tive peoples and therefore would not endure.
| Russia was terribly poor, and though new impov-
crushed, yet preferred war TO losing her grand oppCr
tunity to recover lost dominion on the Black Sea.
England and the world Al large little knew how
much strength Russia possessed In q military view
| at this time. lie knew she had 400,0 e0 on the
Austrian frontier, 10000 Remington guns, 1000
mitraileure aud that her naval armament was
| little known and ALWAYS under estimated. He said
that the Russians rather ped than feared the hos
| tlty OF England, and In a personal sense each
| soldier was ANXIOUS To renew a contest when had
resulted in the temporary numnition OF the strongest
| Power IN Europe.