Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-11-26


There il nothing extraordinary in
the circumstance of Russia's demanding
revision of the treaty signed at Paris
in 1856 IL would be unjust to regard
her doing so as anything in the shape
OF wanton attempt to increase the dis
turbance In Europe. or to extend the
theatre OF war; There is nothing but
fair plaJ and propriety in her demand.
IL ID preposterous to suppose that
great power like Russia would submit
to the humiliation imposed on it by
that treaty singic day longer than was
absolutely necessary. According to its
provisions, the Czar could not establish
any naval or military arsenal on the
shores of the Black Sea, nor erect any
Notifications there, nor maintain a
greater naval force than ten small
steamers on the waters of the Euxine
AL this was meddling with his un.
doubted rights as q sovereign. and had
no other justification than the superior
strength of the parties insisting upon it.
Neither France uor England could ex>
pect that this condition Of affairs would
last for ever, and, consequently, they
must have fureseen an endeavor TO do
away with it. Thcy must also have
known well that they could not take
upon themselves the responsibility of
resisting that endeavor whenever il was
made In fact. the treaty Of 1885,; was
only temporary expedient to prop mp
the throno of the Saitan, and in the
nature of things Il could not last very
long. Russia would be. wanting in self
respect, tho national pride of her people
wounded, IL she did not avail herself of
the first opportunity TO break through
tho bonds imposed upon her Nor is
she open 70 the charge Of perfdy BY at
tempting TO escape from engagements
once soleulnly ratified The conditions
of the treaty wore 10 themselves unjust,
and they were accepted only under the
coercion Of fleets aud armies, which
Russia at The time could not cope with.
Then. her mode Of procedure is equit~
able. She asks the consent of the con.
tracing parties to her abrosation of the
hnmiliating document, and If they, or
either of them. persist ia the injustice,
she will consider herself at liberty to
bronx By force that which force con-
structed While We acknowledge Rus
sia's inherent right to resist the pretcn~
sions Of any power to dictate to her
what ships she shall and shall not
have In Che Black Sea. or what SORT oil
naval or military establishments she
shall erect on her own territory, we are
far from approving OF any attack on the
independence Of Turkey IF the people
Of that country are discontented with
the rale of the Sultan, they have an
undoubted right to throw Ii off If they
would prefer the rule Of the Gar, they
have right to transfer their allegiance.
Butuntil We see some good proof that
they desire TO make such change
and none has yet been given to the
world-we must regard any violation of
Turkish territory on the part of Russia
as m immoral usurpation. The Sultan
has not been insensible to. his danger,
aud he is aware of the folly of depend
ing either On Eagland or France to pre-
serve the integrity Of his dominions.
Great attention has been paid during
the past fourteen years to the develop
ment and improvement OF the defensive
power Of the country. The Turkish
army is now six hundred thousand
strong, il we'll armed, and in tolerable
state Of efficiency The navy is ex.
cellent, and comprises some of the best
iron plated frigates afoat; so that
repetition of the Sinope affair is hardly
within the limits Of possibility. The.
sum IN the situation is. that Turkey
il far from being an insignificant
power to deal with, and that If Russia
ventures upon aggression, she will tind
more serious obstacles 10 the way than
she imagines Aroniele.
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