The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-03

was supported by public opinion mainly ''be-
cause it saw an opportunity of striking a
heavy blow at the stolid power which lent it.
self TO prop up every decaying throne and
every worn-out authority from the Vistula to
the ocean," The British Cabinet had GER
tainly ulterior views in going to war for the
preservation of Turkey, but these are of
little consequence to-day, since even were
the present Ministry disposed to adopt
the foreign policy of Palmerston, there
exists no national sentiment based
either upon the chimera of ''balance
of power, or upon any special antagonism to
Russia, which would support them in dis
putting with that power the possession of the
''sick mans inheritance" France canuot
interfere, even if she would, and Great
Britain will not. The time for substituting
fresh and aggressive civilization for one
that is effete and thoroughly rotten ceuld
scarcely, therefore, be better chosen. With
her seat of government on the Dardauelles,
Russia would enter the fraternity of European
powers as she can never thoroughly do
while her head is hidden among the clouds
and snow of the far north. Turkey is an
Asiatic barbarism that apes western civiliza-
ton. It is past being patched sooner or
later it must be reformed out of existence
altogether. More may at least be expected
of the civilization of the Sklav than of that
of the Mongol. The world generally would
regard with not little complacency the
burying out of sight of the diseased body
polite that calls itself the Ottoman empire
That the warlike preparations of Russia are
directed against Turkey thsre can be little
doubt The Czar has gone out of his way to
express his sympathy with the progress of
the German arms, by both personal and Of
ficial marks of esteem. Russian diplomacy
will make no bugbear out of united Ger
many. The intermeddling of France with
Poland has found no precedent in the policy
of Prussia. The probability is that the neu-
trality of Russia which was worth three
armies to the Germans, was purchased at the
outset, by the willy Bismarck, with some such
concessions as he dangled before Napoleon in
the Austrian campaign, only to withdraw them
when his purpose was served. Wiser than the
French Emperor, Alexander II does not await
the completed success of his slippery friend
to extort fulfilment of the promise. 1t may
probably be easier for Prussia to leave Russia
to her own course in the East, when she is
fully occupied with France, than to sit with
folded hands after she has finished her
work, and see another secure a rich prize.
The time, therefore, is we'll chosen but
with all favorable conditions, who can tell,
when the blow descends, what may be the
results? Beside a great German empire,
extending from the Inn to the sea, Aus
tria scarcely remains one of the great
powers of Europe. With Russia on the
Danube, she could not fail to sink into the
position of a second rate one, leaving but
two great Continental States. 1t would be
contrary to all precedent were changes so
momentous to be effected without a great
enlargement of the existing area of hostii-
ties AS the year enters on its last quarter
the shadows cast by the rising clouds grow
deeper, and the future appears more dark
and inscrutable. Ere these three months
have closed there may probably have settled
over Europe dismal twilight of disaster and
gloom never before exceeded.
THE GUERRIERE AT NANTUCKET.
From the N. Y. World.
When, as far back as last February, we Sc
riously called attention to the deplorable con-
dition of our navy-its want of organization
and discipline-we hoped grave words of ad-
monition might have their effect. 1t was on
the occasion of the arrival of the Monarch in
our waters with Mr.. Peabodys remains-a
model ship, completely equipped and admira-
bly, handled-in contrast with the clumsy, un-
seaworthy iron-clads which were sent to
meet her, and on their way collided with
each other and everything which came across
their awkward course. From that time
things have been getting worse and worse.
The Oneida is run down, and her gallant
gross as was the inhumanity of the Bonn
bay captain, there would have been less
loss of life had not Admiral Rowan been ped
ding the Government funds in the Eastern
seas and looking about for cheap markets in
which to buy. Then we have the remarkable
performance of the Colorado-a huge sixty
gun frigate, drawing twenty-five or twenty
three feet, and as ill-suited to the waters of
China as the Great Eastern or Noah's ark.
She sailed from New York in February,
reached Rio at the end of June, the Cape of
Good Hope in August, and is probably some
where in the China Sea by this time-a voy-
age which common clipper-ship would make
In ninety days. This, too, when China is a
scene OF massacre and every American. mer-
chant and missionary, is looking seward for
rescue. And now we have new and deplor
able exhibition of professional incapacity in
the frigate Guerrero, freighted with Farra-
quits honored remains, running ashore in
broad daylight, with all the buoys in sight"
on the Nantucket banks-a shoal as familiar
to the competent navigator as the Gridiron is
to New York pilot. Were it not painful,
it would be ludicrous to read of the great
though reluctant parade made by the NAVY
Department, and then its impotent conclu-
sion. First, the perplexity whether it should
be one ship or another-the BROOKLYN or the
Guerriere then the slow selection and
despatch; and finally the sticking in the sand
OF Nantucket-a laughing stock to the old and
superseded whalers of that region-the sal
wage by transient steamer, and the transfer
of the poor Admiral's remains, like SO much
common freight, to the Fall River line
or Adams Express, to be delivered "as
per margin" to the New York committee.
While the Navy-yard and the Brooklyn are ex-
ploding minute-guns here, the poor Guerriere
was firing signals of distress at Nantucket.