The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-08

France, without satisfactory assurances that
Russia would take no part in the struggle i'm
pending. There can be no doubt that on
this point Bismark and the Gar have a per-
feet understanding. And it is not an impro-
bable supposition that the Prussian diplomat
has indicated to the Russian government
that, in return, no opposition will be offered
to any plans which Russia may have of
aggrandizement in the direction of Turkey.
Russia has no sort of interest in throwing
down the gauntlet before Germany because
she is about to acquire some French pro-
vinces beyond the Rhine. The unity or
power of Germany is no obstacle to the
Russian ambition, as that has ceased to
look toward Europe, but is fixed on Asia.
! 1t is true that Russia possesses certain pro-
vinces with inhabitants of German blood, but
they are not a population which the German
Union have ever coveted or are likely to
covet. 1t is true also that the control of the
Baltic by the Prussians would be objection
able to the Government of the Gar But as
long as Denmark in its independence--and
England, France, and Russia are likely to be
united in defending it-there can be no
great hindrance to Russian growth in the
Baltic in Prussian prosperity. Moreover,
the true and natural outlet for the Sclavonic
Empire is by the Black Sea and the Darda-
nelles. When she possesses these she can
give up the North Sea and the Baltic. We
see, then, no reasonable probability of Rus
sia's taking part in this great struggle.
Moreover, there are two still more weighty
reasons which will keep Russia out of any
great war. One is her want of breech-load-
ing guns, and the other, the condition of her
internal politics. The empire is to-day
utterly unprepared for a war with first
class European power. There are said to be
only breech-loadiDg guns for half the army,
and none in reserve. The authorities at ST.
Petersburg are unquestionably straining every
nerve to reorganize the empire in military
respect. They see the advance of other
countries in the implements and aids of war,
and they are laboring to put the nation on
par with Prussia and France. But they are
perfectly aware that at present she is not So
The Russian armies would enter into Euro
pean contest singularly inferior in equip
ment to those of other powers.
Besides this obstacle, Russia is still feeling
the strain of the vast social revolution which
has Just taken place. Millions of serfs have
not been freed and placed in q new relation
to the employing class and the State without
a profound convulsion of society. She is
no more ready for foreign war than is the
United States to-day. Questions of tre-
mendous import are not yet settled-the re-
lations of labor to land of classes to one
duOlueT, anu Vi Ju0 10 Iu0 UOV-
eminent. The mind of the people is occu-
pied, as it is here, with the new position and
rights of the emancipated laborers, and with
questions of popular education and political
institutions. Everything is yet seething and
in ferment. The Gar himself, no doubt, at
times feels the ground trembling under him;
and the nobility are struggling to hold their
ancient privileges. nation in such con-
dition has no heart for foreign war. We
doubt if the mass of the people care any
thing about either Turkey or Constantinople.
Like our own people, they are not so ambi-
tious as they have the reputation of being,
and are occupied with their own affairs. II
is, however, possible that the Government
may have more ambitious plans, and may be
preparing for an attack on Turkey; and
knowing that the great opponent to such pro
jects would be found in Austria, may be
massing troops on the Galician from
tier for this purpose.