The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-21
WILL THERE BE A GENERAL WAR IN
EUROPE?
From the NJ Y. Sun.


1t has from tho first been probable that
Russia would take advantage of the present
war between France and Germany to carry
out her traditional designs against Turkey;
and the diplomatic demonstrations which
have been made in that direction are evil
IDENTIFY only the beginning of such move
ment.
The Russian statesmen have chosen their
point of attack with their usual cunning and
their plan of operations is equally shrewd.
They declare that the treaty of Paris is abro-
gated, so far as it provides for the exclusion
of Russian men, -of-war from the Black Sea,
and denies the free passage of armed ships
of all nations through the Straits of the
Dardanelles. In this declaration they enlist
in their favor the general sentiment of the
world against such restrictions as the treaty
of Paris imposes in this respect.
Their ulterior designs, SO far as they have
been avowed, are also calculated to gain sup
port and weaken opposition. Instead of pro-
posing to seize any part of Turkey and annex
it to the Russian Empire, they have pro-
claimed their intention to liberate the Chris
tian Dationalities of Turkey from Mussulman
control, and to allow them to estab-
lish independent governments of their
own. OF course these governments
would be subject to Russian control more
than to any other influence; and it would
be easy the central power of Turkey being
destroyed and removed, to absorb them one
by one into the Russian system. But the
plan of establishing four or five small Chris
tian States in place of one Turkish Empire,
while it appeals to the religious sentiments
of the civilized world, is much less calcu-
lated TO provoke the determined hostility of
any OF the great powers than that plan of
annexation which the Emperor Nicholas
avowed before the Crimean war and which
was finally defeated by the capture of Sebas-
topol
The opportunity for the execution of This
great scheme which the present crisis offers
is one which, if not embraced, can never be
expected to return. England is now the
only power which can attempt any great re-
sstance. France is entirely broken down,
and is absorbed in the effort to save her own
existence from the most terrible military con-
quest that has been attempted since the time
when her soil was overrun by the legions of
Julius Caesar. Austria is also weakened
Italy is struggling in the throes of national
consolidation Turkey is bankrupt and the
most important vassal of the Sultan, the
Pasha of Egypt, has long been engaged in
the most formidable preparations for rebel
lion. Under such circumstances there is
everything to tempt the ambition of Russia,
ard to promise the realization of the dream
which turks in the soul of every Muse ovite
VIII England make war, or VIII she concede
the comparatively unimportant demand with
which Russia has opened the drama 1t GER
tainly is not great thing that few Russian
memo war should be allowed to anchor in
the Black Sea and be repaired at navy yard
in any of its ports, or that the armed vessels
of the world should be suffered to pass
through the Dardanelles in peaceful manner.
If this were all, it might be possible for the
statesmen of England to accede to the wishes
of Russia; but what renders it impossible is
the certainty that this matter is but the enter
ing point of the wedge; and that if it is
allowed to pass, the whole wedge will bs
driven home. This England cannot submit
to without dishonor, or without danger of the
most pressing kind to her possessions in
India.
When Russia has become virtually mistress
of Turkey, with Egypt for her faithful ally,
India will soon cease to be English. For
these reasons Great Britain must fight, how
ever much her commercial classes may de-
sire to avoid it, however perilous the issue of
the struggle. And when she engages in such
a contest, it is difficult to see how Holland,
Belgium, Austria, and Italy can hold them
selves aloof from it. All Europe must be-
come involved in the conhagration, and no
living man can foretell its results.