Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-05
THE EASTEN QUESTION.

fore. The large military force WHICH tie
Emperor has in readiness to take the heia
excites suspicion, and it is whispered that
he has designs of enlargement OF MS
power, for which the present seems iaN-
orable opportunity. 1t is rumored on the
one hand that Prussia is in league with
Russia to make no interference with the
wishes of the latter for increase OF
power upon the Black Sea and Darda-
nelles: and upon the other that though
there may be no such league, Russia Is
awaiting the weakening of Prussia by the
war to make a spring upon the possessions
which she has long coveted. In short it
is said that Russia has viewed and en-
couraged this war solely for her own az
grandizement. and is now prepared to
strike when she judges the opportunc
movement has arrived. The following
article from the London Globe of the 18th
is an interesting sketch of the situation:
Should that great Power which hangs like
q thunder cloud upon the eastern horizon OF
Europe take advantage of the present crisis
TO prosecute her designs on Turkey she would
no longer, it is clear, have the Anglo French
alliance to encounter. If France had the power
she would probably not have the Will 10 JON
us in another war, and if she had the will she
would certainly not have the power. But 1t
is said that the course of events in Europe
since 1854 has converted another great empire
into much more natural barrier against
Russian ambition than France ever could have
been Austria is united to Germany by ties
Il &. .1,.l. L.. lnaa
the weaker because they have ceased to be
political. But Austria has set her face to-
wards the East, and we trust that she will not
look back She has long experience i'll the
management of heterogeneous populations,
and that she has held together at all Is
proof of no mean skill. 1t should be her mis-
sion to subdue and civilize those wild and
turbulent races which lie upon her eastern
frontier, and should the day ever come when
the Turk has to fold his robes and retire with
dignity into the land which originally sent
him forth, TO step into the vacant space and
solve the Eastern question. Prussia
can hardly either expect or desire to push her
frontier to the Gulf OF Venice, and if "A great
southeastern empire is to be formed at all,
she would, we may suppose, rather see 1t Aus
TRAN than Cossack. From this point OF view,
then, Russian aggression might be checked by
an Anglo Austrian alliance, Prussia and
France remaining neuter, as before 1t was
checked by an Anglo-French alliance, Prussia
and Austria remaining neuter.
The calculation is Il beautifully simple one,
but we are afraid that for the practical affairs
of the world it is somewhat too simple. We
can understand that Prussia might view such
q result with indifference, but there is moth
ing in the world to make her regard it with
enthusiasm, nothing to lead US to believe that
she would continue to acquesce in 1t did she
see any way to benefit herself by thwarting
it. And thus it comes that the question may
be in this shape-whch can pay the higher
for British neutrality, Austria or Russia
And this question leads direct to the most
important considerations OF ali by which the
subject is surrounded. There is particular
acquisition which is coveted by both Russia
and Prussia which both may obtain if they
agree, and which neither can obtain If they
quarrel. Both desire more complete access
to the sea, and what the pardan-lles are to
St. Petersburg that is the Baltic TO Berlin.
Each State has it in her power to crafty the
other. A Russo German alliance Tor giving
the northwest seaboard TO Prussia and the
southeast seaboard TO her confederate, could
not be resisted in the present condition OF
France with anything like a certainty of sue
cess. And such bargain seems so very
natural-the geography of Europe seems SO
obviously TO suggest It-that we cannot al
low the idea to be pure phantom. If, on the
other hand, ii is asked from which of the two
Powers, Russia or Austria, have the iohen
zollerns the more to fear, the answer is
equally ready, hegemony OF Germany has
been definitely transferred, and it is to the |
highest degree improbable that Austria should |
ever try to recover it. But in no other way |
can the two Powers ever come into collision.
With the contamination of German unity a
repetition of the war of 1866 seems impossi-
bic. But all this time Russia lies watchtully |
in her lair, ready to come out the moment
that the newly formed German kingdom seeks |
to realize its maritime aspirations. To buy |
off Russian opposition to the fulflment of her
darling object may seem worth any price to
Prussia; nor do we believe that she would |
hesitate when the price was merely co-opcra-
ton with Russia in her Turkish policy, which
would hardly affect her OWL material interests /
at all
We have spoken Of the chances of success
which would attend resistance TO such league,
and we have spoken doubttully. Still, it
must not be forgotten that Prussia has nor /
made three eatmiss IL Europe; and that in
the event in question the instinct of seli-pres- /
ervation must necessarily prevail with Austria
over even those strong German sympathles, !
which still attract her. 1t is, however, pre-
mature to speculate on details. But tbs /
much does seem probable, that Prussia will .
soon have to decide, If she has not decided .
already, between Russia and Europe; aud
that Russia has, to say the least OF it, II tempt
ing bait to hang before her. TO suppose that the
Court of ST. Petersburg has abandoned It's long
cherished designs is more absurd than any Nv
pothesis we have here vebturcd on. While
France is PROSTATE, and while England is
friendless, seems a favorable opportunity for
4
ers have always been the chef opponents.
Should such an unfortunate event happen,
England cannot eyade her responsibilities rs
she evaded them in the case of Denmark
and terrible will be the Indignation of a de-
luded people which at such a crisis finds il
self poweress to fulfil them.