The New York herald., 1870-12-09
Russia's Attitude to Europe aud Russo
Turkish Alliance.


the notification given by the Russian govern
ment to that of Great Britain has been repeated
to tho other Powers, including Turkey, CO.
sgnatory to the Treaty Of Paris, ani
that its general and unmistakable tenor
Makes a compliance with Russian de
mands essential to the peace OF Europe. This
is very momentous intelligence, and, If rashly
interpreted, tie course ascrbed to the Czar
might precipitats immediate difficulty. But
we are colfient that, for the moment, at least,
every exertion is being made by the st. Peters
burg Cabinet to maintain peace while at this
favorable juncture insuring its indubitable
rights On the Black Sea. There are many IN
dications of this spirit, and among them Is
Russia's masnanimity toward the Sultan.
Other dispatches, letters and mail advices
Indicate that Turkey, far from being very seri-
ously alarmed at the recent demonstration of
her great Muscovite neighbor for repeal of
the one-sided Treaty of Paris, is coquetting
with the Gar upon proposition from the
latter broadly limiting an alliance, and, as an
earnest of this feeling, checr.ully accepts the
proposed conference to be held at London.
This news may seem rather startling and
even paradoxical to those who do not keep
their minds fully alive to the rapid and won
derful political evolutions Of our period; bnt
upon close examination it loses its contradic-
tory appearance and accommodates itself
readily enough to the spirit OF an epoch which
must necessarily becom, one Of compromise
and conciliation or end in universal warfare.
While every candid observer admits that Europe
is sick, deadly sick, of the struggle already
waging, he must also perceive that the strict
and honorable neutrality observed by Russia,
surrounded as she is with temptations to break
vented the war from having bscome general
ere this. On the other hand, the treaty which
was feigned by the Western Powers TO be
the defence of Turkish independence has,
in fact, placed the latter under the
tutelage and protec.orate OF France and Eng
land. Numerous dctatorial assnmp ptions on
the part of the allies have shown this since
the conclusion of the Crincan war, and, in
view of the scarcely concealed designs of both
the French and the English in Egypt, syria
and even at the mouth of tie Dardanelles, the
Sultan would soon have had good reason to
mplore deliyerance from his friends Russia,
while more suspected aud more feared by the
Grand Turk, has been far more open and
comes out now, and, while frankly owning her
difficulty and asking release from it, she offers
safe alliance to the Ottoman empire.
The latter would find the living inspiration
and the camening force OF such comgact in
the thirteen million Christians of various
communions living under the Turkish sceplre.
TIE lot Of this Christian population has
become a matter OF creed with the entire
people Of Russia, through the sympathy that
its peculiar relations excite, and no govern
mcnt could long retain its hold, eli her at st.
Petersburg or elsewhere, on the affec ions and
reverence of the Muscoviie race, which relin-
quIshed the hereditary claim TO interpose
whenever these Christians may be really
menaced or oppressed Yet the Treaty of
Paris very greatly crippled tae Car ia this
direction, and herein, we think, has lain the
real danger OF sud len collision between
the two Powers danger engendered by the
very treaty ITSELF Would not the part OF
statesmanshp, then, be for Turkey to so
reorganizs the status of her Christian pepula-
tions as 10 respond, in some measure, to their
necessities and their aspirations for something
like national autonomy At present they
are subjected to an administration which is
entirely Mohammedan and which treats them
with contempt. Hence their complaints rarely
obtain pure justice, and hence Russia has
continually before her eyes q mass of suf-
ferers, chiefly of her own creed, to whom she
can point the gaze of Christendom as to a
race outraged and down.rodden by the inddel.
Turkey, wisely correcting this evil, if but as
a measure of quiet and security for herself,
will have lid the basis of firm and lasting
alliance with her great neighbor on the
North. This we, moreover, believe is the
very point of the rapprochsment between the
Czar and the Sultan to which our latest
dispatches allnde. If it be not, the HERALD
suggests the plan as one worthy Of two mighty
States whose collision would arrest pro sress
in favored quarter Of the globe and throw
oil Europe into fresh mourning, but whose
honest, hearty union would fling wide the por-
tails Of trade and civilization, pioneering the
way for the Evangel of peace and faith to the
recesses OF the still barbalic East. st. Peters,
burg is the hand and Constartinople tho key
of the Orient.
A DESPATCH FROM BRrssEEs reports thai
De Paladines' army is marching up the left
bank Of the Loire. It adds that the object il
to form junction with the Army Of the Eas
and resume the advance on Fontainebleau
but this is nonsense. A Versailles telegram
tells the story OF De Paladines recent defeat
I L., Iontn Tar <I~,,