The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-18
Tho Attitude asd Policy or Russias asd
the European Question.

81 could have shared the Turkish empire
with Russia, said Napoleon l. one day, In
the seclusion Of his Cabinet, to confidential
friend. 1--WE have discussed the question
more than once. Constantinople always
saved it. This capital was the great
embarrassment, the true stumbling block.
Russia wanted it and we would not grant it.
1t is too precious a key; it alone is worth an
empire; whoever possesses it can govern the
world"
The same great authority on another occa-
sion condensed his vast political knowledge
in the aphorsm that experience is
the wisdom OF nations" Could that
wisdom have been acquired at
less cost than the experience which
has covered the soil Of the Crilnea, OF Italy,
of Schleswig- Holstein, of Austria, and is now
covering the beautiful plains Of France with
ruins and corpses, how infinitely better the
result would have been, humanity speaking,
for the moral and physical welfare of Europe!
But, unfortunately, the tuition Of nations has
to be conducted through tears and blood, and
when we reflect upon the horrors that our own
generation has already witnessed and still
beholds we are almost forced to believe that
men and nations alike are still far very far,
from real knowledge. Nine-tenths of the dif1-
culties that arise between individuals and
communities spring from misunderstanding
either through wilful intent to pick quarrel
or through honest want of correct informa-
ton. This truth was never, perhaps,
more strikingly illustrated than in the
present imbroglio between Russia and
the other Powers who signed the
Treaty of Paris. With that peculiar faculty
which seems inherent to every international
dispute that in any wise involves Oriental
affairs, the mere suggestion OF a few changes
in the famous document has thrown the Old
World into fever. The Eastern question, in
fine, is the Irritating plaster Of Europe.
Every time that it is seriously touched all the
Powers, great and small, at once lose their
self-possession, the money markets heave like
an angry sea, and fleets and armies are heard
mastering and preparing in all directions.
The Napo!eonic dictum that we have cited at
the beginning of this article is referred to as
an infallible indication of 'the designs" cher
ished by the fierce Muscovite, and it is taken
for granted that he is about to move at once
upon Turkey and overthrow the entire equili-
brium of interest so nicely arranged for the
almost exclusive benefit of the allies in 1856.
The latter, then, have not learned wisdom by
experience, but have left it to the exclusive
acquisition of the Gar. That potentate, we
are entitled to believe, not from the circular
of Count Gortchakof alone, but from the
very nature of the case. has pondered care
fully, has devised and managed sagaciously,
and now acts OPPORTUNITY as well as mode
rately and reasonably. He is master Of the
situation in diplomatic point of view, and
he knows it. That situation has its duties for
the responsible ruler of seventy millions of
human beings, and he advances at the right
moment to discharge tat the right moment
we say, because out of the huge clamor Of
war he may, at this very pitch Of the crisis,
combine pman of peace; out of the nettle
danger he may pluck the flower safety, not for
himself alone, but for all Europe, and for the
East as well.
Leu us sec Ny IHo iiSHJ Vi tu0 cVcutS uOW
occurring in Europe how this may be possible.
1t is just fortnight since the HERALD quoted
the significant language Of lie Nord, the well
known Russian organ at Brussels, intimating
that the peace Of Europe. compromised by the
blind ambition of one Power and the obstinacy
of another, craved the Intervention of third
one strong enough to be respected by the rest
and yet not fairly liable to the suspicion of
sympathizing with the undue passions or pro-
jects of either. That Intervention, the whole
world knews, has already been practically
but urgently attempted by the Gear Alex
ander who has interceded with Prussia for an
armistice and conference to save France
further humiliation, and has in vain besought
England to second the effort with decisive and
unmistakable energy. The press of Ger
many, with the sole important exception of
the ANgemeine Zeitung Of Augsburg, are
loud in their praises of the perfectly
loyal attitude of Russia throughout the
pending conflict, and the Nord Deutsche
Algenaesne Zeitung devotes a long and able
article to the subject They admit that it was
Russian diplomacy WHICH prevented tne armed
Intervention of Austria at the outset, and allude
with feeling to the presentation by Alexander
of the highly esteemed Muscovte Order of ST.
George to two German princes and to Count
Won Moltke. The Augsburg paper alone, which
is the mouthpiece of virulent Russophobia on
the Continent, as Mr.. Urquhart is in the
British Islands, continues to cry ''Wolf!
wolff" at all times and seasons. The one, like
the other, maintains that the Muscoyte ogre
will devour not only Constantinople and the
rest of Turkey for his hearty meal, but will
also demand rich slices of Fatherland for his
dessert In order to reject the former accu-
sation we have but to remember that, offer