Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-08-26

THE WAR ON THE DANUBE.

The revolt in the Turkish Dauubian provinces
lssumos daily more serious aspect and thore
are apparently good reasons for fearing that the
ultimate result may DO general war. should
suci, q conflict bo brought about it would Of ne
csssity work irretrievable disaster TO the Ottoman
Empire. These provinces, despite their great
natural gifts, have been kept for ages in q social
condition far below that Of surrounding countries.
The governments OF Austria and Germany have
apparently found it to their advantage to allow
Herzegovina to remain in half-ciyilized condi-
ton, the country unimproved and the people un-
educated and little aware of what is passing in
the world without. With this end in view, they
have encouraged tho brutal rule of the Turks,
although at any time within the past hundred
years they could have swept away as in breath
one OF the most degrading tyrannies TN
der the sun. Bat it suited them, as it
suited Russia, to have half wilderness
between their possessions, by which they might
hold each other in check. The ownership Of
such a magnificent province, surrounded by
some OF the greatest powers in Christendom, by
y country like Turkey is one Of the strangest
anomalies in history, and ii requires some such
matter Of fact explanation as the ono here given
To make it at all clear. Even go, tile grade Of
political morality among some OF the
most enlightened moderns is seen
not to stand very high when motives of SELF
Interest are brought into the CAGE. It is thought
bestia! in any man or body Of men to keep down
the moral and physical growth of their cotem-
poraries in order that advantage may accrue to
themselves-this is what the shareholders did
lao. 81 ~,
OF the world united in just such an effort.
But the Herzegovinians themselves have
a. last risen under the yoke. Perhaps they do
not know how they might long since have been
helped by their powerful neghbors perhaps
they do not realize that their action may event.
naliy evolve Il tsrdy recognition Of their rights !;
but they none tho less feel they are abused and
are resolved to submit no longer. struggle
under such conditions may be imagined by any
one al all informed in the suavities of tho Tur-
kisli character. We must be prepared to sup
our full of horrors, for tho impending con-
ilict, AZ far as the Turks are concerned, will
be not war hut butchery. Tie Herzegovina
ians know we'll the character of their taskmas-
tiers and We must take all this into account in
estimating their courage.
The revolt had its rise in that common cause
OF dissatisfaction in provinces and colonies
onerous and unjust taxation. The suilerings
caused by arbitrary imposts are matters Of CON-
mon knowledge, but the accounts of the outrages
put upon the Herzegoviniaus by their
Turkish masters almost surpass be-
lief We suppose it, of course, understood
that many of the Herzegovinians are Christians,
fact which adds to the hatred and cruelty of
their oppresscrs. The tax gatherers,as they arc
by courtesy called, are, in fact but so many high
waymen. They levy on personal property at will,
and make execution on the spot, without notice
or form OF any kind, aud from such npost
the sufferer has no appeal. Remonstrance
Is met with massacre. Some OF the most voner-
ated and beloved of the Christians have met
death in this way, the grand result being ban
lied resistance Of few thousands of brave
peasants who now defy the whole power of Mo-
hsmmedanism, while Christian powers are be-
ginning to debate whether this is not Il suitable
time to make an end of tie grip of Turkey on
European civilization.