The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-12-01
THE EASTERN QUESTION.


There is probably no subject now be-
fore the miud OF all Christendom of im-
port SO momentous as the recent reopen
ing of what is known as the Eastern
Question. Nor can this universal inter-
est in the events Transporting, bearing
upon that question, be ascIibed to
merely speculative ideas upon the sub
ject. The solution OF that question is
matter Of practical moment-it involves
changed condition Of the world. There
is not a civilized or commercial nation
ON either quarter of the globe that mas
not q direct stake in the issue involved
in that Eastern Question, Upon that Is
sue depends, for all the generations TO
come, the mode and the 1nstrumentality
through which the races OF the East and
of the West, of Europe and Of Asia. are
to reach and to act upon each other;
whether through the military process oil
civilization characteristic OF Russia, or
the commercial process characteristic oil
the nations OF Western Europe.
In 1853 the Turk, the Scythian, coming
down from the Steppes of Northwestern |
Asia, passed the Balkans, and made |
himself master of Constantinople, then
the caiftal of the Greek Empire. AT
the time of this conquest of the WORLDS
great capital, the prophecy went forth
among the Turks themselves, that, after
four hundred years of occupancy, they
would be driven back to the plains OF
Central Asia, whence they had come.
The period indicated by their prophecy
has been fulfilled, and the prophetic
event seems likely soon to follow.
But q few short weeks ago the OfsciGt
Gazette at St. Petersburgh announced
the certainty Of a peaceful solution oil
the great question of the Orient. From
that moment the people of Europe began
to prepare for war. This seeming para
dox proceeded from the consideration
that this announcement proclaimed that
the great Eastern Question was to be
once more opened, and that the opening
of that question would be like the OPEN
ing of the "seven vials," filled with d.
vine wrath The finances OF Europe, the
most sensitive of barometers, felt an 1n-
stantaneous shock. The Turk was COM
pelled at once to repudate one-half the
interest on his national loans.
Meanwhile, the insurrection OF the
Turkish provinces in southeastern
Europe Was spreading, and gathering
force as it went, until the Sultan was
compelled to make known to the Euro
pean Powers that the revolt Of his prov
inces was beyond his power to suppress;
and the Western Powers we're solicited
to interfere. This they declined, except
through the instrumentality Of Austria
But with her own provinces bordering
upon the very verge of this insurrec'
tiouary maelstrom, Austria could az
nothing. And SO the revolt continued
to spread through all the provinces o.
Turkey in Europe.
Hitherto the conferences and coall-
tions mad been confined to the thret
Emperors OF Russia, Germany and Aus
tria; England being virtually ignored IL
this imperial ''ring' for the partition o
Turkey, or so much OF it as might main
tain its independence of 81 sultan
But the line Of communication, the mos
direct as things are now, between Eng
land and her Empire in India, wa
through portion Of the territories
the Sultan. England immediately fore
saw her danger, and fortunately wa
equally ready 10 see and seize upon he
remedy. The Suez ship Canal throug
Egypt had become the common highwa.
of nations connecting Europe and Asia
Against the construction of this canal
England, under the ministerial polio
of Lord Palmerston, had done her u,
most, 50 Tar as passive obstructive
ness could 60. But despite her oppos
ton, and without her money, the grea
9 iIcanal was completed; SO that vessel
laden at New York can 20 direct t
India or China without breaking bull
aud without doubling the Cape OF Goo
Hope.
To save this line of communicable
from being broken by the possibility
its passing under the control OF some on
of the great powers, became England
necessity. With that line closed again'
her under any circumstances Of eme
gency, her vast Indian Empil
would be at the mercy OF hostile inv
sion. 1t would be like cutting an arm
Of from its base of supplies and rel
forcements. 1t would be seyering Il
trunk from the head. Even II Russ
should seize Constantinople, Englar
mast haze Egypt, and the Suez Cans
To seize territorial possession while
peace was impossible, without bringir
down upon her all continental Eurol
combined.
80 England did wiser thing:-Ln
the merchant-banker that she Is, 81
goes into the stock market and buys
the Khedive OF Egypt l77,Ooo shares
suez Canal stock fer the sum OF "
100000. BY this means she becomes q
controlling proprietor OF that thoroug