, 1876-11-21

less spoil could bc obtained Russia, In fact, has
been beaten md beaten by Htnl,amrnedans, both In
diplomacy and In tho te1d; hor representations
have brcn treated with ecorn, and hcs troops hayc
Ieen slaughtered without either vlctosy Or sct.
gcancc.
What can diplomacy olreot beyond what it
haa already demanded md fai!oi to SECURE?
Ono of two things is certnir-cither lsussia
n,,sst acknowledge l,eraclf Defeated by the
Turk, both In diplomacy md on tho field, or
sho must demand autonomy for bulgaria.
1,osnia, Herzegovina, md Montenegro lin
fact, tloir absolute independence. Tint
1susaia will adopt tho first OF these altotna-
tivcs ia absurd. For twonty years s1lo has
been preparing to tnnho good tho orilnean
losses md aveugo herself for tho humiliation
placed upon fior by England md Franco. It
Is not likely TINT ahe wilt sucoumb to the
Sick Man when sho knows TINT thero ia not
Power In Continental Europe TINT will in-
tcrforo with her policy. sho has nlreat1y
1nfsl down her nltfnntum 10 tho Forthcoming
Conference, aud tho Czar llimsolf haa publicly
announced that ho shall 20 behind the Treaty
of Paris md net independently IT 1t is not
accepted. There aro good for believing
that tho Turks will not ncccptit. First, thuy
aro in tho very lush Of victory, haviug CON-
plotc1y overwhelmed tho Sorvians mud vir-
tua!ly defeated tho Russians Mt Djuuis.
Second, they. know that tho Englis1, A1nbas-
sador Mt Constantinoplo is their friontl, md
they count upon tho English jealousy Of
1lussia nna tue friendship Of tho English
Government, notwithstanding tho uufricndly
criticisms Of thoir poliuy In tho English
prcss. Thoy nlso know tlat Austria is
cqually jealous Of Russian influence, mud
that Gcrmany's neutrality is not based so
mitch upon friendship for Russia rs upon
fear Of Fronch a1linnco with her. Third,
aud strongest reason of all, tho granting Of
autonomy for tho Sclnyio provinces would
placo Christians md A1ohammedanH upon
tho sanle footing, tho ond bf wlicl, must DO
the elevation Of the Christians and the foun-
dation Of Pan-Sclayonio Empire. Com
menting upon The armistico, tho Spectator
sGys:
Sho will, we hclioye, epend tho two months in
nrmfng, and tho nrmlstice will only 10 d rrcpara.
tion for moro serious and deadly struggle, to
commence with tho New Year. Her armies will
then DO in position aud her squadrona in the Mcdt
tcrraneau, whlo Greece will bd as ready Us sho
can bo made to bear O part sho has hitherto
avoided.
Tho Spectators prophecy ia already full
fllol. Russia has commenced lor war prep
nrations upon colossal scnlo. An ilnmonse
nrmy has boon mobilizel, Her fleet Inns
been put in order. Tho railroads have been
seized by tito Government. The export OF
hcrses has boen stopped. Russian officers
have been ordered homo, and that ultimate
measure Of n Power intending to mako war
l,as been adopted,-tho State Dank Of st.
Petersburg having announced that it is
authorized by nn Imperial ukase to receive
subscriptions for m Issue Of n war loau Of
100, 0,000, 900 roubles. flint nil these warliko
steps should have been taken merely to in
f,ence diplomacy in her favor l'y n gigantic
game Of bluff socms too improbable to be-
Hovo. If leussia IL not going to make war,
her preparations nra unintelligiblo.