, 1876-11-19
THE WAR SPIRIT OF THE EUROPEAN
PRESS

! PRESS
| A letter from Moscow which recently ap-
peared in the Cologne Gazette throws some
| important light upon the war feeling IN
| Russia. Hitherto the European press have
| very generally expressed the opinion that the
Russians would be deferred from going to
war by the condition of their finances. So
far from this being the truth, the Russians
hold that their financial condition is excel
lent, as during the last few years their budget,
although amounting to 500, ,0o0, GOO roubles,
has not shown any deficit. It also appears
that nearly all of the reforms introduced by
the Government have been OF military
character, such as the reorganization Of the
army and the establishment Of universal
liability to military service. This CORE
spondent in fact shows that for twenty years
Russia has been preparing for
war upon sufficient scale Of magni-
tude to make good her losses incurred in
the Crimean campaign. The attitude of
the Russian press is peculiarly significant as
rejecting the temper Of the people. The
Golos says, if Russia makes war, "she will
confer benefit on all Europe, and especially
on herself. Russia can only be regarded rs
doing great service by putting an end with
q single blow to the depression which has for
more than q twelvemonth weighed On Euro
pean commerce" The Russian World says:
sRussia has made the cause of the Slavs her
own, and has sealed it with the blood and
lives Of her sons; to withdraw now would be
an act Of moral suicide" The Exchange
Gazette asserts that, tsEven if Turkey should
accept the six weeks armistice, this would
only be the prelude to 8 European war"
And the Souremennye Isresche says: *'Rus-
sia will now demand the complete independ-
ence of the Slays of the Balkan; if this de-
mand is rejected, she will, after the war, in
sist upon the partition Of Austria between
Roumania, Italy, Russia, and Germany.
As for the Turkish debt, the Slays will
magnanimously take up part of it if they
are given their independence at once; if not,
those will have to take it up who have hither
to protected Turkey. England and France
will do well to remember this" The
Cologne Gazette, from which We have already |
quoted, in recent article upon the situation !
let's out the following secret Of Germanys |
neutrality &c That current of feeling in Rus
sia which is now being put forward as the
arbiter Of Europe, and which demands war
against Turkey, ...<. is scarcely less
hostile to the Germans than to the Turks,
and the Russian papers still boast that in |
the last war all their sympatbies were on the
side Of France. Now, if We We're to take up
an attitude Of decided opposlti1p to Russia
We should gain our immediate Object, but
We should expose ourselves to plans of a
war of revenge Of Russia and France against
u.s." With regard to the probable conse-
quences to the Slavic Christians of a war
between Russia and Turkey, the ANgemesne
Zestung says:
Let us suppose for moment that Russia, finding |
that the successive reinforcements which abe has
sent to TcuEnNA1EFF are insufficient for the So
called emancipation OF Bosnia Bulgaria. and Hesze-
,ovina, openly declares war against Turkey. Let
Us further suppose say nothing of the fact that
servia ts already Russian proyince and Roumania |
virtually eo-that Russia breaks down any resist
,nce On the part Of the Porte, and becomes the
possessor Of Bosnia, Bulgaria, and Herzegovina,
what would in that case be the position OF those
provinces and Of Russia herself? Will Russia then
TO what she now Processes to ask Turkey to do? VIII
give autonomous institutions to the Bosnians and
Bugnrians, and give Europe guarantees that her
promises will be fulfilled? Even ii Russia had the
Wish, she would not have the power, to do this for
he circumstances OF the country will admit Of only
'ne kind Of governments military Dictatorship;
besides which she cannot give Bosnia and
Bulgaria free institutions which she denies to her
'wn people. Nor would the Christians be any bet |
ef OIL In material point Of view; the estates Of
he wealthfer Turkish inhabitants, which are
E1reaay nearly ruined, will be completely ex-
'austcd In providing for the wants Of the army OF
and the Russian Generals, and Russia
r certainly not add to the cost Of the war By sup
'lying the starving Bosnians md Dulgarians with
provisions and money.
The above expressions Of opinion are of
peculiar interest as coming from papers
Welding great influence, and sources of
not hitherto quoted in the dis
oatches.
CHINESE RELIGIONS.
q Toa hmm 11c l