The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-11-30

to inteffere for their protection" This
sounds first-rate, very kind and very
chivalrous, but does any one of us
suppose that Russia cares one cent for
the Christians when it only wants an
excuse to step in and gain possession
of the much coveted Dardanelles? AS
q natural consequence, the court Of
st. James regards these encroachments
of Russia with great apprehension
The view England takes of the sub.
ject may be seen in the following ex-
tracts from one of her leading papers:
"The possession of the Dardanelles
would give to Russia the means of
creating and organizing an almost un-
limited marine. This touches Eng
land in tender spot and would i'm
peril her mnch vaunted supremacy on
the seas. 1t would enable her to pre-
pare, in the Black Sea, an armament
of any extent, without its being possi-
BILE for any power in Europe to inter-
rupt her proceedings or even to watch
or discover her designs. Our naval
officers, of the highest authority, have
declared that an effective blockade of
the Dardanelles cannot be maintained
throughout the year. Even supposing
We could maintain permanently in
those seas, feet capable of encoun-
tering that of Russia, it is obvious,
that, in event Of = war, il would be in
the power Of Russia to throw the
whole weight of her disposable forces
on any point in the Mediterranean
without any probability of our being
able to prevent it, and that the power
of thus issuing forth with an over
whelming force, at any moment,
would enable her TO command the
Mediterranean for q limited time
whenever it might please her to do SO.
Her whole southern empire would be
defended by . single impregnable for
tress. The road to India would then
be oprn TO her, with all Asia at her
back. The finest material in the world
tor an army, destined to serve in the
East, would be al her disposal. Our
power to overawe her in Europe
would be gone, and, by even a demon
stratiOn against Iudia, she could aug
ment our national expenditure by
many millions annually aud render
the government of that country diff
cult beyond all calculations"
There, at least, we have plain Ian
guage and the secret handspring of
the Eastern question as we'll as par
tial explanation of the numerous tele-
grams from abroad. If Russia "can
command the Mediterranean" "with-
out any probability of our being able
to prevent it," in case of war be-
tween her and England, what would
be the direct and inevitable conse-
quence? Greece, Turkey, Austria
Italy, Spain, and the different States
| on the northern coast of Africa, Egypt,
and Asia Minor would by fear of the
power of Russia, be forced into an
alliance with her against England, thus
presenting such terrible odds that the
'ssturdy isle" would have to succumb
or be annihilated, for she could only
gain Portugal, France, Denmark, Nor
way and Sweden on her side, and even
this is rather doubtful. Germany and
the lesser States of central Europe
would have to preserve an armed
neutrality or their very existence is in
peril. In all the Mediterranean, Eng.
land, only has the fortified places of
Gibraltar aud Malta as rendezvous for
her fleets and armies. She only par
TALLY commands the route to India by
the Suez canal, and, in anticipation OF
such war as we now see approaching
che has been endeavoring to obtain
supreme control by purchasing all the
Suez canal shares, procedure which
has only lately brought her into con-
Hict with France and Russia. The
statesmen of England and France con-
template with alarm the rapid growth
Of Russia, and yet know not how to
arrest its progress. They see the Cars
year after year, annexing new nations
to their territory. They see khivia,
Turkomania, Turkistan aud Khokan
! vanish from the map, and Russia ad-
vancing, ON all sides, to India, and
about all they eau do is to demonstrate
All agrce that the only eifectual meas.
ure to check the growth of Russia is to
prevent her from taking possession OF
the DardanelIes. TO accomplish this,
England and France are endeavoring
to bind together the crumbling and
discortiant elements of Ottoman pow
er, to infdse the vigOr of youth into
the veins of an old man dying of de-
bauchery aud age.
TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF TTRKEY
England opens her purse and France
sends her guns, ammunition, and off,
GERS. The Turkish armies are led by
French officers or officers educated il
Frauce, aud they are paid with none!
procured in England. Three corps O.
the British army are 10 be Immediate
ly mobilized. Her Msjesty's Indiai
troop ship Zumms left Portsmouth OF
the 18th OF October for India will
, batterrles of artillery. artiiierymen
officers. surgeons, munitions of war
etc. Her departure was witnessed b!
+ vast crowds, and the excitement wa
I the grratest since the Crimean war
4 In order to rely upon his Indian SUD
, jects, in case of the breaking out o
. the Impending war, the Prince o
, Wales made conciliatOry visit t.
, their country, from which he has bu
+ Just returned. Gibralter and Malt
!. are swarming with troops, and tn
seas are dotted with English men-Ol