The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-21

Russia and Austria.
There are 80 many reasons why both Aus
tria and Russia should contemplate with
uneasiness the coming Of the time when they
must determine between themselves pre-
cisely what distribution shall be made of
Turkey in Europe that it is not strange
that for some years past Russia, notwith-
standing her inherited impulse and ira
dition, has contemplated the persistency of
her neighbor with patience, while Austria,
though dreaming of future possession of
the whole Danube Valley, has gone far to
sustain the crumbling power at Constan-
tinople. For to either Russia or Austria it
is preferable to have the Sultan on the Bos-
phorus and the Lower Danube than to have
any disposition inimical to their respective
interests made Of those important points,
since the Sultan can easily be removed any
day that fortunate opportunity is found;
but to change settlement made with the
assent of all the great Powers would be diff
cult and dangerous. But the time seems to
have come when something must be done.
Turkey has not mastered the Herzegovinan
revolt by ordinary means and cannot SO mas
ter it. It drifts and spreads over the whole
country; and threat has been made and its
fulflment seems imminent, that the Porte
will arm the Moslem population, raise the
shout Of Mohammedan fanaticism and thus
make final endeavor to stamp out the re-
volt and Christianity together. Probably it
is already impossible for the Sultan or any
political power in the land to control the
elements that move toward this solution.
From the moment that such q course is en-
tered upon the immediate end of the Otto
man Empire north Of the Bosphorus is inev-
liable. Diplomacy has been very active in
its efforts to provide for this contingency, to
construct scheme that would satisfy the
various parties in interest. It has not
succeeded. In the condition of the
various European money markets may
be seen an expression Of the appa-
rent hopelessness Of the attempt. Politi-
cal secrets come out only on the Bourse
in Europe. Here, where printing is safe
and the press is energetic, few facts Of any
moment in politics fail to get promptly into
print; but in Europe the press does not
discover the secrets or dares not print them.
These secrets are known, however, to the
great diplomatists, to their confidential Sec
retaries, to the princes of royal families.
They do not tell them but they buy and sell
on the Bourse in the direction in which they
know that the news will send securities
when the story comes out, for they are in
many cases not above the temptation to in
crease their wealth. They are watched by
keen operators who follow their lead, and 30
the market gets its tendency. 1t is not,
therefore. an expression of the guesses, sur
misses or fears of the financial world, but Of
the knowledge of men in the diplomatic
secret Hence the gravity of the recent con-
dition. Austria has demanded more than is
thought proper for her in Russia, and has
very likely secured the support Of Prussia.
Prussia has endeavored to obtain the Rus
sian assent to Austria's demands, and has
perhaps won over the Gear; but the Gear has
found the nation so FESTIVE under his hand,
the old Russian party so obstinate, conces-
sion so surrounded with peril, that he has
hesitated, and has even thought of abdica-
ton. In such circumstances abdication
would mean SO deep and thorough need
for new policy that the act of retirement
would be only an evasion of the great Rus
sian political specific, assassination. Evil
IDENTIFY the case is of the most serious char
acter, and the storm is one that even the
Prospero at Berlin seems unable to conjure.