The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-11-26
WEAK CHANCES
OPA EUROPEAN WAR

The St. Petersburg press advocates the
, issuing of lettera of marQue in the event OF
war between England and Russia. 1t is
| more tb an probable that in such q war Rus
| ala would disregard the Declaration of
Parie ip 1856 which abolished private eriDg.
She did not hesitate when it suited her
! purpose to brnsh aside the provisions OF
the treaty of 1856, relative to tie pav'ga
| ti0n of the Black Sea, nor do we believe
che would feel herself bound to respect
English com merce by "a strict adherence to
the Declaration of Paris should the Two ma
tior8 be brought into CT naict
The issuing of letters of maIque would
be a most powerful aggressive weapon IN
the hands of Russia TIE spnliatioa of
British marine commerce., whose richly Ia
den ships and steamers sTarm on every
sea, would present the grandest prize ever
yet offered to the pIivateer. What damage
the Alabama aud her consort did to Amerl-
can com merce in our civil war Wouio oe In >
significant when compared with the raVages
OF European privateers against Englsu
commerce. The ocean carry ing trade, now
substantially monopO!ized by Great Britain,
would then fall into American hands. Not
only our lost carrying trade would revert
to US, but as wac the case with Epgiano
during our rebellion. that neutral nation
having the greatest commercial marine
would absorb the larger part OF the ocean
carrying trade of the betligerents.
The immense wariike preparations
which Russia has steadily continued, and
the concentration of large armies at points
close upon the Turkish frontiers during the
progress of the 30 called diplomatic nego-
tiations, have not taken place solely I'D
the interests of Humanity" Lord Beacons'
field sees and prociaims the danger, but
will England take up arms in earnest to
avert 1T Russia's fixed purpose evidently
is To make advances upon Turkey. From
the magnitude aud character of her war
like preparations, and the recent dlsposltlon
of her armies, IL would seem that che De-
lieves the moment is likely soon to arrive
when she can, With very great chances of
success. boldly make the attempt to carry
out her traditional policy of subj eating
Turkey, and controlling the Bosphorns.
Lord Beaconsfeld says England is not
country (which will have to inquire
whether che shall enter into second or
third campaign" But England ia
country which year 10 aud year out de
peDds for certain portion OF her daily
bread on other countries. On an average
Great Britain has for the last three years
imported from Russia, Turkey, and Rou-
and Z 500 900 bushels of Indian corn, vaiu-
ed at S24 OOO, 600. In case of war, what
with the blockading of ports and the neces-
sity on the part of the belligerents of retain
ing food supplies at home, both for the peo-
pie and the army, England will have to
of 25 900 600 bushels of grain. Prices of
breadstuffs will be materially advanced.
We would in the event of a European war,
such as is likely to occur if peace Is broken,
most undou btedly be called upon to carry
from American to British ports, in Amerl-
can bottoms OF under the American flag,
fully three quarters, if not more, of the
foreign breadstuffs bought for the United
Kingdom. But England would. likewise,
and at the same time, lose both Russia and
Turkey as consumers of English cotton
fabrics-a very important loes-Furkey
alone taking yearly $50 .O0O. .0OU of theee
fabrics. Yet EDgland must faght, or che is
gone.