New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-17
THE TURNING POINT.

This il the fourth or fifth seeming Crisis In
the Eastern Question. IL rises upon the vision
of Europe, dark with portentous preparation
and lurid with distant lghtnings OF battle
vet even now, war is not inevitable. MANY
hitherto doubtful features have been eliminated
from the struggle, and its solution Is at ias'
narrowed down to a single contingency. III
has been apparent, from the first, that Russia
and England-the two Powers most directly
interested in the fate of Turkey. and also the
two best prepared for the emergency OF war
must either mite and settle the difficulty, or
disagree and increase it. We have carefully
traced Russians course in these columns since the
meeting of the Berlin Conference III May las.'
showing how the cOnsummate sklll OF her III
plomacy and the excitement of her population
have worked together to lit her to her pres
ent post of vantage. On the other hand, the
vaciIlating policy of England Is displayed Ill
clearer light as its secrets are gradually re-
yealed 1t is quite evident that the EngliSh
Government has mistaken the temper of Rus
sia. from first To last-and possibly mistakes
it still. The only hope of preserving peace
now depends upon England, and the single
question is: Will she accept Russians demands
as the basis of a Conferencef
When she made the same demands OF Iur-
kew, six or seven weeks ago, 1t was under the
pressure of popular excitement. Turkeys re-
fuSal. at the time, was unaccompanlcd by any
explanation but it now appears that she
found them vaguely stated, and applied,
through her Minister in London, for more
distinct declaration-which was declined! The
chief point of difference therefore, seems to
Ioc fbn m demands INTO
distinct and positive shape. But the suspicion
cannot be avoided that the Beaconsheld Oov-
eminent only meant to allay popular excitement,
while waiting for an opportunity to return
to the traditional policy of England. The final
reverses of the Servians, followed by Russia's
immediate resort to diplomatic action. seemed
to furnish this opportunity; and Lord Beacons-
field coupled his adherence to the Treaty OF
Paris with menace of war. He does not I'M
derstand that the Russia OF 1896 exists no
longer; that emancipation, education, Jndlclal
reform, and material development have al
ready created a new and far more powerful
nation in Eastern Europe; that the Russian
bayonet begins to think and understand that
the race, though infinitely patient, never for
gets; and, finally, that the time has come
when Russia will not threaten war without
standing ready to fulfill her threat.
Lord BeaconsGeds position, as indicated in
his recent speech is unienabe. One course
remains open but to follow it he must again
take a step backward. The Interesting letter
of The TRIBUSE's London correspondent,
which we published yesterday, shows how pro-
foundly the nation has been moved. The
same strong excitement, it is true, no longer
appears upon the surface; but the significant
article in The London Times of Tuesday Is
sufficient evidence that it still exists That
article, we cannot doubt, expresses the feeling
of large majority of intelligent, clear sighted
Englishmen, who see no humiliation III reced-
ing from ground which ought never to have
been taken. If the reported orders given to
ships and troops be true, they are either meant
to intinidate Russia, and will fail, or they
mean adherence to course which Russia will
accept rs war. There Is but single point
upon which everything turns, and Europe is
waiting for England to settle 1t.