The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-11

IL Iapiuiy becoming the nrst mliltary anu
one of the first naval Powers in the world.
This marshalling of men, this building of
ships this steady, patient advance-what
does it mean? The destruction of the Turk
ish Empire, the expulsion of the Turk from
Europe, the occupation of Constantinople.
All this time what does England say?
So far as she has spoken she has opposed
Russia. Even rs discreet q Minister as Mr..
Disraeli avowed that one Of the reasons why
he wished to make the Queen an empress was
that in India he might oppose the imperial
pretentions Of the Gar by those of his own
sovereign When Austria, Russia and Ger
many proposed certain reforms to the Sub
lime Porte England declined to accede, thus
showing the world that she would prefer
anarchy in Turkey to reform dictated by
Russia. That refusal has produced cool
ness between the two countries. and more
especially since the declaration of Lord
Derby that, while England could not pre-
vent the Turk from committing suicide, she
would not stand by and see him murdered
This declaration was accompanied by the
movement of the English feet to Besika
Bay, which was an intimation to the Turks
that if Russia crowded them there was aid
at hand. 1t was a movement of this kind, n
little more than twenty years ago, which
presaged the Crimean war. II the policy of
England means anything it is that, rather
than permit any interference in Turkey or
in Servia that looks like the advance of Rus
sia toward Constantinoplc, she will go to
war. Such an act on her part would lead to
a general war in Europe.
We have no fear Of such n contest now,
although peace depends upon the will of
the Russian Emperor. 1t is mistake to
suppose that England is not ready and will
ing to fight She is both ready and willing,
and is in no sense afraid Of the Northern
Colossus, even if he has Germany as an ally.
England has resolved to maintain her Indian
Empire, and on that point she will fight the
Russians as pertinaciously as she fought M
poleon. 1t would be foolish to speculate
upon the results of such a war. In the first
place there is no war, and in the second
place war is not SO far as human eyes can
see, at all imminent This Servian insur-
rection will be allowed to burn itself out 1t
was thought when it began that Servia was
simply the head Of the lance, and that at
the proper time Russia would be as the
body of the lance; but thus far no such
fact appears. Russia may be feeling Tur-
key. This instruction may be what mill
tary men would call q reconnaissance in
IN off hach 10 oh fbo NIT
helplessness and prostitution of the Turkish
Empire. In the fall of Abdul-Aziz and
the miserable career of his successor the
world sees o spectacle of debauchery,
misgovernment, crime and imbecility
which history does not parallel. Eng
millions to sustain Turkey, now finds that
not only is her debt repudiated, but that
the money has gone to build iron-clads
and palaces, to buy concubines and
wild beasts to satisfy the appetite of de-
graded voluptuary. These developments
have made profound impression upon Eng
land, where we see party growing stronger
every day opposed to any terms with the
Turks. The failure of the Khedive
strengthens this feeling, and far-seeing men
advise as the only way to protect India that
England should take Egypt. The purchase
of the Suez Canal wos a step in that direction,
and it would not surprise us to learn at any
time that England, under some pretence like
the protection of her Turkish bondholders,
had made treaty with the Ottoman by
which Egypt became part Of the English
Empire. From this view of the case the in
surrection in Servia is worthy of careful
study. 1t may burn out of its own
accord, like an isolated flame, or it may
spread until oil Europe is wrapped in the
blaze of desolating war;
Mr.. Stanley's Letters.
We continue this morning the publication