The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-12-19
-WOODSFIELD, MONROE COUNTY
kfr sfts ~ 8AFEE IL -
Written for The Spirit of Democracy }
The Key Of the West.

Written for The Spirit of Democracy.l
The Key Of the West.
The events now progressing in Eu
'ope give special interest TO all that con-
Germs the control of the Mediterranean.
That great inland sea has been the thea
ire of naval prowess ever since navies
we're first known. It is one curious re-
suit Of The changes in the civilized
world, that this important body of wa
ter is no longer commanded by those
countries which constitute its, borders,
and which were once able to control its
commerce by naval supremacy.
Spain whose enterprise opened new
world across the ocean, and whose fleet
once made maritime nations mble,
long ego dropped from her ,nerveless
grasp Gibraltar, the Key of the western
entrance. She is now the meakling OF
Europe, and would have lost her indie
pendence ere this, if her geographical
position were 3 menace TO her neighbors.
France is indeed a power not to be
but her glory never has been
enhanced on the water. t....--.'..g
Italy, just rising into Importance, af.
ter centuries of division and decay, is
but poor representative of Rome. She
has, indeed, just completed some of the
most formidable iron cIads, which are
to be armed with one hundred ton guns,
the largest yet cast; but, while we ad
mire the enterprise of her statesmen
and rejoice in her growing prosperity
we cannot Danish the sad historic con-
trast with her former splendor. For hel
banknotes and great guns she must &c
to America and England; her achieve
ments must be bought at second hand ir
a foreign market; and to expect that she
can reach the full stature OF national
manhood while thus dependent on bel
thrifty, neighbors is evident miscalcula
tion sae@ y sAs
Egypt, once first among the gods who
rode triumphant on the waves, is now
tributary, to Turkey, 'the sick man O.
Europe" the power that has been fol
many years proppeds by diplomatic pill
lows; willie Turkey herself, having earn
ed the contemptof both friend and fo'
by insolent oppression, which Rhe IL
powsrless toperpetuate unaided holds
the straits Of the Bosphorus, just as th'
hired jailorholds the keys gentrusted e
his care zoeB ssaEs ssEy saouA
She is not naval power; but she il
formidable in her masters, England aps
Austria, who bid her keep fast hold o
the door, and to let no Russian pas
without permission. ri ssvsiias YH8
= The passion for territorial aggrand
izement is not foreign to the American
mind We boast quite enough forou
material resources, and the past show
that we are unwilling to fight for add
,ionalsquare miles Of land, even thougl
we cannot hope to develop thoroughly
for many years to come, the territor.
that belonged to us before the Mexican
war. + II we had not reached the ives
tern Ocean, we should probably get al
d new war Of annexation before long
and our covetous eyes are already turn
ed to Cuba and Canada 1t therefor'
would i'll become US TO criticise the greco
of European nations, even of enormous
ly expanded Russia. .sst1ais ,smsog ,aaa,
!, But, aside from the general lust Of do
minion, there are special incentives Il
mutual jealousy between Austria ant
Russia that may, not be overlooked ii
the stndy of European politics. So loni
as Russia cannot send her ships unchal
lenged through the Bosphorns. she i
practically excluded from the ocean,
The CULTS Of the Baltic Sea are for :
portion of the year frozen over. and, it
entrance can at any time be blockade
by hostile powers But the Mediterrs
mean once reached by vthei Russian, navy
the great northern bear could cope Wit
its contemporaries on equal terms in til
wild tug of war. ,'aiiiioq -asg al hsssss.
Knowing this, the five great powers,
at the treaty of peace closing the Cri
mean war, made a condition forbiddinl
Russia to maintain navy on the Blac'
Sea. I, That condition. under the chan
ged relations OF international affairs
Russia has already set at naught. He
next moves manifestly, is tosget posses
sion of Constantinople and the Bospho
rus, so that no. combination Of fghtin
nations can thereafter say to her, thu
q q H
far shalt thou come, but no farther.
The strait that unites the Black Sc
and the Sea Of Marmora is only ont
half mile wide at its narrowcst part, an
not more than two miles at its wides
1t is thus, unlike the strait of Gibralta
which is nine miles wide in it's marrow
est part, capable Of being made impass
BILE by the resources Of modern gunner.
Once possessed of it, Russia could re:
tend her conquests over the feeble p
tions that lie upon the Mediterranea
having the ports of the Black Sea
which to develop her navy without M
lestation, and threatening Austria, WI
has but limited and exposed sea Goa
with only one good harbor-at Tries,
The temptation to snatch this tr'
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