The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-20
The Problem ofwar In Eastern Europe.

1t is still too early to see very far into
the European complication. That war
between Russia aud Turkey was inevi-
table. became apparent from the moment
leading British statesmen of the Liberal
party put themselves at the head Of the
popular movement in England, and in
vted Russia TO invade the so-called
Christian provinces of Turkey. 1t is
clear that until the publication of tho
Bulgarian atrocities excited humanita-
rian outburst OF popular sentiment the
Conservative Government controlled the
situation, and that the III mace which the
presence OF the British fleet in Besika Bay
conveyed to Russia was calculated to check
the warlike tendencies OF that power.
The task Of the European powers, though
fraught with difficulty, was then hot impos-
sible. A peaceful solution might certainly
have been found which should have
secured to the Christian populations OF
the Turkish provinces an improved
system OF government under guaran-
tees depending not so much upon the
good faith of the Porte rs upon the
methods devised by the European powers
for watching the process of adminstra-
ulate upon what these methods might
have been.
The fact that more than one-thrd of the
Mussulman inhabitants of Turkey are OF the
same blood as their Christian ncighbors,
and that there are not above 70O,0g of the
original conquerng Osmanli race in Eu-
rope, is one not generally remembered in
approaching the difficulties which sur
round the situation and which certainly
might be solved more satisfactorily by
the pen than by the sword. The extreme
ignorance of the English people ON the
subject, who imagined and still imagine
that the prosecuting Mohammedans are
all Turks-as indeed do the majority OF
people in this cOunlry-produced bum
dering agitation which, however well
meant on the part Of the great body OF
Englishmen. completely defeated all hope
of "A peaceful solution.
The notion of kicking the Turk out
OF Europe becomes absurd when the pro-
posal involves the exile from their
homes of the whole land-ownng pop
ulation, who. though Mohammedan in re.
ligion, are Sclave by race, aud who hell
possession of their country long before
the invading Turk ever came in
These Sclaves will certainly refuse to b.
elected from their country by united
Europe. The same III race and Language
with the Christian peasants whom tn
Russians are now threatening to protect
they know what they would have to ex
pect II they fell into the tender mercies o
that humane power. Those who have rea'
Mr.. ScHUYLERs graphic account of tn
wholesale slaughter IN Central Asia OF Mo
hammedau populations by the Russians
n heartless in the way Of massacre a
that OF Batak, cannot wonder at III
Sclave Mussulmans refusing to share ia
same fate without desperate fight. L
these proud aristocrats, the idea OF III
supremacy Of theirown Christian peasantr
II very much the same as the idea OF negr
supremacy is to the proud white; an
when that idea is to be enforce
nj the point Of the bayonet b
the most glasping and mereie
Government In Europe, whose treatmer
of her conquered enemies has becon
byword for cruelty the Mohammedd
Eclaves cannot do otherwise than prepaI
for resistance without quarter.
For the bloody struggle now impendin
In which we may expect horrors not know
in modern warfare to DO perpetrat'
ON both sides, Mr.. GLADSTONE, Mr.. BRIGH
and tho humanitarian agitators In En-
land, are directly and Immediately I
sponslble. This fact Will be made a
parent even to the dense INTEL gen
of the middle class Briton as soon as Pa
lament meets, aud will doubtless produ'
reaction in favor of the Government; b
IL will come too late. Tho mischief h
been done. The Russian Governmer
msled asit was in 1864 by the attitude
the Government of England, entered on
war which was disastrous ~ II. because