The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-20
The Imnending War.


The Eastern question which has menaced
the peace of Europe for years has at last
broken that peace, and from all parts of the
vast Russian empire troops are hurrying to
the banks of the Danube. Diplomacy is no
longer of avail. Now, as in the history of
the world it always has been, the vexed ques-
tion must be settled in blood. The trial at
arms is still the only tribunal which nations
recognize in their wrath.
If the cable is to be trusted the old Holy
Alliance has been renewed, and Austria and
the great Northern Powers are once more at
accord. Their object now however is not the
protection of thrones as in 1916, but the
obliteration of nation as in 1892, and
they will be minded to dignity their ex-
pedition of spolation by the name of cru
sade. Their ostensibe object is the protec-
ton of the Christian subjects of Turkey,
their real purpose the acquisition of terrific
ry. Though their design is purely selfish its
carrying out will in all probability in the final
result be benefit to the world. In its sem
timental aspect the overthrow of Turkey
will not commend itself to rejecting people.
The mere substitution of the cross for the
crescent on the Danube and the Straits will
be of no benefit to civilization. The Bulgar
or the Serb is as ignorant and cruel as the
Ottoman Turk, and shows as little capabity
for improvement. The Christianity of Rou-
melia is as debased and more superstitious
than Islamlsm. But the destruction of Tur-
key means, not the ascendency of Bulgar or
RoumaD, but the coming of the Muscovite;
and the Muscovite, though nearly as ignorant
and quite as cruel as Turk or Serb, is vastly
more enterprising, and is possessed of that
longing for better things which is the strong
est incentive to their attainment. The Rus
sian rulers are enlightened and progressive,
differing greatly from the governors with
whom Turkey is cursed. Under the domin-
ion CT Russia Consantinople will be no longer
dead to the influences of European civilza-
ton, commerce with all its enlightening at
tendants will be welcomed, and that peace
and stability which is necessary to material
prosperity and the consequent leisure for
mental improvement will prevail in the now
distracted provinces of European Turkey.
At first view it seems as though the i'm.
pending conflict must be brief one, for
Turkey cannot long sustain itself against the
armies of the three Emperors. But, for the
present at least, the German army will not
take the field, the Austrian troops will con-
tent themselves with a simple occupancy of
the districts on their borders, and the Russian
army will have to bear the brunt of the fight
ing. Their antagonists are not to be des-
pised. The Turks though bad administra-
tors are brave soldiers, and they will not be
driven out Of Europe without a desperate
struggle. If the war is prolonged quarrels
are likely to arise between the allied powers.
Germany will not consent to the aggrand-
izement of Russia unless she is equally ag-
grandized, and that can be accomplished only
at the expense of Austria. The Austro- Hun
garian government, perhaps fearing this, has
entered into the alliance with reluctance and
will gladly seize the first favorable opportu-
nifty to withdraw. Besides fearing the de-
signs of Prussia on her German territory the
understanding between Russia and Italy
gives her uneasiness, for Italy enters into no
alliance that does not yield substantial advan-
tages, aud the Italian cabinet, perhaps the
ablest in Europe, is minded to possess itself
of the eastern shore OF the Adriatic. Then
too the action of England will materially
affect the duration of the struggle. Her
fears of Russia may lead her to an alliance
with the Porte, and in that case her great
fleet would successfully dispute the posses
sion of Constantinople with the Russian ar.
mics. But it is scar cey to be believed thai
England will go to war and give the carry
| ing trade Of the world into the hands o.
neutrals. She is under too heavy bonds tc
keep the peace Her probable course is hei
| usual one, to buster for while and then
leave the nation she has been encouraging to
| its fate.