Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-30
The Eastern Question.

The reports from the Servian war are so
various and contradictory, that It is impos-
sible to know what to believe, anu equally
impossible to predict what win happen. It
is quite clear however, that the state Of
things in Turkey has been anticipated by
the leading powers of Europe. And it is
also clear that the anticipation Of the com
pications which might grow out of the re-
volt OF the Turkish dependencies has been
the cause of uneasiness for months past in
diplomatic circles. The sagacious states
men Of England and the continent have
been looking forward TO the reconstruction
of the map Of Europe ever since the Cri-
mean war. This dream of continental poll
tics has been the cause of many Of the mys-
terious political movements of late years.
Austria has INDUCED the fear that. the other
| powers were DESTROYS TO lead her to the altar
and dismember and sacrifice her England
and France have wished to strengthen her so
as to form a buffer between them and Rus
sia and the confederated German states.
Turkey has been fearing the aggressiveness
Of Russia and the other powers have looked
with anxiety to the time when CONSTANT
uople should be the port of the Cars. What
is confidently predicted never happens, and
/ one knowing the complications Of diplomacy,
aud the mysterious political relations of
Europe, would hardly like to risk his pro
pheti, reputation by hazarding any coniec-
ture even, with respect to the probable issue
of the Eastern question and the Seryian war.
There are one or two things, however, that
it is wen enough to reckon in any forecast Of
the future. The first is that the completion
OF German unity is the ambition of Prussia
and the desire Of many Austrans. Quite a
portion of the subjects Of the Austrian en-
pire see the want of homogeneousness among
the various nationalites with which their
fortunes are connected. They understand
how this want of homogeneousness paralyzes
their state action and gives them position
Of national insecurity They are asking
themselves if it would not be better to range
themselves with their brethren of the same
race in Prussia than to be mingled with
Magyars and Poles, with Croats aud Bohe-
mans, aud the other miscellaneous races
which make up the present tumble of the
Austrian empire. In the desire of the leaders
of German thought for the completion of
German unity and in the warnings of the
German subjects of Austria for alliance with
their Teutonc brethren of Prussia in the
watchiulncss Of Russia to turn these political
dreams and hopes to her own purposes in
the fears of England and France that She will
be able to do SO, we find one of the keys to
the opening and understanding Of the Turk
ish question and the Seryian controversy
The second element that may be taken
into the reckoning-for it is well to remem-
Der that the wars of Europe are only the foils
of diplomacy--is the opinion, that has be
come settled on the continent and in Eng
land also, that the days Of the Turkish en-
pire in Europe are numbered The " sick
man is near death. The deposition Of the
late Sultan and the prostraton of his sue
cessor; the repudation Of his debts; the
war against the Christians the excuses OF
the Bashblzouks the hatred Of polvgamy
and oriental usages and immoralities, have
so taken Possession of the minds of the mid
die classes in England and France as to de
stroy all sympathy for the ancient Aloham
medan rule. 70 tone up public sentiment
in these countries to another Crimean war
in order to preserve the sick man from the
hands Of his Russian administrator, woulC
be impossible. Centuries of Turkish mis-
t rule and cruelty could never have accom-
plished the change in the public sentimen
: of England and France that the Reputation
of her debt by Turkey has effected. 1t il
$ safe to assume, then, that Russia will hav,
no serious opposition to her policy from Prus
STA and Austria. Prussia will decline to in
terfere, because she has her hopes of com
D pleted German unity, which Russia coulc
: crush. Austria will not interfere, becaus
= she has her fears which Russia could terri
+ bly, fulfill. England and France will not in
r tartere, because one Crimean war is enough
), for them in behalf of Mohammedan stat
e that rrpudiates its debts and crucifes it
?, Christian subjects
e Two things are now anticipated One i
g. the success Of the Seryian rebellion and tn
n consolidation of the wild states on the bank
t of the Danube, such as Seryia Bulgaria
d Roumana, Bosnia, Montenegro and Here
=, goviua, into an empire of their own. Blu
/ such hope seems idle. They are not equa
d to the controversy with Turkey, singl
y handed and if they were successful in tn
war they have not an education in civil, socia
is and political life, equal to the formation an,
1t administration of such confederacy. The
e have moved forward some degrees in civil
, cation in the last forty years, but beside be
II ing mere handful of people, no one at al
acquainted with their social, religious o
l. home life would ever look with much conf
IS dence for any great results Of civilization
e achieved bysuch communities 1t is hardl
e. possible to conceive these revolving province
e Of the Danube throwing off the Turks
re yoke by themselves, or able to form an il
d dependent and prosperous state, after the
it"'i tiiNNi ~ 'AA' IN ihNu tiiN IuNul dbl
4 malady of Oriental pride egotism and laz
n ness. They are scarcely better than tn
It Turks with whom they contend
n The second thing to be anticipated is tn
p interference Of Russia, either diplomaticall
a or forcibly. The only question about thi
i is, has the Emperor of Russia sufficient vi
l. tue to forego the qualification Of pluckin
,e the ripened fruit and indefinitely postpol
IS ing the fulflment Of his long and arder
,e dream ? 1t is not strange that the state
d men and diplomatists of Europe are at the
ie wits end in this matter. The situation ha
y never been so grave, and Russia has nevt
Il been in a situation TO move with such delil
a Grafton and confidence. 1t would seem
if only enc Of those unexpected and star
ling changes in the political situation whic
b sometimes occur, and which are so myster
n Gus as to be deemed proyidential, coul
k, prevent the realization soon of the Russia
e. dream and ambition.
Il Even England is ready to abandon the OIL
OF national policy of maintaining Turkey
OF siatu quo, But there is one thing which 81
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