, 1876-09-01
THE WAR-CLDUp IN THE EAST,

Tho Turks have probably conquered the
sorvians; at last, they have 20 far con.
querod them that thoy arc ready to submit
tloir cause to mediation. 1t does not appcar,
however, that the war il over; on the other
hand, thero In room for apprehension that
the struggle may bo transferred from tho
nnrrow confines Of sorvia to tho brond bot-
le-deld Of Europe, md that tho Great Pow
oEs. which hayo boon watching the fight of
tho pfgmics,f may coon measure sword8
themselves
Tie foreign dispatches announce TINT tho
preliminary negotiations for peace arc not
progressing satisfactorily. Austria md En-
gland desire immediate peace. Russia de-
mautls an armiBtice. Turkey opposes an
armistice, aud tho Grcat Powers see in nus-
eias demand only an attempt to protract the
present complications In order TINT sha may
complete ller preparations for war. In Con-
stantinoplo, Berlin, and London, the sa,ne
view Ia takeu OF tho situation, and the night
marc Of the Eastern question once more SCI
,tlea down upon tho Great Powers.
Tho attitude Of IiussiA towards the sclayca
in tho struggle with their Moha.umedan op-
prcssors gives every reason to suppose that
war Ia Imminent unless The other Powers
submit To Russian dlctation in tho settlement
OF terms. 1ler apparent paasivaness in tho
presence Of this conflict does not really ex-
iat. Tho Russian Government has not taken
any important atep, but tho Russian peoplo
have. Tho soryians would mover have gone
into the war at nll but for the knowledge that
they would have tho moral ait1, comfort; and
sympathy of their fc11ow-Sclaves In Russia.
and England and Austria would have pre-
vented tho war ut tho very outset had not
Russia stood in tho way. The sympathy Of
tho Russians Inns not boon altogether moral,
but, on the other hand, very material in ita
operation. Russian soldiers have served in
Tho Christian ranks. Ono Russian oflicor
has directed the Borvian movements On
tho southeast aud another on tho
northwest. Rusalau subordinate officers
have served in all tho sorvian corps. Rus
sian socioties and individuals havo sent lavish
contributions Of money and timely supplies
OF arms, provisions, md war materials. lilo
hospitals havo boon filed with nuss;eu
nurses. It llas not bocn considered viola.
ton of the Russian territory when tho
seryians have found ii convenient TO cross
tho frontier, and Tho Russian Government
has mover warned ita subjects or prevented
them from rendering asslstanco 10 Seryja,
The Prince MILAN las heou surrounded l,v
russian military. strategic, and Diplomatic
counsolors from the very outset, and there IL
no other way in which, with an army largely
inferior to the Turks In numbers, ho could
layo held his ground so long aud 70 we'll aa
hc has, and, after being defeated over 4nl
over agsin, still occupy 4 position iu which
he ia not compelled To accept terms FROM shp
conqueror. nor even be exposed 10 tho
modification Of suing foz peace.
Tho Russian press, from tho Of
fetal organs Of tAs Government down
to the least influential papers In the Empire,
havo beou unanimous in their support Of tho
ssryians, aud have lost no opportunity 10
iEs ths popular heart against tho Turks and
tue English. Tho religious question has
been pressed on the ono hand and thu
Eastern question on the other, and theso two
questions sufficiently explaln tGs attitude Of
Nusaia.
Tho religious slemeut Of sympathy with
the ec!ases Is undoubtedly confined to Rus.
sla. Individuals ali the world oyar NAV
gy1npathtze with them "a weaker race on
pressed ny more powerful ons; but Protas-
tant and Catholic nations do not, for the
Eoason that tho sclavea are neither Catholic
nor Protestant. The Greek Christians arc
fsaatscal mud bigots a. we'll ~ the AIohan,-
mtdans, only leRs oden9iyely 10, but there is