The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-19
Tn. Prospect In Europe.

Europe has had no great war for five
wears and if we consider the inhammable
nature of the material and the extent of the
ornaments it must be conceded that this is
great while, and that the result is note
the diplomatists or as an evidence that hard
experience is not, after all, without its inhu-
ence on the temper of nations. But whether
it is because Europe has had no war of any
consequence for five years or for some more
solid reason, there seems TO be general
opinion that they will have a bloody summer
in the present year. Perhaps this thought
is encouraged in various ways by the mill
tary men, who are certainly very influential
in the creation of opinion of this sort Per-
haps it is also encouraged by the con-
tractors, whose wishes and judgments are as
much confused in the contemplation of pos
sble riches as are those of the soldiers in
the contemplation of glories, honors, wooden
legs and coronets Doubtless the con-
tractors and gun and cartridge makers of
England and the soldiers of Germany have
had their important share in the propaga-
ton of this fancy, and there may be sol
der or two in France and some light-headed
politicians who have speculated on the pos
sibility of complications that would put
Germany in an attitude of hostility
to all Europe and thus give to the French
battalions an Austrian and q Russian sup
port, and make possible promenade, if not
to Berlin, at least to the Rhine. But we do
not believe even this view of possibilities is
entertained in France in any quarter from
which il could be made to shape the national
policy, and we do not believe that in any
Cabinet in Europe it is held that there is
any likelihood whatever of general or even
of considerable war this summer. There
may be small war in the quarrel with
Turkey when the snow melts but resolute
steps have been taken to prevent even that;
for the Great Powers are not only determined
finally on the point that the relations of
Turkey to her neighbors in Europe and to
her Christian subjects shall be settled def
nitely this year, but also apparently that
Ottoman resistance shall be impossible. In
face of the political complication that results
from the presence of Turkey in Europe, Rus
STA, Prussia and Austria are returned for the
time to where they were twenty-five years
ago. Then, also, the occasion seemed to re-
quire q great operation in political surgery,
and the three Powers, agreed as to the neces-
sity of the operation, differed mainly as to
methods But no sane politician then
thought that Eastern Europe could
ever be tranquil, or the people well
governed, or that the subjects of the
Sultan between the Danube and the Bos-
phorus could enjoy any benefit of modern
civilization unless the Sultan and the ma
chinery of Ottoman administration were put
over the straits into Asia; and if conscience
ever troubles any one in political judgments
it very properly did not trouble any one
then, for the Sultan was looked upon as the
common enemy of all civilized peoples-as q
sovereign with whom it was impossible to
deal on the common ground of diplomatic
relations; and in driving him out, therefore,
nobody, it was conceived, would be so much
doing injustice to a sovereign as coming to
the relief of an overburdened and distressed
people. There is a standard of International
right in the world-a conscience between
peoples if not between governments-in vir-
tue of which none is ever Indifferent to the
gross wrongs suffered by others and as in
our national constitution, it is required that
the people of each State shall be guaranteed
by all the other States from violations of
their republican form of government, so in
ternationally between all peoples of the same
civilization there is broad moral require.
ment to guarantee at least civiliza-
ton ITSELF if not religion, justice,
property and life. Even in. Paris and
London, therefore, it could scarcely be
denied that the proposition to deal sum-
marily with the Sultan was just,
but it conAicted with British commercial in
terests; and out of regard to these England
put herself against humanity and civiliza-
ton, and brought with her the Emperor of
France, who needed a war, as he thought for
dynastic purposes. By the Crimean war,
therefore, the settlement of the Turkish diff
fculty was postponed.
Now the case comes up again, and the two
governments, so powerful then on one side,
are of far less account. France crushed in
the German war, seems to feel fattered that
Iney nave asked ner opinion IN the penulnB
deliberations, and England accepts with
wry face what she knows she cannot reject,
except upon the penalty of being excluded
from further consideration in all that may
be done. With these two Powers practically
put aside and with remarkable harmony
in the councils of the three efficient Powers
they may evidently do what they please;
and it is perhaps this consciousness which
is behind the moderation Of their demands
They recognize now the plain facts and pro-
coed upon them. They hold that the gov
eminent of the Sultan in Europe is distin-