, 1876-05-28


to decline may be changed to tendency
to an increase in the grain trade of both
cities.
| THE BERLIN AGREEMENT UT TURKEY
Tho agreement at Berlin between the En-
perors, aud their Chancellors, OF Austria,
Germany, and Russia, with reference to the
policy of these three Powers towards the
brutal Turks and the Sclavio Christian in
surgents, does not seem to meet with that
cordial greeting which was expected, nor
| does it seem, at present, at least, likely to
| promote relations Of harmony between Tur~
key and her rebellious subjects. England
has set her face like flint against the agree
1nent. evidently because she is not yet satis-
fed as to the ultimate designs of Russia with
regard to the Eastern question, and therefore
does not care to commit herself to any policy.
1t is not likely that she will in any event as
| sumo IN active policy. She has Egypt in her
| clutches, and will quietly wait the opportunity
to steal off with her plunder when the other
Powers become embroiled in this gigantic
war of races which now looms up in the
| Eastern horizon, and will settle Frances
claims rs best she may. Still more import
| ant than Engands attitude towards the
agreement is the announcement that the Sui
tan himself will not accept the agreement, but
| will demand that the European Powers shall
| keep within the limits of the Paris treaty,
and not interfere with the internal affairs Of
| Turkey.
As there is every probability that Turkey
will reject this agreement, therefore, in fact
she could not carry it out if she accepted
THE terms OF the agreement become Of
interest Yesterdays dispatches give US
the first full summary of them. It
contains six distinct propositions. The
first provides for two months arnistice;
the second, for restoration By the Turks to
the Christians Of their houses and churches
That have been destroyed, supply of fuel
for one year, and exemption Of taxation for
three years IA measure which the Turks
would not agree to if they could); the third,
for the appointment Of Commission, to be
presided over by Christians, to distribute
this relief; fourth, for the withdrawal of
the Turkish troops, except from si1 fortress
cs, until the complete pacidcation of the
country fifth, that the Christians shall not
lay down their arms until the Turks have
carried out their rcforms and sixth, that the
Consuls or delegates Of Germany, Austria
and Russia shall superintend the general exc
cntion Of the reforms. It will be seen that
the propositions of this agreement
make no concessions to the Turks,
but, on the other hand, are drawn in the d.
rect interest OF the Christians. They con-
cede every one of the reforms asked for,
and, while they compel the Turks to evacu-
ate the Christian provinces, except in gnrri-
SONS, they allow the insurgents to remain
under arms until the reforms are accom-
plishcd. The Turks would not accede to
these demands if they could; they could not
if they would. They have already failed to
make easier and less eracting reforms which
they had promised and the insurgents,
knowing the futility Of waiting for any fur
ther reforms, have determined to continue
the war, notwithstanding the agreement,
until the independence of Bosnia and Herze-
govina is conceded
In view of the utter improbability that this
agreement will conduce to the establishment
Of pacific relations between the Turks and
Christians, the active interference of the
three Powers must be the next step. That
Turkey will reject the agreement is already
out all the reserves. What the result of the
contest will be is still more cloquently shown
by the announcement that the cash in the
Turkish Treasury has given out. It is already
intimated that the three Powers are to meet
again at Ems very shortly. In case the re-
suit of that conference should be an armed
interference, then the contest becomes in re-
ality war Of races,-a struggle for existence
between the Mohammedans and the Chris
tinns, with the sure result that the latter
must be victorious. All the Sclavonic races
north of the Balkans, melted by years Of op-
preston and the crue1ties growing out Of re-
igious fanaticism, will spring to arms. Rou-
mania, Bulgaria, and Servia, with their warlike
mountaincers, will swell the little armies OF
Herzegovina, Bosnia, and Montenegro, and |
lurl themselves in irresistible masses upon
the Turks. It will be brief but decisive |
contest The Turks can only occupy their |
present foothold north of the Balkans in the |
relations Of serfs to the Christians. As they |
will never consent to this, they must be e1-
terminated or else driven south of the Bal |
kans, forced closer to Constantinople. and |
across the Dardanelles to their original
Asiatic possessions, where they will speedily |
be absorbed among the Asiatic races. It is
by no means all impossibiity that the out
come Of this Eastern difficulty, which is now
a year old, will be the blotting out of Turkey |
from the map Of Europe, and the blotting
out of the Turks from the family of nations.
And this would be consummation in the in |
terests Of religion, civilization, and progress.
At the meeting Of bankers, citizens, and
others yesterday, an extraordinary letter was
read from Mr. HAYES, which letter will be