Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-11-25
RUMORS OF WAR.
The Ieslisg II Ksrsps-A Review Of the
Situation.

Aov SvvssS8 - &SvSW~-" ssvvsVW vs. ""
Situation.
A careful reading Of the report OF tn
ozar's speech at Moscow does not SHOW
10 decidedly warlike tone ~ tn
European press perceive IN II. 1t mn.
be that other information, not conveye,
by telegraph, ia In the possession o
those who see war imminent, but 30 IA
an the public arc instructed here, til,
new elements in tho problem are merely
tho speech OF Lord Beaoonsheld, til,
czar's counter address TO the people
and a dispatch in regard to the inten
tons OF the Turkish government to tn,
London Telegraph. Disraeli's speecl
certainly conveyed threat and an
nounced diplomatic position. But any
Russian statesman knowing England
knows that neither OF thom may DO sup
ported by the British nation, and boil
are probably designed to influence tn,
approaching conference. 1t il true thu
before the Crimean war the British
ministry permitted the people to drift
into war, yet there was long and grad
ual process OF inlaming public opinion
30 that when war was declared, the mass
OF the nation and Parliament were de-
cidedly in favor OF 1t. Under the old
theory in regard to the balance OF powe,
and the Importance OF Constantinople,
the British interests seemed at tho time
on the side Of Turkey and strongly
against Russia.
But now all this is changed. The
public opinion of England is almost uni
versally opposed to war. The idea that
Turkey must be upheld and Russia
crippled has passed away. In fact, since
the outbreak and the Bulgarian mas.
sacres, large numbers OF people in Eng.
land believe that Europe would be- the
better, il Turkish rule in it we're swept
utterly away. A war to support such a
tyranny, and to continue such Mohan-
medan brutality over the Christians,
must be intolerable to great masses OF
the British nation. The policy is still
cherished, indeed, Of the importance OF
preventing Constantinople becoming
Russian. Brt even this is questioned
by high authorities, and it is perfectly
credible that opinion should yet change
on that question, up at least to the point
OF permitting Constantinople to become
o free city, whose independence was
guaranteed. Then it must be remem-
bered that in the event Of Turkish defeat
and prostitution, Russia may accept much
less than the possession Of the City of
the Bosphorus, and may content herself
with the breaking down of the Turkish
domination in Europe.
Under almost any event, we look
upon the prospect OF England g carrying
out Lord Beaconsheld's threat as very
faint, and that she is not likely to be
drawn into this war, il war comes. The
car, in his speech, does not claim more
than Russian diplomatists have claimed
from the beginning, that Turkey must
give absolute and satisfactory guarantees
that she will carry out the reforms she
promises. This is clearly necessity.
The Turkish government, after the
Crimean war, and on several occasions
since, promised on paper radical and
sweeping internal reforms, AID yet the
people and the Christian peasantry have
been none the better off. 1t is notori-
GUS that the pledges of tho Turkish
government are not like the pledges of
civilized governments. The Porte is
unable to keep them. The bigotry and
of the Mohammedans are SO
intense that the government cannot re-
'ist them. AS n consequence occur the
expressions of Bosnia, and the massacres
If Bulgaria. It is obvious to all Eu-
'ope, that if the car desired merely to
eoure real protection to the Christians
VI European Turkey, he could only do
hryC fny,1 rNn nf
districts by the European powers. There
must be power behind the Christians
o guard them.
When Disraeli lays down tho condi-
ion of conference that the Turkish ter.
'itory must be kept inviolate, he clearly
prevents, or seeks to prevent, a final
But though the claim of
he czar may not be in advance OF the
INIT Of diplomacy thus far, his address
o the Russian people, and their en-
husiastic response, reveal popular ex-
itement which may easily end in war.
I the report Of the intentions of the
turkish government sent to London is
rue, the conference can accomplish
title. And here, undoubtedly, lies the
anger. Turkish fanaticism may easily
urst all the peaceful restraints OF di-
lomacy. The sultan may reason, and
cry justly, that war could not cost
i'm more than the permission of
oreign occupation OF his territory, and
nth the spirit which has not utterly
led out of the wild race Of Bajazet, he
lay prefer to be driven out OF Europe,
cimetar in hand, and perish amid the
1ins of his seraglio, than to retreat at
he word of diplomacy, and live in
city territory by permission of the
Ear. The moment is full of perils, but
e think it not unlikely yet that Turkey
ill yield, England be neutral, aud the
ountries on the Danube be paci6ed
'ithout general war.--NeW York
Times