New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-06
EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
THE HERzEGoyINIAN REVOLT.


MoADITE FoRGERIEs M. KIAczKos PUBLIC
CAREER.
iron A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIVE TRIBUNE
LONDON. March 1S.-The failure of the Rodch
mission to the insurgents of Herzegovina the arrest
of one of their leading chiefs Ljubbratlcs and the
threatened withdrawal Of supplies heretofore granted
by Austria to the refugees her soil, Indicate
probable change III Austrian policy, against when
Russian journals are already protesting loudly.
There is reason to believe that Austria always
unready for war, is at this moment more bent
upon finding a pacific solution OF exlst1ng
difficulties than upon keeping a lead in the
Slay movement. Her path IS heset with periis,
If that be so. Count Andrassy is naturally de-
srous that his Note should come to some
thing, and it is probable enough he still believes
diplomacy able to cope with the situation. The
apprehension of his purpose to abandon the IN
surgents brought rumor Of a popular commotlon IN
Seryia grave enough to be called revolution. Just
what shape the undenable agitation among the
Servans took it is not easy to say but there is no
doubt that recent events have produced ministe-
rial crisis Threats from Constantinople that Turk
ish camps should be established on the servian
frontier have been met by the conclusion of an ALI
ance between Seryia and Montenegro and by the
announcement of q forced military loan by the
Servian Government, 10 be followed shortly by the
advance of Servlan troops to the menaced points.
1t is probable that corps of observation would nave
been established before this had not Austria for
hidden the step IL is equally probable that Austria
may forbid the movement now contemplated ana III
is certain that if serva be not supportedfrom with
out she must obey the Austrian injunction. But
here lies the peril of the situation How long Will
Russia and Austria pull together How long Will
Russia be content that Austria should take, even
ostonsibly, the lead in questions which shake every
fiber of the Russian beingi IL there the least
tainty that Russia the necessity of postponng
the Eastern question: Are the fast increasing
growls of the Russian press melted, or
only tolerated, by the authorities she is
tho Sphinx Of European politics, and all
speculation about her purposes resolves itself into
series of conundums like those above, and many
more Ii is easy 10 frame any number of these. IL
is absolutely impossible to answer any one OF them
with certainty. Not even the Emperor, not even
Prince Gortschakof. should moment of frankness
surprise either Of them. could answer with certainty
For even in Russia there is such thing public
opinion There are limitations even TO Russian
auocracy and Of them is the necessity OF sefv-
ing as the instrument of the one or two universal
impulses which prevail in Russia. They are all pow
erful because they are so few The strength OF
eighty millions of people is not dispersed on dozen
different and conflicting objects. No Emperor can
neglect the sentiment Of race which is perhaps the
most irresistible Of all Russian forces-the sentiment
which leads them 10 look on the insurgents of the
Herzegovina "a their brethren. Not single de
cison can be taken at Petersburg in defiance of this
sentiment 1t il often used by the Government,
sometimes az a pretext, sometimes as a means, some
times AZ an excuse. There is always however, some
danger that il may insist on using the Government
instead of being used by it. The long continuance
of the struggle in Herzegovina points to the steady
increase of such danger. There is n limit To
the power of official lying by which so much in-
convenient truth kept from the knowledge of the
mass of the Russian people If the Government
should By chance be of opinion that this limit has
been reached If the most recently reported success
of the insurgents should be confirmed in anything
like the measure at first stated, If Montenegro and
Scrya ready to strike n are kept under the foot of
the Austrian. it will need but single word from
Petersburg to set everything ailame. With Russian
supporter what comes TO the same thing, Russian
permisslon-Servia and Montenegro would swarm
across the border tomorrow, and sweep the Turks
clean out of Herzegovina. Against the insurgents
alone or aided by dcsultOry troops of volunteers,
the Turks have not been able to hold their ground.
Against organized bodies of fresh troops, they would
have a slender chance indeed. IL is this hope which
inspires the special appeal to Russia contained III the
insurgents address TO European appeal Russia
would be swift 10 answer were there, Prince Bis
marck is reported TO have said in 1870, no longer
Europe The most painful feature OF the struggle
il the certainty that the valiant Christians Of Her
zcgoyina will be supported sacrificed by Europe,
on considerations wholly independent Of the merits of
their heroic struggle.
A story comes from Paris about NJ Gambetta
which repeat simply because 1t shows what kind OF
speeches French politicians are constantly putting Ill
the mouths Of those whom they oppose III. Gam
beta is represented alarmed at the result OF the
elections, and is made to say, speaking to some
timid bourgeois, There too many Republicans
for the Republic. 1t cannot last, and the day you
see me in power pack up your trunks and start for
shall be d6Jord< and somebody will arise who will
90 further than shall" This is the kind of thing
that gets said in Legitimist salons, the sayer quite
regardless of the fact that NJ. Gambctta was almost
ready 20 turn out the Dufaure Cabinet this week as
too moderate.
A much-ne dcd apology has been offered by Prof,
Mommsen to the English and French scholars who
exposed the amazing Moabite forgeries bought by
the Prussian Government last year for some &c.
OOO The story is well known to everybody inter
ested i'm such matters aud need not be repeated Ii
was on the certificate of Lepsic Orientalist, the
most eminent in Germany, Dr. F1eischer, that the
purchase was made. When foreigners discovered
the imposture, and even disclosed the name of the
Jcrusacm potter who had manufactured the " anti
quties," German dm0ar-prOpre led to the saying OF
very violent things. Fleischer and his colleagues
defended the genuneness of their collection till de-
tense was longer possible then they took refuge
in sulkiness. Il must confess" observed Prof.
Mommsen in the Prussian Diet this week. 3" that ]
know Of no international scientific controversy III
which either side has fought in such an ungente-,
manly way a. the German professors did i'll this