Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-11-25
The Eastern Question and Our In
tereSt II L,

The excitement attending ;he prcsiicutu'
election has, to some extent, withdrawn the at-
tsntion Of our people from European compiled
tons. When il was generally assumed q few
weeks since that the coateuJirs powers bad at
rived at a basis Of settlement we took ,hc lib
er,y Of asserting that the final conflict between
the two systems in Europe was Inevitable
For more than a century Russia has been ma
king Intellectual struggles % throw 3d The Bon
daSe Of European Diplomacy and secure COM
mercial importance by access % tac Meli'cr-
,aaeaa. Heretofore she has been confronted
with the combined opposition Of the other
great States Of the Ointment, bU. 40 the pres
eat iluctare England seems to have lost her
hold 90 Europe and the probabilities are that
the contest will be fought out between the S.a-
voaic AID Mah5ncsan families. England will
in,srpose every peaceful obstacle to Russia ia
her power, bat it is not probable that she Will
defy the sentiment Of al toe States &c Christ
ia1 civilization by engaging actively 10 the
conflict. While the assr1nliseneut o. Russia.
Is the possession Of CIasIan,i-oP.a, may
threaten the integrity Of her possessions .r
Asia. a moral sentiment TIA. lies at lbs i'uuia-
zion Of our systems is too dangerous hr Eng
Ind to aatAgluiz1 either OF home Or aJ,1al
If. however, she does engage ia the c1oact
she vii, oa'y prolong wlr the issue Of which
is inevitable. Russia viii ali ought 81 ct e.
tie high seas.
We have too lately been engaged 10 q bloody
cocGjcl to fail ofsynpatby f1r those over whom
lis dark shadow is impending but we have
no power % alter events, and il is only proper
thA. we should consider It's influence upon our
ow1 welfare. Russia and Turkey and Der
Provinces have. for the last taa years. thrown
their supplies Of Breaistu.f, on the markets
Europe. The annual average Of which has
Nseu largely over One Hundred Millions Of
Bushels. \ war between Turkey auI Russia
WI, only be solved by hard knocks aai long
continued conflict Russia has over Sixty
while Turkey has over Forty Millions Of sub
i,c;s. While Russia has the sympathy Of the
States Of Christian civilization. we mus; 20,
f-se, that the fierce and iut1.eraut religious
sentiment Of NlaIaeA1isa enters into the
contest. The var viii, from all the Pra5Abi,i-
ties. be Of lon. duration, aud paaiiug i. we
viz be clIsI upon to furnish :do whole def
81, 20 Europe.
Democrats aul Republicans mly wra0g'e
aul either be disappointed, ba; while wo have
been peacefully solving whether this or that,
President, or this O., .sa, policy sl9ald govern,
= storm vas gathering IN Europe that viii have
more imP5,taa. bearing 90 ourma,eral wei
fare shan either issue Of the conflict eau have.
No President nor Party dare take away our
liberties. They may in the future, as they
have done 10 the past, cripple cur energies by
mistaken policies, bl; liberty on this C5uti-
men. is eternal oar BrglIsu&s aaI our
Meats will double in value; the burdens tha,
now press Us % The earth vii, be lifted from
on, shoulders by the clauites o. other peo-
pie; wheat, corn, rye, barley, beef and pork
viii pay to the farmer more THAI remuaeutve
prices. AMI the l,b1rer through ias prosperity
Of tao producer. viii reap his reward. II ue
are beat 10 The political Struggle let US al, keep
COZ, and reap the rich harves; that war 10 Eu-
rope has placed before our sickle.