The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-29
The Gar at Constau autinop1e.

position ever before held.
The Gar at ConstautinOpVe.
Europe Is beginning seriously to ask
itself whether it would not be better for
nople, than the Sultan; the Russian
rather than the Turk. This proposition
has been incidentally submitted at the
great public meetings OF London recent
ly held to denounce Turkish barbarities
in Servia and Bulgaria. But it was
more distinctly propounded, indeed di-
rectly considered, in the great public
meeting held in Rome, early in the pres
ent month, in regard to the same sub
ject matter of Turkish atrocities.
1t is new step in Italian movements
to hold public meeting on any occasion,
even of general interest. The meeting
alluded 10, held in the great Apollo The
ater at Rome, was attended by multi
tude of citizens of all degrees OF inlu-
ence and prominence; and was con-
Quoted much after the manner of similar
meetings in the United States and En-
gland, from which the present demon
stration seems to have been derived.
Taken altogether this manifestation OF
the public sentiment OF Italy, like that
Of England, was sternly in opposition to
the Turks.
AT this meeting of the Ronean people,
among them some OF the most influential
and intelligent of the Italian capital, the
question of change of dynasty at Con.
stantinople, the Car for the Sultan,
though not extensively elaborated, was
prominently presented. And that fact
of itself is a most significant one, and
pregnant with consequences of vast mo-
ment in the movements of the future.
1t is no secret that the inclination OF the
Roman hierarchy was favorable to The
Turks. But this was because OF the an
cient and irreconcilable feud, still ac-
tive, between the Roman and the Greek
Churches, of which latter Russia is the
special defender and exponent, This
inclination OF the Roman Church there
fore had nothing in it political, save on
ly as the possession of Constantinople
by the Gar as the head of the Greek
Church would tend to add power and
eclat to that rival religion; and there
fore, in some degree, contribute to the
political status of the Russian dynasty.
20 meet this ecclesiastical influence in
favor of the Turks, as against RUSSIA,
was the main purpose and moving cause
of the recent meeting OF the Roman
people alluded to. The manifestation OF
the popular sentiment at that meeting
against the Turks consequently becomes
exceedingly significant. 1t indicates a
distinct issue between the hierarchical
and the popular sentiments of the Ital.
ians. The popular view of the Eastern
question was political; i. e., what harm
would accrue to Europe in its political
relations should the Turks be expelled
from and the Car occupy CONSTANT
nople?
The great dread in the European mind
Of permitting Russia to dispossess the
Turks and take possession Of their cap
ital, which all Russians regard as the
holy City of their religious faith, has al
ways been on account of the supposed
domination the Car would or might
then exercise over the politics and
peace Of all Europe. This is the very
question considered by the italian peo-
pie in their public meeting at Rome less
than thirty days ago. And the general
sentiment SO far as expressed on that
important occasion was, that the pos
session Of Constantinople by the Gar
would be far more conducive to the
peace as we'll as to the political pros
perity Of the various States of Europe,
than under the rule of the Turks, who
were menacing Europe with barbarism
to degree that is both revolving to the
public sentiment and dangerous to the |
public peace of all Europe.
Here is the germ Of an idea which, II
once developed into a public sentiment
in the European mind, as indeed it bids
fair to be, will revolutionize the policy
which has hitherto ruled in European
cabinets and governmental circles. And
in Italy as in England this idea is ger
minating in the minds of the people In
advance of its lodgment in the minds of
their Ministry. This fact argues we'll
for its ultimate prevalence and adoption
both as popular sentiment and gov.
srnmental policy. Then, when the aims
of the Gear are no longer restrained by