Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-11-11
Affairs in the East.


Since the conclusion OF the armist.ce,
aud the consequent suspension of active
hOstilities between the cOntending par
ties in the East, public attention has been
less strongly directed to what is going on
in the way Of diplomacy and negotiation,
and important movements which are in
progress are in danger OF being overlook
ed because they are uaaccompanied with
any blare Of trumpets or collision of
armies. In the first place it is evident
that the armistice was concluded not a day
too soon for the safety of Servia. The
flower OF the Servian army had been de-
feated, the most Important Of the Servian
positions had been taken, aud the Turkish
army, flushed with victory and impatient
at restraint, was within easy distance of
the Servian capital. Had the combatants
been left to themselves a few days longer,
there would have been q sharp and bloody
termination of the war, and the Turkish
despotism would have been riveted SO
strongly upon Seryia as to forbid any
hope for the FIGURE. Only Intervention,
and that by power like Russia, prepared
.or an instant enforcement of its condi-
lions, could have saved Serv'a from this
fate. The Servian army has not simply
been beaten, but disorganized, its ranks
have been thinned by disease as well as
by battle, aud it is doubtful whether even
the interval afforded by tbs armisticc will
be sufficient for its recuperation. BY the
terms imposed by Russia the recent adj
vantages gained by the Turks are aban-
doned, the positions occupied since Oct.
3lst have been given up, and Deligrad has
been evacuated; but nothing can give
back to Servia Tchcrnajef''S army as it
was before its defeat by the Turks.
.In the second place, it is apparent that
the war spirit is very active in Russia,
and there is very general disposition
among the Russians to substitute an open
war policy for the scarcely concealed an
tagonism which has made use of ServiG
and Montenegro as the puppets of its
hostile purpose. The hardness of the
conditions imposed upon the Porte, and
the evident Discrimination to be contend,
even after the conditions were complied
with, look good deal like an attempt t
find pretext for war. How long this
disposition can be held in check is mat
ter of doubt. The Cars assurance of
peaceful intentions are probably sincere,
and his disposition is unquestionably in
favor Of peace; but the often-repeated
rumors of his intended abdication indi-
cate the growing power of the war party.
The latest advices from the other Euro
pean powers, however, diminish the prob
AGILITY of anything like general Euro
pean war. If the relations of Russia
and Turkey eliminate in hostilities, there
is good reason to hope that the other
great powers will keep aloof
Germany announces her intention OF
constituting "a bulwalk of peacc;" Eng
land is planning for peaceful conference
on the basis OF Lord Derby's orig inal
proposals; and France has neither the
power nor disposition to interfere. The
interests which Austria has at stake will
naturally make her somewhat jealous and
watchful, but her geographical position
would make her engagement in the con.
test hazardous one. Altogether, there
fore, the prospect for peace in Europe is
better than a short time ago; and al.
though il is not impossible that Russia
and Turkey may be drawn into war it is
exceedingly improbable that the struggle
| will become general one.