The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-29

/
which appeared in the Pail Mau Gazette OF
last evening under the title of s'The Pros
pect Abroad" 1t is a trumpet note which
| is intended to sound the alarm OF war In
distinct tones in the ears of the English
people The unusual event Of a Cabinet
council held during Christmas week,
coupled with the reputation Of media
ton by the Agence Russe, the official organ
at ST. Petersburg, and its threat of a Russian
advance on Constantinople MS a consequence
OF the encouragem given to Turkey by
the early converting Of the English Parlia-
ment, are Interpreted by the London jour-
nal as indications OF approaching troubles.
England, it is said, has asked Russia for
confidential information rs to the terms
Of peace which would be acceptable to
| her as the victorious Power and the
reply was given with star less reserve" than
might have been anticipated. While
| the Gazette admits that this sentence may
bear friendly construction it insists that
| it may have a very different Interpretation,
and argues that the s'brutal" arrogance with
| which Prince Gortschakoff has heretofore
| acted in his communications with the Brit
ish Cabinet warrants the suspicion that in
his reply to England's approaches he may
not have been at pains to conceal his defiant
! determinations The words of the Car, in
| fcply to recent conSratulatory address,
are quoted as having been, "We will not
consent to mediation and are armed
against Intervention" These evidences of
an intention to continue the war in defiance
Of England. together with the increase OF
the Russian armament and the recent sig
nifcant political activity of Prince Bis
marck, are sufficient, in the opinion Of
the Gazette, to thoroughly alarm the English
nation. and it tells the government plainly
that, with these threatening indications
oil around, it is mere imbecility to take
no thought for the preparation of the coun-
try. The HERALD correspondent also states
that he has information that an active war
there is profound uneasiness all over the
country.
TO those who calmly view the field Of
European movements from distance it
appears almost like infatuation on the part
of England to suppose that Russia
in the hour OF victory will pause
before she has accomplished the OBJ
ject she has so long sought to
attain and leave her work now nearly COM
pleted to be commenced anew at some flu
ture period. From the outbreak Of the
war it seems as if Englishmen in their dread
1 - III
themselves to look the truth boldly in the
face, but had preferred to persuade them
selves that Russia's intentions were differ
ent from what common sense pointed them
out to be. This process Of closing the eyes
on an approaching danger may be q tenn
porary relief, but it certainly does not in
sure safety. Outside Of England little doubt
| has been felt that before the war closed,
| should its fortunes favor the Russian side,
English influence in Turkey would be for
over lost, Constantinople would be nm in
dependent city, and Russia would be free to
become naval Power strong enough to
! dispute the sovereignty Of the seas with any
other nation. But English1nen persistently
averted their gaze from such prospect
They could not suppose that victorious
| Russia backed by q friendly and powerful
Germany, would fear her old antagonist of
| the Crimea, who stood in 1856 with France
Sardinia and Turkey by her side, with Austria
friendly and with Prussia neutral, and who
now stands alone But they did seem to
suppose and to hope that spirit Of kindly
forbearance would como over the Power
that, in 1870, while France was stricken to
the earth, had torn in two the Treaty Of
Paris with somewhat overbearing mir, and
that had coolly pushed aside English inter-
mediation before the present war com
menced. In this hope they have lived,
sanguine when the Turkish arms seemed to be
for the moment triumphant, depressed and
| fretful for mediation when the Russian
cause appeared in the ascendant until now
a portion OF the people at least open their
eyes to the stern reality Of the situation,
| and feel that their government must
speedily decide between war or submission
to whatever policy Russia may think fit to
pursue.
The London Times of December ~, when
the fall of Plevna could no longer be
doubted published remarkable editorial
on the position of England with regard to
the war. The Sultan was told that he must
make peace at once, and peace on terms
covering the surrender of great portion OF
his European possessions The idea OF
England intervening to save any portion
of European Turkey except Constantinople
and the Dardanelles was declared to be out
OF the question 1--WE should not view with
Indifference q Russian advance on either
Constantinople or the Dardanelles, "
says the Times; 'but reference to a
map will show that the Russians
might leave these two points entirely
alone. and that they might nevertheless
| occupy and emanc ipata the whole Turkisl