Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-04-21

ton the strong prublblltles are that we would
now have been convu,sei by civil discord
our whole extent that our credit,
State aud National, would have been destroyed
aud a career akin 10 that Of Mexico been immi
uent 10 our future To those who were wise
aud patriotic enough % avert the threatened
danger too great praise cannot be awarded
Cross roads politicians ambitious for place they
aie uafltel 20 an, are doubtless making its
unsuccessful party issue an fundamentally 10
bring them into notice. but the sober second
thought If the people will DO justice 70 those
who love their country better than party, and
trusted % The future wisdom of the people 10
r,ctily any wrong tias may have resulted.
Willie tie good mcu Of all parties 10 the L
ui.ed States are using their utmost endeagors
O. hide tho ugly scars that were elt after the
bloody conflict between tie sections, the hye-
uas In politics sill abound. Prominent a
m0ug this class are members Of the New Eng
land Methodist Conference. Protesting 20 be
ministers of the Prince Of Peace, = large num-
Der Of that class Ia the years ot our trouble
conceived and proclaimed more dabOism than
las ever emauascd from any other source. II
they could Dc translated 20 the passion ridden
countries Of Russia and Turkey they would
ful congenial occupation Ur their demOnlac
talents and our country would De rid of some
or TIE blo0diest minded dogs that have ever
iis-rAcci her history. But. thanks % the Wis
dom Uf the people, the hour ilr the rule Of
these vicious sc0unlrels, dTesici in the livery
II heaven b serve the devil'in, has passed a.
way. 10 religions fanatiCism could DO elimi-
mated from the Eastern question tho humanity
a. D., Itsf
now imminent Ia the Elst, and the lives Of
tho people would not DO used rs IN iustTumon-
taliiy % accomplish .he ambitious purposes Of
remorscless despots
From sll external Indications Europe is on
tie eve q ono Of the most general and bloody
wars that the world has ever witnessed. Eng
land has exhausted Der diplomacy and her
threats in vain tho hereditary purpose Of
Russia % secure commercial importance by
extending her domain 70 the Mediterranean
and secure control Of the Black Sea and It's out
lets is now an issue Of arms and with the IA
naiical population a. her back il seems in
probable thst 10 can Do aveTted.
Tho situation Of England Is 10 many respects
o very dangerous enc. She shares with The
other bread buyin States the loss az the usual
exports from tho States 20 DO first engaged -
Russia sells 20 England annually near forty
millions Of bushels Of gain the issuo Of the
conflict cndangcrs the possession Of CONSTANT
nople and the erection OF an immense CONNER
cial empire AZ the Gatewsys Of Asia, command
ing the Suez Canal anl threatening her su
premAcy in, and hercommCrcc With, the Indies.
Nor is this her only complication. OF her two
hundred millions Of biccts 10 the Fast indieg
a large proportion are Of the Mahometan Creed,
who are as sincere in their faith that there is
but enc God and Mahomet is his prophet, as
their ancestors were, in olden times, when
the Holy City fcll before their zealan courage
England secures as tribute for home Govern
meni from these people about $50 600 ,O0O)
Seyeniy-fvc millions Of dollars annually and
has exclusive co0trol Of their trade. The loss
Of her East India possessions would reduce her
O. insigniGCancc, and tho eSpousal Of either
side cndangers Der very life. The civilized
world stood ashast at the horrors e The inSur-
rcction there somo years since That was a
revolt against political oppression II She
should take the Christian side Of the contest %
secure control Of Turkey ; assets, she would
etJrnajiza a religious hostility that would con-
pei her 10 make the Indies a camp 10 hold it,.
II, on the other hand she should array herself
90 he side Of Turkey other Christian powers
u Europe would combine O. crush them both.
Her only policy is, ifpossitlc, TO avoid hostile
complications. but how She can accomplish
that and preserve her commercial supremacy
IN ,hc event Of Russia success, is hard % com
prchcnd
While an jep'ore that unhappy condition
q human Affairs that makes war inevitable it
is only proper % consider what influence this
Stupcudlus impending struggle will have on
our material welfare. Russia and Turkey, and
her tributary States, annually export 70 the
Lrglj-buyjnC states of Europe near one hun
bred millions Of bushels Of grain, equal IL DOT
exceeding in quantity our exports Of the same
character the only source from which she
can obtain tLc deficit the war viii create IS
from the United States The result of the
war sill, iu two ways, be vastly beneficial %
u.s. The first is the increased export demand
The second is the consequent increased value
~ he articles ( the war eHsu-s as seems now
inevitable. and oar ccuotry Is blessed with
bounulu, larvgsts. The dcSollUlu lccottcn
ty orr Own unhappy conflict viii be disSipatel
by The necessities Of other peoples who. forget
ting that Only through the arts Of peace can
happiness De secured, have thrown themselves
into the bloody chlsm Cf relentless war
The prevailing impression that tLe war COM
nCnccj viii Ne q short duration Is not jlsti-
FED either Is the p1litica, complications that
follow o. thc history of either Of The contend
ing powers. - the elements that enter into tie
contest That other Of the nations Of Europe
will De involved In it seems almost certain
The TugS stands primarily on the defensive,
but Threatens Invasion 90 Russia from Asia as
wei as Europe. Her territory is not 50 extern I
,,yc aud more easy lur CONCENTRATION II forces, /
.tlCr i.r offensive 90 defensive warfare than +
Russia, and her soldiers have exhibited as
much courage 10 battle as any IN Europe. Al R
though inferior On numbers her situation tends .
b cQul'ila tle contest aud makes the struggle F.
9ug continued lal desperate. On both sides F.
Le fury % --Hsj1us lul:jcism will contribute .
10 It's persistence. lf but the two are involved .
o will lie a long AND terrible struggle: fothor
atloaS engage tae European world may be in
blaze for years
The c-otism Of ,he Christian family always
eads them into the fatal mistake of uudcrrA-
ing ti-ir foes. Especially Is this true Of The
Russian, whose political and religions systems
ne So combined that their EUi,r is both the
.oiij.ca. head and the mediator between his
cor'g and their Creator ln tie efficacy #
js mediation tle Russian has o faith that
uts O. shame the pTeteusious 90 our material
.sd system. Tic goes into battle with conf
guce tia, God IS ou Dis side, and that il De
lou,1 die bis last act eutile. him % evcTlas,-
lg liie and i1y 10 the world % come.
Tho Ntlrrr-ter Is fail ID. ftroti.,l eDev,rk /