The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-21
RirI,monl 1lspatth.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 81, 1877.
The Eastern War.

o,,r friends the Russians have covered
themselves with glory in the grand assault
and capture OF Kars, the most powerfully
fortified position Of the Turks. The feat
was performed without the aid OF tunnei-
ling, OF sapping and mining; the rugged
Russians" went over the parapets al"
black ridges OF basalt into the interior
the !. entrenched camp and all-and TOOK
possession OF army and town.
This event puts dark iace on inc W."
for the Turks. and is no doubt cause Oh
much disouict to DIsRAELI and those Eng
,;shmen who sympathizc more with tue
Crescent than the Cross. The capture OF
Ears more than eflaces any dIscredit that
might have fallen upon Russia by the loss
OF Pleyna. The stormjng and carrying OF
Kars is by all odds the grandcSt and most
heroic action Of the war.
Russia is master OF the situation IN ASIA
Minor, and cannot be resisted successfully
in the line OF march towards Constantine
ME. The Turkish Provinces will IN good
time be thoroughly enlisted and in the held.
Seryia and Roumania will now cooperate
in spirited manner, and Others viii fol-
low. Russia will not be compelled 10
translate all the soldiers for the reduction
of Turkish defenceS from the main rcndez-
yous in her expansive dominlons 10 the
seat OF war. Armed men will spring up in
the land where Christians have been VIC
tins TO the brutal tyranny and barbarlties
peculiar TO Islamism, with its hatred ana
yipdictiveneSs to Christianity. Armed
men will spring up there ana De
fred IN their struggles by recollection OF
the outraces to which they had been sub
iected. The centuries OF oppression and
brutality to which these Christians have
submitted had broken their spirits and
cowed their courage. The signs OF resistance
amongst them, save in Montenegro, have
been weak and tickle, and Russia has been
able TO count upon their alliance with very
little confidence; but as Russia has gained
advantages these oppressed Christians ac-
ouired boldness, and when they do get fully
inspired Russia will have indeed brave and
efficient confcderates. Lock at the heroic
Montenegrins! Their example Is inValua-
BILE. At times it would almost seem that
they alone would bring the Turkish empire
to terms.
We look upon every sign OF the going OF
the war against the Turks as good for civil
lization and for humanity. Islamism is not
favorable to either. There can be no rest
for Europe from the turbulence OF the East
ern question until the Turk is driven out OF
Europe. There can be no peace while
eleven million OF Christians are in chains
under the rule of four millions OF Moham-
mcdans. It is a scandal to nations that so
many people in Christian Europe should
svmpathize with the Turks and rejoice NJ
the defeat Of the Russians. We are opposed
TO religious wars. We have not regarded
the Russo-Turkish war as such; but
clearly its result must put check
upon Islanlism in Europe or promote Its
expansion. All Christendom should desire
to see that religion checked, because it is
hostieto Christianity, and the two religions
cannot exist peacefully in the same COM
munity. Nor can there be homogeneity in
a community composed OF followers OF
these two inconsruous faiths. Therefore
every philanthropist and civilian should be
hopeful OF Russian triumph and the ultl-
mate expulsion OF the Turk from Europe.
England, the country that won the bright
est laurels in the Crusades, finds her pride
in the glory and renown OF her ancestry
stiflcd by the sordid view she now takes OF
her interests. Her skirmishing and glow
ering iealousies are ever alert, and even now
but for the signs that appear about Berlin
she would be welding drawn sword in
the field in an alliance with Mohammedan-
ism. But Europe cannot endure forever
the Eastern war, and humanity cannot per-
init the perpetuation, at this era OF civi.iza-
ton, OF that condition OF European Tur-
KEY which is destructive to all social homo
geneity and all human happiness ana al"
vancement, England to the contrary not
withstanding.