Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10

of Turkey live forever in the most abject
slavery than have Russia's influence in
creased. We shall not do anything there
fore for the Christians ourselves, and we
shall not permit any one else to weaken the
power that is depressing them if we can
prevent it on the contrary, we shall sup
port that power by all such means as we
shall find most expedient. Turkish rule is
necessary to us and we shall uphold it. This
is the gist of the English position.
Now what do Russians say: We have
several millions of kinsmen in Turkey, pro.
Tossing the same religion as we do. These,
our relatives, are living in condition
against which they are continually rebellng
and we cannot but sympathize with them in
their sad condition. All we ask is that
they should be so relieved as not to have
their property taken away whenever it may
suit the caprice of Turkish official. To
this Turkey answers We eare ready to con-
fer every benefit on our Christian subjects
and give them every reform. They have
lived under our rule five hundred years, and
ought to be able to live under il indefinitely.
This answer may seem plausible, but when
one knows that Christian cannot be a wit
ness in any court, that he cannot bear arms,
that he has no voice whatever in the govern
ment of the country which he occupies, and
no rights that any Turk is bound to re-
spect, except the right to receive blows and
pay as many taxes as he is able to without
dying of starvation, it is easy to understand
why rebellions take place and why reforms
guaranteed by something better than Turk
ish promises are called for. The Turk
ish government has been making promises
for about half a century, and has never kept
one of them. Russia demands solid guar
anteee, and Russia in this case has on her
side both wisdom and justice. The Rus
slams belong to the same race and speak the
same, or nearly the same language, as the
majority of Christians in Turkey. In every
case the languages are nearer to each other
than the English dialects of Yorkshire and
London. The Russians are reused to such
u uNSltb Ou dttOuilu VI lnt COlu DlOOutu
MURDERS the violation of women, the burn
ing of towns and the general destruction of
life and property, that it is impossible to
describe or overrate the intensity of their
feeling against the Turks and in favor of
their Christian knsmen.
was in Odessa, recently, and saw some
thing of the excitement there. was pres
ent when three hundred volunteers started
for Serbia. At the station about three thou
sand people were collected to bid them God
speed and wish them success. Three priests
were on hand to say the parting prayers and
give solemn blessing. | have never seen
a more attentive audience, or one so deeply
moved tears came into many an eye.
Near me stood the cousin of the Russian
Ambassador at Paris, Prince Orloff he, too,
was moved to tears. "You see" he said,
" how Russia feels. All Russia feels as we
do here tonight" Contributions were given
by almost everyone in the city-each accord
ing to his means. 1t went so far that the
prisoners in confinement begged to be de-
prived of their rations, one day in the week,
on condition that the value of these rations,
in money, might be sent to the suffering
Christians of Turkey. A poor old beggar
woman came to the place for receiving con-
tributions, and taking out piece of bread,
asked if it could not be sent to Servia, say
ing, There must be some hungry little chill
dren there; it might do one of them good"
When told that the bread could not be sent
on account of the distance, she searched in
her pocket, and finding two copeck piece
somewhat more than one cent?, she put it
down say ing May be God will bless that
to find some one who needs it," Such is
the feeling throughout Russia at present.
Powerful as an elemental force, it dominates
in the breast of every man and woman from
the prince to the beggar.
AS write, the news has come that Russia
has sent note demanding an answer within
forty-eight hours and requiring cessation
of hostlities for six weeks. This will bring
affairs to a point at once. We can only
wish Russia every success and hope that
Prince Gortschakoff will add another diplo-
matte victory to the many he has already
won