New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-14
4 NEW EUROPEAN SITUA TON.

II is already fully evident that the accession
of Edbem Pasba to the Vizership. as HE
TR1DrNE stated week ago, brings with 1t no
assurance of peace He has accepted the policy
| of his predecessor in the office, and is carrying
| it out with greater vigOr and promptness. Inc
only Power, of all concerned in the recent
negotiations, which apparently knows Its own
mind and is earnestly active, is Turkey. Inc
circular of the Porte goes even beyond the
naughty defiance of its answer to the CONFER
ence: it almost suggests a desire to provoke
Russia into hostilities The concentration OF
| troops and munitions of war Oh the Danube Is
still more palpable challenge. Europe seems
| to he bcwildercd, and with good reason, by
the boldness and decision of Turkeys attitude.
| The sick man. like Pope Sixtus ", has flung
away his crutches. and stands erect, full
voiced and strong. There is something gallant
| and heroic in this. If we could forget the
| grave and permanent interests involved, we
might regard it with cordial admiration.
While Russia remains silent, the excitement
| over the question continues in England, and
| now new element has been added, which
| opens the possibility of another solution TO the
yacillating course Of the BeacOnsiicld Govern
! course of action-a policy which, ignoring all
traditional ideas, may be called new depart
IRE in English politics. Going back OF the
failure of the Conference, they repeat the orlgl-
| nal demand for such concessions and gllaranl
| tees as shall fully protect the Christian sub
| iects of Turkey and are willing to accept an
alliance with Russia if there should be no other
way of attaining this end! These views will
| be embodied III a motion, to he offered In Far
lament at an early day. The Government has
nothing so distinct, definite, and seemingly
| practicable to propose and can do little but
repeat its conventional appeals to the cOnserva-
| tive spirit of the people. The conflict will be
earnest and probably acrimonious. If it should
result in restoring the Liberal party to power,
| the situation would be completely changed.
Russia and England, acting in accord, and un-
impeded by the other European Powers, would
have little difficulty in enforcing their demands
upon Turkey. The question would be settled,
but in a manner to sting all Islam to the
| heart and SOW the seeds of later and iercer
struggles.
| The war party in Russia will take great
| comfort in this decision, representing as it
does half the population of Great Britain.
| But the Imperial Government continues to
vail its intentions in mystery. The circular,
| recently issued, seems to have been mere
device to gain time and almost too transparent
| for its purpose. The other Powers will make
| no answer to it, and the diplomatic represen-
| tatives of Russia are in no hurry to ascertain
the views of the former. The open provOca-
tons of Turkey receive no attention, and even
Al. 1aft,
in the important matter of concluding peace.
we shall doubtless, in good time, receive the
explanation of this assumed apathy; yet its
continuance is giving rise to suspicious of con-
cealed dissensions in the Imperial Cabinet or
| among the people. There is something Omin-
GUS in the present suspense, and it seems more
likely to be broken by the thunders of sudden
war than to quietly subside into peace.