Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-04-28
WAR AT LAST.

The actual news we have to report
this week is 50 important and Occu-
pies 50 much of our space, that our
comment upon it has to be scanty in
the extreme. The Russian Cazar
has declared war. The following is
MS manifesto:
sOur faithful and beloved subjects know
the strong interests we have constantly teIt
in the destinieS of the oppressed Christian
population of Turkey. Our desire to anne
fiOrate and assure their lives has been Shar-
ed by the whole Russian nation, which now
shows ittelf ready TO bear fresh sacrifices to
alleviate the position of the Christians in
the Balkan peninsula. The blood ana prop
erty of our faithful subjects have always
been dear to us, and our whole reign 3ttestS
our constant sOicitude to preserve 10 Russia
the benefit of peace. This sOlicitude has
never failed to actuate US. During the de-
plOrable events which occurred in HerzegO-
Vina Bosnia and Bulgaria, our object before
all was to effect an alnelOrau0n IN the posi-
ton of the Christians in the East by means
of pacific negotiations; and in concert with
the great European powers, our allies ana
friends, for years we have made lnceSSant
efforts TO induce the Porte TO effect such re-
forms as would protect Christians in Bosnia,
Herzegovina and Bulgaria from the arbitrary
measures OF the local authorities. The ac-
cOmplishment OF these reforms was abso-
lutely stipulated by anterior engagements
contracted by the Porte toward the whole
OF Europe. our efforts, supported by dlpIO-
matte representations made in common
with other Governments, have not, how
ever, attained this object. The Porte has re-
manned mistaken in its formal refusal OF any
effective guarantee for the security OF It's
Christian subjects, and has resisted the con-
illusions of the COnStantinOple conference.
WishingtO essay possible means of cOncilia-
ton in order TO purSGade the Porte, we pro-
posed to the other CabinentS to draw up a
special protocol, comprising the most essen
tial conditions of the COnStantinOple con-
ference, and to invite the Turkish Govern
ment TO adhere TO this International
act, which states the extreme limits of
our peaceful demands but our expectation
was not fulfilled. The Porte did not defer
to this unanimous wish of Christian Europe,
and did not adhere to the conclusions OF The
protocol.
compelled by the naughty obstinacy of the
Porte to proceed to more decisive acts, feel
ing that our equity and our own dignity re-
quire it. BY her rUfusal, Turkey places us
under the necessity OF having recourse to
arms. Profoundly convinced by Justice OF
our cause, and humbly committing ourselves
to the grace and help of the Most High, we
make known to our faithful subjects that the
moment fOreSeen, when we pronounced the
words to which all Russia responded with
mplete unanimity, has now arrived. We
expressed the intention to act independently,
when we deemed it necessary, and Wnen
RuSSia's hoIOr should demand it. In now
invoking the blessing of God upon our vail
ant armies, we give them the order to cross
the Turkish frontier
"ALEXANDER,
"Given at KiScheneffthisl 18th day of April,
old style, in the year Of grace 1871, and in the
twenty third year of our reign"