The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-14
war in Europe.

Il 4 =
to refresh our minds as to the history OF the
complications and negotiations which nave
led lp to the existing status OF things. a
r,ar ago we all thought war was about 20
brent, out between Russia and turkey
pussia's emperor being the head OF the
Greek Church, and considering himseii az
the natural protector OF the five millions OIL
Christians residing in European turkey
or course the emperor has other nlo''eS'
Ito wishes an outlet to water. Russia, says
distinguished German, Is in tho cono'''oh
| OF man the keys to whose rooms are III
another mans possession. We quote no"
from the New York Herald:
| IN the European possessions OF the Otto
| man Empirc there arc FIVE millions OF Chris
tians and four millions OF Mohammedans.
| This majority Is governed as subject race
| in the interests OF the minority. All the
laws and institutions are based on prejudice
against the greater part Of the population.
But the operation of the institutions and
laws as sources of prejudice against one
division of the people, and as instruments
! OF oppression in the hands OF one section
OF the people to be welded against the
other section, arc mild and kindly COM
pared to the operation OF religious hatred
and rancor that these laws do not attempt
TO reDress, and could not repreSs ii they did
attempt 1t.
| In this relation OF the parts OF the popula-
ton to one another there is OF course 4
constant and eycr-mcnacing source OF dis
turbance, not only to the quiet Of the neigh
borhood, but to the peace Of Europe. Other
nations have taken notice Of this and have
seen and recognized the necessity Of some
proyision to prevent the regular recurrence
OF revolt at this point. Authorizations in
the Mohammcdan law in its application to
the Christian subject have been eXtorted
| from Turkey by direct treaty, and in some
degree by the dissemination in the Empire
OF western ideas. Russia has becn the con-
slant advocate OF those reforms. No doubt
! she had some interests OF her own bchlnd:
England has been the constant supporter OF
the Moslcms against all attempts to enforce
reform, and she as clearly has also had her
own interests to serve. This has heen Inc
constant relation Of the Powers for fifty
years, and was their relation when the
troubles broke out two years ago in Her.
zegoyina. Then Russia, and Austria, and
Prussia cndeavored to settle the relations OF
the Sultan to his Christian subjects in q
|
land stood in the way, and the effort failed.
Then followed the Bulgarian butcherles,
and England saw her error. At that mo-
ment the invasion of Turkey by Russia
the settlement of the case between Christian
and Turk by Russian arms-seemed TO be-
come only a question of time. War was
then imminent, and the British Govern
tment, seeing the difficulties OF their suS-
tanning the Turks in arms, joined with the
other Powers in that common effort to Sc
cure peace, the conference at Constants
NOBLE But the Turk had been made 100
arrogant by his successes in Seryia and
the Sultan too timid by the fate OF his pre-
decessorS. So the conference came 10
naught. The protocol sums up the po-
sition of the Powers OF Europe as
they stood ut the close OF the confer
ence, and Turkey might have accepted II
had it stood alone. But England required
the addition OF declaration as TO dlsarma-
mept, and the Ottomans make that deciar;l-
ton the preteXt of refusal. Thus the re-
sult OF two years of negotiation is that
Turkey practically refuses to submit her
relations with her own subjects to the re-
vision Of other governments, and dehes
Others to come in and revise them with the
sword, and Russia will accept the defiance.
That other Powers will long keep out OF
the conflict is not certain. ..
The effects of European war upon the
! material interests Of this country must be
beneficial rather than injurious. For this
reason we might we'll feel no alarm when
we find war imminent there. But there is
4 another reason. The Turk represents the
| Crescent, whilst the Russian, represents the
Cross. The war that takes place between
them must drive the unspeakable Turk ="
out OF Europe. Let him 80. Christendom
will rejoice to see Russia triumph In this
war. War is the greatest of evils, yet the
greatest Of pioneers when path for new
ideas is to be blazed, or way out of ole
ruts, old preiudices, and old bad-habits i
to be found. 10
| We havero regrets to express over thu
prospect of an early war between the TURK
and the Russian. ".'..