The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-22

| ganisms, there is Russia also 10 be
| found; and there Russia is always we1-
coined. In the furtherauce of this poli-
ICY, Russia's course of conquest and ap-
tnexation is altogether Asiatic. Her
Czfrs have never looked towards West
ern Europe with ambitious eye. They
never Will. Though planted in their
capital on European soil, their whole
tendency is towards Asia. Already
Etheir possessions stretch across the
whole Asiatic continent, including both
Its northern and north temperate zones.
Fully one-seyenth part Of the whole hab-
table globe is under the sway OF the
Russian sceptre.
But, vast as are the possessions of the
bGzlr, this does not meet all the require
hents for the full development Of Rus
sian policy. 1t is fact, that within the
last quarter Of century, since the close
OF the Crimean war, when, singl gle-handed d
and alone, she met thsifDur allied pow
| ers OF Turkey, England, France and Sar-
dinia, no country has made more rapid
progress than Russia in the develop
ment of her industrial resources, and
especially in her domestic manufac-
lures. A country so vast, and with re-
sources, both agricultural and mechani-
cal, SO abundant, must needs have
corresponding commercial facilities III
order TO give completeness to its pro-
ductiVe capabilities. And this is pre-
ciseIy what Russia lacks, and has
always needed. Her only access to
oceanic waters, up to the present time
(sayc the far of coast OF Siberia), is by
The Baltic, and on that only north Of 56 Q
OF latitude, q stormy, frozen sea.
An opening out upon the warmer waters
of the globe is what Russian policy de-
mands, and what Russia is determined
to have. Her devotion TO the dynastiC
policy OF Panslavism imperatiVely
prompts the attainment OF this as al
and development of her great Slavic
population.
In order, then, to determine what shal
constitute the grand end and aim OF the
present war, SO far as Russia is con
cerned, 1t is only necessary to discover
in what way she can best secure to her
self u practicable outlet to the warmer
oceans Of the globe. The route formerly
most coveted for this purpose was by
the Bosphorus to the Mediterranean
This, of course, involved the acquisition
OF COnstantinople and the consequent
overthrow of the Turkish Empire. The
jealous watchfulness and interpositior
of Western Europe rendered this under
taking most hazardous, if not impossi
bic. But, the completion of the Suez
Canal, practically connecting the waters
of the Indian Ocean aud the Mediterra.
mean, changed the political aspects Of
Russian policy touching the acquisition
OF Gonstantinople. The possession
Of that city, though doubtless
desirable, was no longer a necessity
Tor the prosecution of Russian policy.
There lay another route to the warmer
oceans OF the world, to the navigation
of which the Suez Canal had become &C.
cessory. That route lay through to the
| Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean
Through these waters, supplemented by
tinents, Asia, Africa, and Europe, to.
gether with all the arrhipelagoes of the
vast Pacific, were made directly acce SIS i.
ble.' ''"'
1t is therefore notice allie, that nc
| sooner had the Suez Canal been, in 1869
| pronounced an accomplished fact, than
Russian armies began, in 1870, to gradu.
ally move down southwark to the easl
OF the Sea OF Aral. Khiva and Turks.
tan are already Russian possessions
| Between these and the waters of the In.
dian Ocean there remain only the two
provinces of Afghanistan and Beloo.
chistan, with Persia on the West
and British India on the east
Through those two remaining provinces
Russian influence is already powerful
and soon they, too, will become Russian
possessions. Then, behold highway
for the Russian Gar from the EQUATOR
to the Pole. Then Russia has at las
achieved her hereditary dynastic policy
and debouches upon the oceanic waters
of the world in position even better
for her commerce than Conetantinople
could afford. No wonder then that Rus
sian diplomatic agents now magnani
mously assure Europe that they have
no designs upon either Constantnoplt
or the Suez Canal. Both would, under
the supervision of Europe, become aux.
ilarles to Russian development, with
out any trouble or expense in their ac
QUESTION.
Meanwhile we see the heavy column
Of Russian troops moving down upon
Asia Minor, and planting themselves
around Kars and Erzeroum, seizing the
strongholds around the head waters O.
the Tigris and Euphrates. Those fort
resses once taken, and nothing RENAME
to resist the military march of the Rus.
slams down through the great valley o