Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-02
The Causes Of the Eastern War.

It has been observed that declaration
Of war by Russia against Turkey ex-
presses as cause Of the quarrel only a
sentiment-the deliveranee of the
Christian subjects Of Turkey from the
alleged expressions Of that power. All
the troubles which have ever existed
between Russia and Turkey We're pri-
marily of a religious nature, though the
Eastern question in its development
has gradually become political prob
lem, involving the existence of some
nations and the commercial supremacy
of Others. Constantine, the first Roman
emperor who made the Christian re-
ligion the official religion of Rome,
made Constantinople the capital of the
Roman empire, and it became the chief
city of the Greek Church and the seat
of government. 1t was captured by the
Turks in 1853, the last Byzantine en-
peror. Constantine Kill, losing his
life in its defense. The Turks are a
Tartar or Mongol race, of Japhetic
extraction, and having been driven by
Tartar hordes from Turkistan, they
spread themselves over Asia Minor and
Syria and overthrow the empire of the
Saracens, with whom they are often
ignorantly COMPOUNDED. The Turks
were at one time Buddhists, afterwards
disciples of Zoroaster, but readily en-
braced the faith of Islam, with its
sensual and fatalist features. They
have now been encamped in Europe for
five hundred years, and have never to
this day become one with the nations
whom they have conquered; have never
given them just or good governments,
and have never reformed, and it would
seem as if it were very difficult for them
to reform, because the principles of
their religion are hindrance in tina.
direction. The Christians of the
northern sections of the country found
a friend in Russia, which, under Wade
mir the Great, who was baptized in
9SS, and had married the sister Of the
Emperor Constantine, embraced the
doctrines Of the Greek Church. She
became the champion Of the Greek
faith, and, FROM the beginning, her aim
was tie recapture Constantinople and to
IepOSStSS anu IOuilo ouG lliC
of the Eastern or Greek empire. 1t is
not to be denied that commercial and
political ascendancy were embraced in
her purposes, and consequently the
commercial nations of the West shaped
their policy to oppose such consum-
nation.
A review of the political history Of
Russia will show that the religious
sentiment has always been an element
of her policy towards Turkey. The
sympathy she has shown with every
discretionary movement in Turkey
has been because the rebels were Chris
tians of the Greek Church. When she
conquered Moldavia and Wallachia she
compelled Turkey to grant concessions to
the Christians Of other Northern pro-
vinces. The English historian, King
lake, contends that the origin of the
Critaen war in 1854 was quarrel be-
tween the Greek and the Latin churches
as to privileges at Jerusalem. Turkey
fayoring the Latin Church, Russia took
up the old quarrel Of the Greek Church,
and claiming that the existing treaties
had been violated. invaded Turkey.
England and France formed an alliance
with Turkey in the interest OF Western
Europe. The result Of the defeat of
Russia in that war was the treaty of
Paris. in which the Eastern question
was taken out of her hands and COM
mitted to the great powers Of Europe.
1t must have been observed that Russia
throughout the controversy Of words
with Turkey in the present dispute, has
spoken Of the question as one in which
Europe was as much committed to the
protection Of the Christians as herself.
Servia itself was creation Of the treaty
of Paris, and was placed under the pro-
lection of European powers. The
Herzegovinian Instruction Of two years
ago was the rebellion Of the Christians
Of that province against Turkish taxa
ton and persecution. European in
terfereuce actually led to the adoption
by Turkey of a new constitution and an
announcement of her intention to carry
out reforms herself, but Russia held
that this was mere promise and
demanded that certain plans should be
followed, which Turkey rejected.
Meantime, however, a Turkish Parlia-
ment under the new constitution has
met. with minority Of Christian dele
gates in it. Russia, being still dissatis-
fed, proposed protocol suggesting a
basis of peace, which Turkey also re-
jected, denying the right of Europe to
dictate absolute policy to the Turkish
government. Russia then proceeded to
enforce by the sword the demands for
reform made by herself, or rather to
enter upon the forcible perfection of the
Porte's Christian subjects. In every
European province of the Turkish en-
pire except Prissed and Scutari and the
Metropolitan district the Mohammedans
are IN a minority. The ancient Turkish
policy, was to crush and virtually en-
slave the conquered Christians. 1t
gave them neither toleratlon or con-
sideration. The interference Of Russia
has secured modification of this pei.
but she is not satisfied with the sincerity
of Turkey in her promises of reform.
About six millions of these Christians
in Turkey belong to the Greek Church.
1t is strange that religion whose
cardinal principle is the forgiveness of
enemies should be so commonly per-
verted by nations, sects and individuals
into an instrument Of strife. The
depravity of human nature never had a
more forcible illustration than this. At
the same time, while religion is the
only motive assigned in the Russian
declaration of war, ana is no doubt
uppermost in the minds of the Russians
people, no one can suspect that the
main design Of the Russian government
is any other than to extend its territory
and power-perhaps by first securing
the independence of certain provinces.
-BaH. San.
THE LOUISIANA SENATORS. There
can be little doubt that Judge Spoford,
democrat, who has been elected United
States Senator for Louisiana for the
full term, commencing 18th of March