New-York tribune., 1877-05-30

HER sURPRIsE-A SECULAR CHANGN-ENGIANDS
LOST OPPOHTUNITY-OTHER QUESTIONS.
fFpoN An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNE'
PARIS. May 1l-Now that the cannon is speaking
il might seem that other voice had right TO he
heard. Ego aominor Leoi And yet, noisy and over
bearing as it is the voice of bronze has only share
in the general commotion. Peoples minds are asl-
tated by currents of anxiety which, whether real OF
false. absorb all their attention. France sees with
surprise the Eastern question whereof, CONFORMITY
with England she had imagined herself supreme
arbiter. escape from her grasp in a cloud OF war
She recalls with rcgre. the time past, and grievcs III
secret over sacrifices in men and money for cause
now too plainly vain and proftless. This old East
ern question has long troubled and viii yet trouble
Europe for long time. Formerly, II the Russian
ambassador only frowned as he buttoncd MP his
overcoat the Bourse was at its wits end TO fathOm
the mystery, and the telegraph hardly sutiiccd to
carry rumors of war in direction.
But the times have much changed. The Don
Quixote of NATIONS beaten by the Storm despoilcd,
curtaed of its fair proportions, and left for dead
upon the field, calmly the windmills turn, and
wonders that it is angry no longer England on
the other hand in presence of great fact which Iii
her isolation she is powerless to prevent is troubled
and regrets her naction of 1901. How different
would have been her tone at this moment If her old
ally of 1s54-55 were still at her side, animated by
her pristine enthusiasm, her juvenile ardor! The
answer of the British Government TO Prince Cortch-
akoA7s circular is not OF the kind that generally
issues from the Foreign Office There Is in 1t a Wis
ibe consraint that weakens its effect Here 1t has
been matter of interest for 24 hours For One per-
Laps for two days, Ministers, Deputies, and hlgh
personages talked over the English letter Since
then. matter more immediate, if not more pressing,
has again occupied peoples minds. There are IN
fact two things that powerfully attract the atten-
ton of France. One of these Is the clerical agita-
ton. the other the secret aT1naments of Prussia
Under the influence OF these two questions, equally
weghty we look TO the affairs of the East and the
warlike caprices of England almost with indiftcr-
ence One very material fact proves the truth OF
this assertion despite all the noise that seems to
prove the contrary: it is that the circulation of The
newspapers here has not increased since the begin
ming of the Turco-Russian struggle.
But if Kars Erzerum, Isme Rustchuk, and other
equally euphonious names have no charm for the
French ear il is far otherwise for the two subjects
have referred TO- The names of Bismarck, Moltke,
and Manteuffel unpleasanty command attention.
The nation looks with anxiety toward its unpro-
tected frontier the east and estimates it re-
sources Much activity with little noise prevails in
the arsenals and since the late speech of Marshal
Won Moltke delivered before the Reichstag, the
principle of securing peace by preparing for war Is
everywhere the order Of the day. The political stu
alton is as follows: England sets all reservations
to her neutrality. France, italy Austria, Prussia
declare themselves neutral but all these nations
are arming with all possible haste. There is a smell
of powder and as 1t were a click Of bayonets in all
the rumors of tho day. Such, VIGOROUSLY, is the
situation, though TO one cares to admit it. AT
moment SO untimey, the clerical question adds its
discordant noise TO swell the general uneasincss.