Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-04-25
THE BALL OPENED.
Alexander, Emperor of
Russia. Declares War
on Turkey.
The DESTINATION Of war,

oT. PETERSBURG, April N.-The
following is the Cars manifesto:
OUR FAITHFUL AND BELOVED SUBJECTS
Know the strong interest we have
constantly felt in the destinies Of the
oppressed christian population of
Turkey. Our desire to alleviate and
assure their lots, have been shared by
the whole Russian nation, which now
shows itself ready to bear fresh sac
rifices to alleviate the position of
the christians iii the Balkan Peninsu.
lar. The blood and property of faith
full subjects have always been dear to
us, and our whole reign attests our
constant solicitude to preserve to
Russia the benefit Of peace. This So
licitude never failed to actuate us du-
ring the deplorable events which oc-
cured in Herzegovina, Bosnia and
Bulgaria. Our object before all was
to effect amelioration in the position
of christians in the east, by means of
pacific negotiations, and in concert
with the great European powers, our
allies and friends, for two years have
made incessant efforts to induce the
Porte to effect such reforms as would
protect christians in Bosnia, Herze-
govinia and Bulgaria, from arbitrary
measures of the local authorities
The accomplishment of these reforms
was absolutely stipulated by anterior
engagements contracted by the Porte
towards the whole of Europe. Our
efforts supported by diplomatic rep
resentation made in common with
other governments have not, howev-
er, attained their object. IS
THE PORTE HAS REMAINED UNsHAKEN
in its formal refusal of any effective
guarantee for theIsecurity Of its chris
tian subjects and has rejected the con-
illusions Of the Constantinople confer
encc. Wishing to essay every posi-
bic means of Cancellation in order to
persuade the Porte, we proposed to
the other cabinets to draw ppa
SPECIAL PROTOCOL,
comprising the most essential condi-
tons Of the Constantinople conference
and to invite the Turkish government
to adhere to this international act
which states the extreme limits Of our
peaceful demand. But our expccta-
ton 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
Having exhausted all pacific efforts.
we are compelled by the naughty OBJ
stinacy Of the Porte, to proceed to
more decisive acts, feeling that our
equity and our dignity enjoin It. BY
her refusal Turkey places MS under
the necessity of having
RECOURSE TO ARMS.
Profoundly convinced of the 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
forseen, when we pronounced the
words to which ell Russia respond
with complete ilnanimity, has now ar
rived. Weexpressed the intention to
act Independently when we DEEM
ed It necessary, and when Russia's
honor should demand it. In now in
voking the blessing of God upon our
valiant armies, we give them tho order
to cross the Turkish frontier.
[Signed. ALEXANDER.
Given at Kischereff, this 18th day of
April, old style, in the year of grace
1877, and In the twenty third year of
our reign.