Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-14
The European Conflict.
By the Governor.
s. j. CHADBoUgNE, Secretary Of State

Dispatches from Europe indicate that
the efforts which have been made to pre-
vent war between Russia and Turkey
have failed and that hos,ilities will soon
commence. Turkeys response to the
protocol, in which the Porte refuses TO
accept its terms. declaring that they are
such as could only be imposed upon a
vanquished nation after great reverses in
the field, evidently means war. Already
there are reports of movements of troops
on the part of both the Turks and the Rus
slams.
The cause of war is found in the alleged
persecution by the MOhammedans of the
Christians in the European possessions of
the Ottoman Empire. There are five MIL
lions of Christians in those Turkish prov
inces, and but four millions of Mohamme-
dams, and yet the majority is governed as
ity, the difference of religion adding to the
injustice of the dominant class and
intensifying the hatred between both
classes. This state of things has created
constant irritation and disturbance in the
provinces themselves, and is always men
aeing the peace of Europe. Aneliorations
in the Mohammedan law in its application
to the Christian subjects have been extorl-
ed from Turkey by direct treaty, and in
some degree by the dissemination in the
Empire of Western ideas Russia has
been the constant advocate of those re-
forms, but had some interests of her own
behind. England has been the constant
supporter of the Moslems against all at
tempts to enforce reform, and she has also
had her own interests TO serve. This has
been the constant relation of the Powers
for fifty years, and was their relation when
the troubles broke out two years ago in
Herzegovina. Then Russia and Austria
and Prussia endeavored to settle the rela-
tons of the Sultan to his Christian sub
jects in manner favorable to the Chris
tians. England stood in the way and the
effort failed. Then followed the Bulga-
rian butcherles, and England saw her
error. At that moment the invasion oil
Turkey by Russia-the settlement of the
case between Christian and Turk by Rus
sian arms-seemed to become only ques-
ton offi1ne. War was then imminent.
and the British government seeing the
difficulties of their sustaining the Turks,
in arms, Joined with the other Powers in
that common effort to secure peace. the
conference at Constaniinople. But the
Turk had been made too arrogant by his
successes in Servia and the Sultan too
timid by the fate of his predecessors. So
the conference came to naught. The pro-
tocol sums up the position of the Powers
of Europe as they stood at the close of
the conference. and Turkey might have
accepted il had il stood alone. But Eng
land required the addition of a declara-
tion as to disarmament, and the Ottomans
make that declaration the pretext Of re.
fusal. Thus the result of two years of
negotiation is that Turkey practically re-
fuses 10 submit her relations with her own
subjects to the revision of other govern
ments and delies others TO come IN and
revise them with the sword, and Russia
will accept the defiance. That other Pow
ers will long keep out of the conflict is
not certain.
mol xu. A
should occur the destruction of life and
property will be immense and deplora-
BILE. War is an awful scourge at the best.
But leaving out of sight the humanitarian
view Of the subject. and looking at it
solely as affecting the business of this
country, we must see that such a war
as is threatened in Europe promises rich
harvest to the industry and commerce of
the United States. ut will in fact be. -
says the New York Herald, "of at least
as great advantage TO us as our war was
t. certain OF the nations of Europe, and
It's beneficial effects may even extend fur
Their. If it should involve other nations
than Russia and Turkey il must necessa-
rily stimulate every avenue Of trade ia
this country. 1t is speeulated in some
quarters that the opportunities great
war will give for the use of capital in
Europe will put an enormous quantity OIL
our bonds now held abroad on the marke,
and send them home at deprecated prices