The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-02
why the Russian War Should
be Condemned.
NEW York sun.l

~
1T seems too often to be taken for
granted that the public opinion OF this
country. in its appreciation OF the merits
of the Eastern controversy, IS formed
upon the party lines which obtain IN
England. We publish commnnlea-
ton from a correspondent who signs
himself 4 oui Veut savoir.'' whose ar
gnment in support of the holy war
Waged by Russia against Turkey is
based upon the assumption that it Is
evident and natural that the American
mind should follow the English mind
III its divisions Of opinion on the Eas-
tern question at this crisis OF its sOlu-
tion and he goes on to complain that
& some of the most influential Democra-
tic papers III America esp0use the nrk-
ISL side with all the arguments and
animus of the most Tory organs OF
/ England.
. Now. we cannot repeat too often or
| too distinctly, that we have no sympathy
whatever with the Tory organsof Eng
land, whose arguments, condemnIng
and resisting the aggressive tendencies
Iof Russia upon Turkey, are based upon
what is supposed to be necessary for
| the protection OF British interests, with
which we have absolutely no concern.
4
1.-THE pretensions of Russia terepFesentan
/ ad dyanced state of civilization, and to
/ propagate her religion by the sword, it
| is not because We think British inter-
ests are endangered by the annexation
/ OF Turkey to Russia, or care whether
| they are or not but because we hold it
to be an outrage upon the civilization
of the nineteenth century that any ma
/ fion or concert of nations should con-
slider themselves justified III exposing
millions OF unoffending peaSantry, who
would prefer rather to be misgoVerned
] than beggared and slain, to the horrors
/ of d saflguinaTy war; it is because we
lido not approve of Mohammedan prlncI-
4 pies of religious aggression, when they
i are adopted by Christians, any more
i than when they are praetlsed by Mo-
hammedans it is because we absolutely
/ (iistrust the motives of Russia, which,
while engaging i'm a crusade to Tree sub,
liect races, keeps In the most cruel bon
4 dage the whole Polish nation, persecu-
I ting it on account OF It's religion, denaI
Il fionalizing it by the unjust c0ntiscatlor
and taaI1sference of the land to the con,
anarit Il q race, by che attempted extiIct
d fion III its language, and by 9 perslskent
nolicy of oppression, which has before
| now roused the sympathy OF every gen
/ aroussheart 81 = in America. We have NJ
3 lave Whatever for the Turks; but # W.
. !. !, sy q. ia have Il barbarism in Europe, W.
, !, arsear s ] daea.s.iRR one to an aggressIvt
one. barbarisn which, IL I1is ,:..afs {. ant
sIeorruI,s, is ia many respects more toler
ant and enIigh htened than the one Whiel
Iisr,pv erldeaVOring to supplant il.
There IL one race whose testim0n.
unpTl this point is conclusive, for the.
ara Thoroughly impartial; and when "
read sd III our telegraphic dispatches tina
HE JeWsin ,Iassy have been Warnel
4 HAT if fhe continues prayers ID thel
] svr,acogney for the success of the turk
fbey will BE severely punished re gial
ssl1Ie s9Ts nosioa Of the warmth Of sent
nlent toward Government which hs