The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-03
Causes Of the Eastern War.
From the Baltimore Sun.

Causes OF the Eastern war.
From the Baltimore Sun.
1t has been observed that the declaration
of war by Russia against Turkey expresses
as cause of the quarrel only a sentiment
the deliverance of the Christian subjects of
Turkey from the alleged expressions of that
power. All the troubles which have eve,
existed between Russia and Turkey were
primarily OF Il religious nature, though the
Eastern question in its development has grad
ually become politica! problem, involving
the existence of some nations and the COM
mercial supremacy of Others. Constantine,
the first Roman emperor who made the
Christian religion 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 emperor, Con-
stantine XIII, losing his life in its defense.
The Turks are Tartar Or Mongol race, of
Japhetic extraction, and having been driven
BY Tartar hordes from Turkistan, they
spread themselves over Asia Minor and Sy-
ria and overthrow the empire of the Sara
Gems, with whom they are Often ignorantly
COMPOUNDED. The Turks were at one time
Buddhists, afterwards disciples of Zoroaster,
but readily embraced the faith of Islam, with
its sensual and fatalist features. They have
now been encampcd in Europe for five hun
bred years, and have never to this day be-
come one with the nation whom they have
conquered; have never given them just or
good governments, and have never reformed,
and it would seem as il it were very difficult
for them to reform, because the principles OF
their religion are hinderance in that direc-
ton. The Christians of the northern sec
"a Rkl. II f.so
STA, which, under Vladimir the Great, who
was baptized in 9s8, and had married the
sister of the Emperor Constantine, embraced
the doctrines of the Greek Church. She be-
came the champion of the Greek faith, and,
from the beginning, her aim was to recap
ture Constantinopie and to repossess and
round out the boundaries 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 contamination,
A review Of the political history of Russia
will show that the religious sentiment has
always been an element of her policy to-
wards Turkey. The sympathy she has
| shown with every insurrectionary movement
in Turkey has been because the rebels were
Christians Of the Greek Church. When she
|
| PEELED Turkey to grant concessions to the
Christians of other Northern provinces. The
English historian, Kinglake, contends that
the origin of the Crimean war in 1854 was a
| quarrel between the Greek and the Latin
| churches as to privileges at Jerusalem. Tur-
| key favoring the Latin Church, Russia took
| up the old quarrel of the Greek Church, and
claiming that existing treaties had been vio-
lated, invaded Turkey. England and France
formed an alliance with Turkey in the inter-
est 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 committed to the
great powers Of Europe. It must have been
observed that Russia, throughout the Goa
troversy Of words with Turkey in the pres
ent dispute, has spoken of the question as
one in which Europe was as much commit
ted to the protection of the Christians as
| herself. Servia itself was creation of the
| treaty of Paris, and was placed under. the
protection of European powers. The Her.
zegovinian insurrectiou Of two years ago was
| the rebellion of the Christians of that prov
| ince against Turkish taxation and persecu-
| ton. European interference actually led to
| the adoption by Turkey of new constitu-
| ton 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 Parliament under the new constitu-
| ton has met, with minority Of Christians
| delegated in it. Russia, being still dissatis-
| fed, proposed protocol suggesting basis
| of peace, which Turkey also rejected, deny
| ing 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 protection
| of the Porte's Christian subjects. In every
European province of the Turkish empire
except Prissend and Scutari and the Metro
| p0litan district the Mohammedans are in q
| minority. The ancient Turkish policy was
| to crush and virtually enslave the conquered
| Christians. 1t gave them neither federation
| or consideration. The interference of Rus
STA has secured modification of this policy,
but she is not satisfied with the sincerity of
Turkey in her promices of reform. About
belong to the Greek Church.
1t is strange that religion whose cardinal
principle is the forgiveness of enemies should
and individuals into an instrument of strife.
The depravity Of human nature never had a
more forcble illustration than this. At the
same time, while religion is the only motive
assigned in the Russian declaration of war,
and is no doubt uppermost in the minds of
the Russian 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 indie
pendence of certain provinces.