The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-05-30
CONCERNING THE WAR.

begun between Turkey aud Russia, mte-
rest is naturally directed to the period Of
its probable duration. aud tile answer to
this question naturslly hinges upon the res
pective means Of defence aud resistance 0!
the two principal combatan.s. We have
shown in previous articlsss that both M
,ions ought to be able 10 bring into the
field armies large out ot al proportion to
the ornaments Of most civilized states be.
cause both are des..otisn.s. with absolute
control over the persons Of their subjects,
aud therefore able to contrOl the whole
available lighting fierce Of their respective
subjects.
But this very abundance Of material may
be fruitful source Of disappointment to
both. and the war may result in couse>
queDces not dreamed Of BY either. Both
Turkey and Russia are fruits Of conquest
and aggression over ard upon more feeble
nations; over people. once proud and inle
pendent states. never reconciled TO subju>
cation. and always watehfal for the oppo.-
tunity to throw Of the yoke. Already
Russia finds an enemy ia the rear in the
saape Of the long oppressed Poles. enslayed
and humiliated. but with tile spirit and the
purpose Of Kosciuscs still the animating
principle. Aud on the flank II her Asia,ic
army Circassia rises in rebellion and the
descendants Of the men who, under Schay>
mil Bey. give the Russians hard work for
twenty years 10 subdue. seize their chance
for freedom sgaiu.
So that all is not unity with Russia. Aud
moreover. she has The disadvantage Of be-
ing the invader. and compelled to seek her
battle fields upon the soil Of her enemy.
Regarding Turkey geographically. she
has an apparent superiority which might
seem to ensure triumphant defence Oa
her northern frontier flows the Danube, a
river broader than the Mississippi, Its
crossings defended by the strongest Of fOrti-
icaiious. and elsewhere margined BY lm-
passable morasses. Should the Russians
succeed in crossing-and we DO not doubt
they will-they find their advance TO the
interior barred by tie tgo ranges Of The
Little aud Gieat Balkan Mountains, impos,
sible to cross except through difficult pas.
ses, and they fortified in the strongest man,
nar. Every where else. seas over which
Turkey has coltrol, aud upon which Rus.
sia has no fleets. wash her boundaries. aud
keep of the invader.
Aud if the peorl. Of Turkey were homo.
geneous 10 race. if they we're one IN reli.
gioD. If they bad government they could
love. then Turkey would be impregnable.
But she. too. shares the weakness Of Ris-
sia. She conquered only to enslave; shs
made no friends IF her ne~ peoples. She
conferred no rights of citizenship. She
granted no religious toleratiou. She encon,
ragged and proiec,edno industry. She ha,
ruled by the sword. aud not by civil law.
She regards but one faith aud persecute,
every other. She exae,s in taxes every.
thing that labor and property can bear. ant
stiles al industry. enterprise. and iuielii'
genee. She has made dangerous internal
enemies where she might have eemented
together nation Of happy and loyal sub
jecis. And nov. Ike her Russian adverse.
~, soc 6pds al her provinces retdy &
drop away from her; ready to accept ID,
approach Of the invader Is tie signal u onl
postponed dellyerance. Sue too has enc.
mics. not only upon her aiDks but 10 hei
very yitsls. Her very armies are infected
with The poison of discomfort. There ear
be no appeal to their patriotism. The,
have no government ~ love. There can b,
no appeal 70 religious zeal. Three fourtbi
of her European subjects are Of hostiI,
creed. There can be 10 appeal 70 iheil
espidity. 4 wasteful aud ihriitles ad
minisirstion has .savcd nothing 10 give il
reward or pay. and offers nothing but th,
freedom to plubder their own fellow sub
jecis. ,lreldy stripped BY their rulers .
then last isrthing.
If Turkey sepenled upon her oRn resour
ces Of yslor, u unity. u consciousness .
jostiee IL BET csnse. u national dsiences
of financial ability. ste would Be wantin
10 sll save the protection that nature be
given Ler. aud would 80 down before ID
invaders. But the osber Powers ~ Europ
have sn interest 10 the integrity Of her ter
..to.. 81 tbss ..u.a mag f.osfnatie III