The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-07
The Eastern Problem.

We find IN the Paris correspondence Of the
New York Tins the following odd specula-
tions as 10 tine probable intimate outconleot
tie present Russo.Turkish complications
PARIS, June 1s.-Here the question called
Eastern" continues TO occupy our thoughts.
But MINOR details sometimes keep the great
object out OF sight. Russia's march to the
Bosphorus is like glaciers, slow, hut sure,
crushing in its path the trail barriers of hu.
man invention, and II cannot be stepped by
the pre.ens!ons Of British ''interest." Mr..
Ball has in effect, and wisely, given up the
contest, Sir Stafford Northcote said "the
forces of nature are against u.s." Mr. Cross
mas defined what British Interests" are and
the temporary possession of Cons.antinople
IS not one of them. No matter what answers
may temporarily be made to Gortschakof S
note, the underlying fact Is that Russia and
England today are agreed-one takes Egypt
and the canal, the other Constaniinople and
The Dardanelles-bothf from the same motive,
the development of national ambition and in.
terest. There is no contract, no deed of trust,
10 bill Of particulars signed and delivered.
But the Turk is left TO ms fate and is forced
back into Asia. To accomplish this Russia
cares not for the mouths Of the Danube which
property belongs to the Germans or the Aus
TRANS, If the latter can get them. but the Oar.
Ganelles control them. The Eastern Ques-
ton" will now solve itself The battle can
now 80 on, and in the vicissltudes of the
fight hard blows will be given and received.
The humanitarian heart of England will he
relieved by seeming TO avenge the Bulgarian
ounages and actually securing the Is.hmus.
The remaining Christian peoples will say
amen 10 Russia on the Bosphorus, and the
Mos!em VIII retire TO his original lar in the
heart Of Asia, there 10 wait for better times or
new prophet.
Thanks to the press OF England, we can
pick our way through the mazes OF this hazy
dance of national ambition, called Interests"
until the game is an open one. "He that runs
may read" and all will be ssnctifed under
the celestial banners Of humanity and Chris
tisnity ..-.e
There remains the question of Germany and
France. The Emperor ana the Crown Prince
are for peace; the voices of Bismarck anG
Won Noltke are still for war. The necessi'
ties Of Germany, like those Of Russia, must
he satisfied. She, too, Will break through
the obstacles raised by past agreements anu
Old adjustments in the path OF her future
She, too, must have access to either sea before
she d.sarms. If she acts wisely she can Sc
care this without war. She must do with
France as Russia has done with England
LAbkc d swap Va tldt iohSS Woutc,
something she covets, in exchange for Hol
land. Strict neutrality and even All earnest,
honest peace might be secured by the restora
ton of Lorraine and Alsac or one of them.
Size IL ght take Denmark without even say.
ing 10 France, "By your leave" but she Can
afford better terms. One thing is certain,
matters cannot remain as they are. The
present war footing of Germany Will bank.
Iupt her in five years. Yet there can be no
real peace until the Franco German question,
created oUt Of the Franco-German war, is
settled. Austria must be paid out Of the
prircipalties, and with England and Russia
satisfied the European map may be cngrav-
ed once more permanently; that is to say
Tor couple of generations. France, intern.
ally, presents mole difficult problem. a
LILLE more than year ago the Bourbon could
have regained France by accepting the tri-
color and abandoning the white flag. Then
came MacMahon anything but a republican.
His government triumphed until the greater
triumph of the Lett under Jules Simon. AT
this point the conservative element became
alarmed, coalesced, and by constitutional
whack prorogued the Assem- ably. Thrice
thn;y days are thus gained for renewal of
the contest. Already the bigoted Leglumlsts
Lave joined the Bonapartists, while the Lib
eTal Orleanists and the Conservative Repub-
leans wait for events as against the others.
The outlook today is rather in favor of a
constitutional monarchy instead Of "A Radical
republic ChambOrd evidently hesitates, and
be viii in the end abdicate in favor Of the
Count de Paris. Such at least are now the
hopes Of the Bourbons, the fears o! the Boz a.
paItists, the conviction of the Republicans.
How this end will be reached no one can say
rs to The exact process, but it will probably
COKE, and that speedily. .. {.