, 1877-01-20

From The Massachusetts Plonman.


There seems to be less and less iope
OF any pacific result from the conference
of the powers in Europe as the time ap-
proaChes for their convention at Con.
stantinople. Russia protests to England
on her honor that she does not want Con.
stantinople, but there is not so much vir-
tue in that protest when it is considered
that the Black Sea is not exactly free to
her navy, and that Brsika Bay is exactly
in her path if it was. She merely makes
virtue of necessity. That Russia in
tends to occupy Bulgaria, if not Servia,
is more and more apparent: The thing
is, how to do it and not excite Europe.
Turkey will of course resist as long as
she can. Austria's course is yet to be
marked out, England has not seen fit to
protest, and Germany stands in an atti-
tude of indifference.
If Germany, in fact, were positively
opposed to this act OF aggression on the
pmt of Russia, nothing would he easier
than for her to make it significantly
known. Not a Russian soldier would
dare to cross the frontier of the Turkish
provinces if Germany was to forbid it.
Therefore the fact that she does not for
bid it. and that she scarcely seems to no
tice what is going on, is proof enough
to he almost conclusive that an under
standing exists between the Kaiser and
the Gar Germany is more than open
to the suspicion that she Is silently ald-
ing and abetting Russia's course. 1t is
reported that Queen Victoria has been
transmitting autograph letters to the
Emperor William, imploring BIN to ex-
ert his powerful influence against the
disturbance of the pence of Europe.
To which the Emperor could reply
whether he has indeed done so or not.
that at the time Germany and France
were engaged in deadly strife England
was guilty OF prolOnging the war and
increasing the bIoodsbed and waste OF
human lite by selling arms and mum
tinns to the French. But it is not at all
likely that he would allow himself to
answer Victoria in any such way. He
has probably palliated and protested,
while he is still held by a secret under
standing with the Gar. So that it is
tru rs the Queen assumes, that the EN-.
perOr Of Germany is really master Of the
situation. He can have peace or war, as
he will Russia wodld ut once call her
troops back from the border ii Germany
were to warn her that by pushing this
experiment she was mourning the Iatter's
displeasure.
AS for the other powers of Europe, in,
Guiding all the smaller ones, there is no
doubt whatever that their serious pret-
erence is for tranquility. The Emperor
ol Germany pays sort of respect to
this prevailing sentiment when he seeks
to m'ke his people quiet and unshspc-
iOus Of danger, lest their confidence
should be undermined and emigration
should forthwith set in. He wants in
dustry, trade, and national prosperity,
and he hopes to secure them all even il
Russia ergngrs in war wrn Turkey. In
the Crimean war OF twenty years ago,
Germany was not recknned power OF
any great consequence; s;nce then she
has become the most formidable power
in all Europe, and she can easily keep
RUSSIA and England apart while the tol-
mrr works its will on Turkey. 1t is II
problem entirely new in the affairs of the
continent.