Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-03
THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1877
THE, GREAT WAR.

The long-tslked Of war between
Russia and Turkey is no longer sub
iect Of discuss or diplomacy. That
was ended by the Cars declaration
.: war issued on the 18th Of April
The orders Of his generalin. chief i'm
mediately followed and the heavy
battal;ons of the great Russian army
were at once on the advance. One
great column of fifty thousand soon
crossed the Preuth into Roumania.-
Another army took the direction of
Asia Minor by the eastern border OF
the Black Sea. Invoking the bless
,ngs of God upon our valiant armies,
says the Gear, 1--WE now give them the
order to cross the Turkish frontier. v
The Turk is not taken by SURPRISE
He also is reday, for while the diplo'
uatists were wasting their Intellectual
arguments to avert war, the two great
powers were untiringly at work IN
preparations tor the conflict. The
Turkish forces line the banks Of the
Danube calmly awaiting the approach
of the Russians, and the Sultan adj
dresses his troops in stirring words,
declaring that if need b. he will take
the field with the standard Of the
Prophet and lie at the head Of his
troops.
So the grand drama Of war opens
How long it will last, how it will end,
or what will be its results Zone can
ioresee. Its progress will be watched
with profound interest. 1t is a War
in earnest between two powerful
countries. The armies on each side
are of colossal magnitude. The world
may turn pale in horror over their
sanguinary conflicts. There is great
difference of opinion as to the causes
and objects Of the war. Most wars
are for territorial aggrandizement or
political power. In this case Russia
processes to be fighting in the interest
Of the oppressed christie population
Of Turk Key, who in the provinces Of
Bulgaria and other districts have suf-
tered loss Of property, cruel persecu-
lions, crushing taxes and atroclous
Massacres, at the hands Of their Ma
Aomedan rulers, to such an exte:.t
that the christian powers Of Europe
could no longer regard their situation
with indifference. They demonstrated
but Turkey turned deaf ear to all
Appeals for reform. Having failed to
secure any redress for existing griev-
ances or guarantees for the future by
diplomacy, Russia alone now announ-
ces her purpose to obtain by military
coercion what was refused to peaceful
negotiation. Turkey on the other
hand protests that she has given Rus
STA no cause for war. The other Eu-
1opean powers declare their intention
to preserve strict neutrality. The
quarrel therefore opens between Rus
STA and Turkey alone.
But while Russia ostensibly fights
for the down trodden christians Of
Turkey, it must not be forgotten that
the Crescent flag Of Turkey repre-
sents the vast hordes Of fanatics scat
tered through Europe and India who
acknowledge but lone God and ALA
as his Prophet" They may be sup
posed to be anxiously watching Rus
sias operation and ready to fight
tiercely for endangered Mahomeda-
niam. lfso the war will become re-
iigious war of fearful magnitude and
serocity. The Turks are really for
eignera in Europe and no nation on
the Continent can sympathize with
them. All Europe will unite to ex-
pei them. In that event the contest
may be waged for years but the o.
'onan Empire will be wiped out, the
navy Of the Gar will sail proudly
through the Dardanelles while his
flag float over Constantinople, and
the Emperors Of Russia and Germany
II ay at last have the continent of Eu-
rope to govern as they will.