The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-05-03

Should the objects proposed be ac-
complished ana the war end at that
point, it will, Of course, be strictly
local conflict. Not only viii that bug
bear of all the cabinets, general war,
be avoided, but the Emperor Of Russia
will overcome at once both the Turks
and their British allies-the first by
hard fighting, OF course, but the other
morally by the demonstration how
much loftier and purer were his aims
than any that British writers or states
men deemed possible for ruler in his
position. Nobody has had the ear OF
the world on this subject more effec
lively than England. All British liter
azure and the exceedingly well written
British newspapers have, for genera
ton, teemed with declarations, some
what disguised at times, but oftener
opeE and coarse, of Russia's duplicity,
manifested on all occasions, strikingly
lands honesty and love of flair play"
More than half Of Europe get, its news
filtered out Of the English press by the
varying news agencies and by CONT
mental newspapers, which use the great
London dailIes as our own country pa
peTs use the city journals. With the
news the opinion is disseminated, and
thus this constant operation of nation
al hostility has made the English opin-
ion with regard to Russian policy the
current opinion Of Europe. In this
country it is in some degree the same,
and to venture TO believe that the EN-
nf Rnaoia Ia hn,1auf nth her
men seems to expose one to charge
of over-innocent credulity. Even
former Secretary of State of this coun-
try dealt with the Gar in diplomatic
intercourse as if it was to be assumed
this his Majesty was a sort of crowned
artful dodger. Yet it would not be
difficult to prove that the Russian gov
eminent has kept its engagements very
much like other governments, and has
been fully as honest as England her
self. Indeed, it might be shown that
| the weakness of the Car has been of
the contrary sort has been not duplici-
ty, but an over-blunt and cynical plain
ness in the declaration of the purposes
of the sort that other go vernments
commonly disguise with t air pretexts.
We believe that the declaration made
by the Gar is simply statement of
the real intention of his government.
Only very foolish ambition, only a
greatly mistaken policy could lead him
away from the line of action therein
sketched. Within the limits of that
programme he has the guarantee of
Europe that he will have TO fight only
the forces of the Ottoman Empire. He
has an admirable army, well s;iplined
and well equipped, which can be in
creased almost indefinitely, the regular
war fcohng being 1900, 900 mep,
while the Ottoman Empire musters,
even on paper, only force of GOO, 900,
large part of which is of no great
value, though there is some fine ma
terial in it. With such Il disparity of
forces there can be no doubt of the Is
sue of the struggle confined TO these
two powers, as the struggle would be
so long as it sought only the objects
named in Russia's declaration. 1t
would, therefore, be folly. for Russia
to tempt great uncertainties by any
step beyond that policy IN pursuit of
the visionary schemes attributed to her.
That folly she will not commit.