The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-12

Turkeys response to the protocol seems
to make war inevitable. Some vague hope
il held out, it is true, that the answer may
not be SO absolute MS to prevent further en-
deayors to secure reconsideration by dip
lomatic pressure, and it appears also to be
thought in London that even if the answer
is to be regarded as an absolute rejection OF
the measures OF the protocol it may yet be
possible to induce the Sultan to withdraw
it and substitute one more in consonance
with the wishes of the Western Powers
England in this seems to grasp at straw.
| Sultans and Turkish statesmen act with the
obstinacy of their race on somewhat ira
tional views, perhaps, as to the Important
facts of their position, but certainly with
very intelligent conceptions OF what 1t is
they have to fear and how best to pro-
They have commonly been amcnable TO
English advice when England had armies
to send or was disposed to give financial
aid, for these were the conditions OF defence
from stronger armies. Now they are
menaced by great armies, and England
does not propose to take the field in their be-
half Their danger on the one hand is the
Russian, whom they seem to believe they can
whip, and on the other hand the fanatical
elements that give strength and activity to
the intrigues and revolts that are behind the
throne From this danger England cannot
save them; from the other she will not.
Why. then, should they heed what England
says? Why imperil the possession of
crown and the dearer possession of life?
Why put these in danger at the hands of the
Moslem zealots i'll order to give way and
make peace that is to be not SO much
their gain as England's? This seems to be
their reasoning, and we believe it will pre-
vent further negotiation.
In order to see why war appears to be
necessary consequence of the rejection OF
the protocol Mt Constantinople we must
contemplate this act in its relation to all
that has preceded it in the history of this
now extended negotiation. All the steps Of
this negotiation have been SO many en-
deavors to prevent the rupture of European
peace AS one step after another failed the
effort did not appear hopeless, because each
opened the way to some new attempt, and
thus the case was led on from month to
month. But the miscarriage of an endeavor
that leaves no step to be taken beyond it,
that shuts the door to further parley, is, of
course, the ultimate failure of the whole
effort, and war follows rs the consequence
that was from the first regarded as i'm
minent-nn event, the occurrence of which
was retarded by these many endeavors to
preserve the peace by diplomacy. Why
war between Russia and Turkey, and
the allies either might secure, suddenly be-
came imminent year ago is known to all
who have followed the reports in the papers,
but may be recalled now with advantage to
the general reader. In the European pos
sessions of the Ottoman Empire there are
five millions of Christians and four millions
of Mohammedans. This majority is gov
erned rs subject race in the interest of the
minority. All the laws and institutions are
based on prejudice against the greater part
of the population. But the operation of the
institutions and laws as sources of prejudice
against one division of the people, and as
instruments of oppression in the hands of
one section of the people to be welded
against the other section, are mild and
kindly compared to the operation of relig-
ious hatred and rancor that these laws do
not attempt to repress and could not
repress if they did attempt it.
In this relation of the parts of the popula-
ton to one another there is Of course con-
slant and ever menacing source of disturb
ance, not only to the quiet of the neighbor-
hood, but to the peace of Europe. Other
nations have taken notice of this and have
seen and recognized the necessity of some
provision to prevent the regular recurrence
of revolt at this point. Ameliorations in
the Mohammedan law in its application to
the Christian subject have been extorted
from Turkey by direct treaty, and in some
degree by the dissemination in the Empire
of Western ideas. Russia has been the con-
slant advocate of those reforms. No doubt
she had some interests of her own behind
England has been the constant supporter Of
the Moslems against all attempts to enforce
reform, and she as clearly has also had her
own interests to serve. This has been the
constant relation of the Powers for fifty
years. and was their relation when the trou-
bles broke out two years ago in Herze
govina. Then Russia and Austria and
Prussia endeavored to settle the relations
of the Sultan to his Christian subjects in a
manner favorable to the Christians. Eng
land stood in the way, and the effort failed.
Then followed the Bulgarian butcheries
and England saw her error. At that mo-
ment the invasion of Turkey by Russa-the
settlement of the case between Christian
and Turk by Russian arms--seemcd to
become only a question of time. War was
then imminent, and the British govern
mont, seeing the difficulties of their sus-
tainino the Turk in arms ininnd with tho