The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-05-09
The Cause Of the War.
THE ANCIENT FEUD BETWEEN RUSSIA
AND TURKEY-RUsslA's SEVERAL (
CoNQUESTs OF THE OTTO
MAN EMPIRE.

Politically, Russia has always been
the friend and ally of every patton ops
posed to the Turks. She has been in
sympathy with the rebels in every
revolutionary orinsurrectionary move
ment in Turkey, because the ipsurrec
tl"nsts were Christians of the Greek
Church. She early conquered Molda-
via and Mallachia, and compelled Tur-
Key to grant concessions to the Chris
tians OF other northern provinces. The
war OF le2S-9 grew out Of her interfer-
ence in behalf of the Greeks in their
struggle for liberty few years before.
She undertook this war, however, uu-
der pledges to Great Britain and
France that it should not be a war of
conquest.
If Russia absorbs Turkish territory.
gaining absolute Control of Black Sea
and valuable ports on the Medterra-
mean, the commercial interests of the
Western nations would suffer, and on
this ground the Turk was better :than
the Russian. Russia made peace when
she had virtually conquered Turkey,
and this was Gin the interests of Rus
STA" Russia was content with treaty
s;ipulations looking to the protection
of the Christians. -Ha.
kinglake contends that the Origin Of
the Crimean wsr in 1923 was Il quarrel
between the Greek and Latin Churches
as to privileges at Jerusalem. Turkey.
Influenced by Lonis Napoleon, favored
the Roman Church. and the complica-
tons led to irritation and the irritation
to war. Russia, taking up the old
/ quarrel of the Greek Church, and
claiming that existing treaties had
been violated, invaded Turkey.
Great Britain and France formed an
alliance with.Turkey and Russia was
compelled to make peace on their
terms.
While Russia made war in the name
! Of prosecuted Christians, England and
France made war not so mach in the
interest of the Turk as in the interest
of Western Europe. Their scheme in
the event of the dismembcrmen of
Turkey, was to form an independent
n ton of the Christian provinces of
Turkey, and thus remove the cause Of
Russian irritation. Russian Influence
was met on its own ground and coun-
teracted. The result of the defeat of
Russia at Sevastopol was the treaty of
Paris, in which the Eastern question
WAS taken ont OF her hands and com
mitted to the great powers of Europe.
AN troubles as to the Christians in
Turkey were to be considered in com
mon, and no one nation was tn &C. Ia
depeudent'y except under given cir
cnmstancrs. The Black Sea vas
opened to the fleets Of all nations, but
no war vessels "! Russia or Turkey
we're to be allowed in it's waters.
Russia was TO disarm, aud ts:n tn.tif
cations Oh tie Black Sea coast we're to
De dismantled. The Christine provin-
ces of WalachiH and MoidAvja, living
between Austria and Turkey. were
formed into the independent principal
i ty of Ronmaiiia, and placed under the
gnat tl;anship Of Europe.
II 1870 when France was raweriess
and England embarrassed, Russia re-
cciiea from certain provisions of the
treaty OF Paris ard placed war fleet
on ,the Black Sea. She began the
work of putting her army on Il war
footing, and under various pretenses
made ready for the coming struggle.
The Herzegovinian insnrrection of
two years ago was a rebellion Of the
Christians of that province against
Turkish Taxation and persecution.
Servia was drawn into the conflict.
And as Servia was q creation of the
treaty of Paris (made semi-indepen-
dent under the rule of native princes
and placed under the protection of the
European powers, although tributary
to Turkey, all Europe became Incl
dentaliy Interested European inter-
ference compelled truce, and nego-
tiations were commenced to looking to
permanent peace. Russia secretly as
sisted Servia in the struggle against
Turkey and demanded that the great
powers should interfere in behalf of
the Christians of the northern provin-
ces. Certain reforms were demanded
and these met the approval of Eng
land, France, Germany and Austria.
Turkey adopted new constitution
and announced her intention to carry
oct reforms herself. Russia held that
this was mere promise, and demand
ed that certain plans should be Iol-
lowed. Turkey rejected all plans and
denied the right of any power to inter.
tere. Russia proposed sthe protocol
published some days since, suggesting
a basis of peace. The great powers
signed this, but Turkey rejected it,
denied the right of Europe to manage
the Eastern question or to dictate any