River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-05-10
Russo-TuRK1sH WAR.

between Russia and Turkey. lt is diff
ficult within the compass of single
article to make full statement of
differences which reach back over
four centuries of time, and which en-
body such complex and far-reaching
Influences. In the eleventh century
the christian church was divided into
| two branches, viz, the Greek and
Latin. The Latin church made Rome
its capital, and claimed supremacy
throughout the world. The Greek
church which had Constantinople for
its capital, disputed this claim. Here
commenced the irrepressible conflict.
In the time of the crusade the animos-
tiles of the two churches were so
great that on two occasions the cru
saders turned aside from their course
and took and plundered Constantinople.
This was an expression of the resent
ment of the Latins as against the
Greeks. With the development of the
Russian power the Greek religion be-
came the religion of the Empire, and
Russia became the exponent and de-
fender Of the Greek faith.
l453 Mohammed ii captured Con-
stantinople and destroyed the Byzan-
tine Empire. Russia then became
even more directly than before the
leader and protector of the Greek
faith. She has therefore held from
the date last mentioned that she had
certain claims on Constantinople-as
being the ancient seat of her religious
faith, from which her co-religionlsts
had been driven out. This is the ba-
sis of her claim to Constantinople.
1t dates back to 1853, and rests upon
the fact that that city was the early
capital of her religious faith. This
will also account for the interest the
Roman church has always taken in
the Turks. The Greek-or Russian
church-is her hereditary enemy, and
between the two there has never been
more than the semblance oF compro-
mise. On the other hand the Roman
church has favored the Turk probably
more than anything else because of
her resentment to the Greek or Rus
sian church. Resentments have thus
been kept alive for ages.
Russia has ever made the oppressed
people of kindred faith the subject of
her sympathy and aid, and has been
more than any other power the pro-
tector of the oppressed Christian prin-
CAPABILITIES of Europe. Thus she con-
quered at an early date Moldavia and
Wallachia, and compelled Turkey to
make concessions to the Christian peo-
pie under her control. So, too, the
war of 1929 grew out of her aid to
Greeks in their struggle for liberty a
few years before. According to King
| lake the Crimean war in 1858 origi-
mated in quarrel between the Greek
and Latin churches about the guardian
ship OF the Holy Sephulchre at Jerusa'
lem. Turkey sustained the Roman
church. and France and England sus-
tanned Turkey. Out of this war came
| the treaty of Paris, which prevented
Russia from having fleet in the
Black Sea and required the dismant-
ling of Russian fortresses on the Black
Sea. When the Franco Prussian war
occurred Russia availed herself of the
weakness of France and disregarded
the Treaty of Paris by putting fleet
| in the Black Sea, and restoring her
Notifications. From that moment she
has been preparing for war. The
first rupture which has grown into
this great quarrel occurred in the
province of Herzegovina Gu the west
ern border of Turkey. In JGne, 1875,
some christian peasants rebelled
against their AIoslem land holders.
! The disturbance soon extended into
Servia, and was kept alive for a long
time by secret aid. Russia professed
to remain neutral, but evidently
sympathized with, and aided these CO.
religionist. The causes of the war
therefore may be briefly stated as fol-
lows:
LIST, an enmity between the two ma
lions reaching far back into their ear
ly history.
2nd, desire ON the part of Russia
to have revenge for humiliations and
defeats hitherto sustained. The
Treaty of Paris was CALLING affront
to Russia. 1t compelled her to relin-
quish the defense of her own waters
and territory, and forgo some of her
most cherished projects.
Sd, Russia wishes to protect her fell
low christians of the Greek faith.
The Greek christians, it is said, COM
prise nearly two-thirds of the popula-
tion of European Turkey. Toward these
the Turks have for long time been
pursuing a course of inhuman oppres-
sion.
4th, Russia really desires temporal
conquest. Though it would be impo-
lite for her to avow this. yet careful
study of her plans and movements
readily disclose this fact. The inhu-
manity of the Turks furnish her an
excellent subterfuge for enlarging her
donlinions. andstrengthening her pow
er as government.
We regard the conflict as quite sure
to involve one of the most terrible
struggles ever seen in Europe. 1t is
not improbable that it may yet in
clude in the list of combatants Eng
land. Germany, Austria, and, perhaps,