The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-22


The War-Russia's Purposes.
The Emperor of Russia declares to the
world his intention to make EARNED inter-
vention" between the Ottoman government
and its Christian subjects, in order ito OBJ
tain such guarantees for his distressed fell
low believers on Turkish soil as appear alb
solutely necessary to their future well
fare" He does not contemplate con-
quest, he does not aspire to CONSTANT
nople, he does not propose to drive
the Moslem into Asia. He announces
simply the purpose to give effect to the
declarations that all Europe has made for
half century in regard to the people Of
Turkeys Christian provinces. and ne pro-
poses to occupy and hold the most impor-
tant of those provinces the one essential
guarantee that the people shall be really
protected, as all the Powers have declared
over and over again they should and must
be. It can hardly be necessary to point out
how wide is the difference between what is
thus proposed and what has always been
alleged were the real purposes of Russia
alleged, that is to say. by Powers I'M
friendly, if not inimical, to Russian do
minion in the East. Who is right? Has it
always been q calumny that Russia, in the
pretended endeavors to alleviate the bur-
dens Of an oppressed people, really
thought alone Of her own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT,
or does the Gear now put forth to
the world declaration that is merely
cover to other Intentions? Declarations
I'd teon ~ a bor ~
more to be depended upon as indications of
what will be done than party platforms, in
augural addresses and other pieces of that
sort of literature. II the results Of wars gen.
orally were compared with the intentions with
which they were begun abundant variance
would appear: and it may prove now that
the war will go ere it ends far beyond the
purpose disclosed. Yet not to accrodit the
Emperor with sincere intention to limit it
as he declares would be to accept the malig-
nant innuendoes of those whose present
policy it is to represent him as an arch dis
turber of the peace of Europe
Should the objects proposed be accom-
plshed and the war end at that point it
will, Of course, be strictly local conflict.
Not only will that bugbear of all the Cabi-
nets, n general war, be avoided, but
the Emperor of Russia will overcome
at once both the Turks and their
British allies-the first by hard fight
ing, of course, but the other morally
by the demon stration how much loftier and
purer were his aims than any that British
writer's or statesmen 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 literature
and the exceedingly we'll written Brit
ish newspapers have, for a generation,
teemed with declarations, somewhat dis
guised ct times. but oftener open and
coarse, Of Russias duplicity, mani
tested on all occasions, strikingly con-
trasted, of course, against Englands hon.
esty and love Of ''fair play" More than half
of Europe gets its news filtered out Of the
English press by the various news agencies
and by Continental newspapers, which use
the great London dailies as our own country
papers use the city journals. With the
news the opinion is disseminated, and
thus this constant operation Of national
hostility has made the English opinion 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 Emperor of Russia is as honest rs
other men seems to expose one to charge
of over-innoccnt credulity. Even former
Secretary Of State of this country dealt with
the Gear in diplomatic intercourse as if it
was to be assumed that His Majesty was
sort of crowned Artful Dodger. Yet it
would not be difficult to prove that
the Russian government has kept its en-
gagements very much like other govern
ments, and has been fully as honest as Eng
land herself Indeed, it might be shown
that the weakness Of the Gar has been Of
the contrary sort has been not duplcity
but nm over-blunt and cynical plainness in
the declaration of the purposes of the sort
that other governments commonly disguise
with fair pretexts.
We believe that the declaration made by
the Gar is simply o statement of the real
intention of his government. Only very
foolish ambition, only 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, we'll disciplined and well
equipped. which can be increased almost
indefinitely, the regular war footing being
one million eight hundred thousand
men, while the Ottoman Empire mus
tiers even on paper only force of six
hundred thousand, large part of which is
of no great value, though there is some fine
material in it. With such disparity Of
forces there can be no doubt of the issue OF
| tho CT rn nrla confined 70 these two PoWerS