The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-22
Plevna and Peace.
UNDINE.

PleVna and Peace.
Since the beginning of the cam
paign in Bulgaria no more important
news has come across the sea than
that of the fall of Plevna and the un
conditional surrender of the army
which has struggled so well and gal
lantly against the gradual advance of
of the Russians besiegers. Already
the great Powers of Europe are be-
ginning to speculate on what the end
will be, the English money market
and the French Bourse are in state
of feverish excitement, and the lead
ing journals of Great Britain are dis
cussing the terms on which peace
may be had and the share which that
country will have in the delibera
tiOns leading to this end. But even
although there are rumors afioat of a
proposed armistice, it is hardlyprob-
able that Russia will be contented
with the advantage she has gained,
or that Turkey, even with her finan-
cial exhaustion, will give up the con
test without fighting to the bitter
end. The objective point aimed at
by the Russians now will undoubted
ly be Adrlanople, but even if the
hosts of the Gar succeed in crossing
the Balkans and entering ROumelia
they will find difficult and hazard
Gus task before them. Adrianople
has been strongly fortified, and every
defence that military skill could
suggest has been brought to bear on
its protection. Its easy distance from
Constantinople would also enable a
strong force to be sent to it from that
city, and although its natural posi-
ton does not render it as imprcg-
nable as Plevna, still it is capable of
offering very determined resiS-
lance. During the campaign the APP
proaches to Constantinople have also
been materially strengthened, while
the city itself is strong from all quar-
tiers except the south. The Russians
have, however. gained some lessons
from the experience of the past few
months, and it is hardly likely that
they would repeat the blunders which
OSman Pasha took advantage of and
h inh hi i'm t, ,ftII
with his assailants until famine and
disease bought about his defeat.
The question now arises whether
Russia will be allowed to proceed, or
whether the other Powers will de
mand to be heard and suggest basis
on which peace can be obtained.
Through all the contest, England,
even although having strong pro
Turkish feeling in her midst, has re-
manned neutral, but now, when it is
evident that con cessions will be de-
manded, and that there may be a
parcelling out of territory, she is
anxious to share in the councils
which may shortly be held. But
now comes the rumor that Russia
will refuse to allow Great Britain to
take part in the expected negotia-
tions. This.is undoubtedly in re-
venge for the refusal of the latter
Power to join in the Berlin memo
randum, and although the announce
ment may cause some uueasiness, it
is hardly probable that the idea will
be carried out. england will assert,
as she has always done, her right to
protect her interests in the East, and
even if her rejection of the Berlin
note strengthened Turkey in her
resolve to go to war that act of hers
can hardly be used as pretext by
the three interested Powers in pre-
venting her now from taking part in
any peace deliberations. Russia
should not forget that she herself
broke through the treaty of Paris, so
far as related to the Black Sea clauses
in 1870, and she can hardly now con-
sistently retaliate upon England for
what could only be considered infer
entially as an act which gave a moral
support to belligerent Power. The
only thing to be looked to is the iso-
lation of England. The one source
to which she could look for assistance
would be France, and her condition
at present is such as almost to pre-
vent her from engaging in a war
with Germany, no matter how much
she might feel inclined to pay back
her old grudge against that Power.