The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-02
War in Europe.

Turkey has commenced. In the
first fight which took place at rehu-
rukson few days ago, the Turks
won the victory. The indications
are that Russia will put forth her
best efforts. and that she intends
absorbing the entire Turkish terri
tory in Europe and a large slice Of
that in Asia, we have no doubt
She is ambitious Of attaining com
mercial supremacy, and to do this
must be able to command a route
to southern Asia. Possessed of this
advantage ana Of the Amour river
in Siberian Asia, she will be able to
control the trade of China and
Japan, as we'll as of the Indies, and
will be in a position to dictate terms
to the rest of the world. Turkey
alone stands in the way of her
speedy ownership OF a route across
southern Asia to the Indian ocean,
and if permitted to overthrow that
power, she may intrench herself up
on its territory and bid defiance to
the nations of western Europe.
We believe that the Russian gov
eminent had this purpose in view
prior to the recent Franco German
was, and that she Quietly contributed
to stirring up that strife with a view
to weakening those nations and in
capacitating them from successful
interference with her plans. And,
by the way, circumstances which
transpired twenty odd years ago, are
susceptible Of credible explanation
on no other ground than that Rus
sia's most ardent aspiration Was
commercial pre-eminence. All Of
her movements from that time for
ward have seemed to be directed
towards the contamination of this
single object. She has exhibited
jealousy towards all other nations,
on every occasion Of their CONNER
cial advancement, and has quietly
cndeavored to thwart undertakings
calculated to lead to such results.
We have not now at hand the data
upon which this opinion is based,
and dare not trust to memory for a
recital of them, but are confident
that the discussion of this war will
bring them to the surface, and that
the world will soon be convinced
that Russla's motive in assailing the
Ottoman empire is simply to secure
her own political aggrandizement.
Whether she will be permitted to
carry out her purpose is exceedingly
doubtful. England is more deeply
interested in preventing the success
Of her schemes than the other ma
tlons of Europe, for the reason that
such success must be followed BY
che decline Of England's CONNER
cial Importance; but we doubt
whether England alone will dare to
enter the lists as antagonist against
Russia. Austria is next most inter-
ested, for not only are her CONNER
cial interests threatened, but the in
tegrity of her empire is jeopardized
but she cannot Oxford to move sim
gle-handed against this gigantic pow
er. France is still suffering the con-
sequences of her conflict with Prus-
:sia and is too much an object of
suspicion of that power to allow of
her taking the initiative in opposing
Russia; and Prussia is, perhaps, re-
strained from doing SO by apprehen-
sions of the revengeful sentiments
of France. Spain and Italy have
internal dissensions to contend with,
which will deter them from assum-
ing advance positions in thwarting
Russia. Again, Russia has artfully
contrived, by practising upon the
religious sentiments of western Eu-
rome. to give the war a RELIGIOUS