The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-03
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, MAY 3, 1877.
THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR.
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

| The formal declaration of war by Russia
against Turkey was promulgated on the
Oath. The following is the full text OF the
Cars order to the army to advance
| Our faithful and beloved subjects know
| the strong interest we have constantly fell
in the destinies Of the oppressed Christian
population in Turkey. Our desire to anne
| liorate and assure their lot has been shared
by the whole Russian nation, which now
shows itself ready to bear fresh sacrifices to
alleviate the position of the Christians in the
Balkan Peninsula.
The blood and property of our faithful
| subjects have always been dear to us, and
our whole reign attests our constant solicit
| tude to preserve Russia the benefit of peace.
This solicitude never failed to actuate us
during the deplorable events which occurred
in Herzegovina, Bosnia, and Bulgaria. Our
object before all was to effect amelioration
| in the position Of the Christians in the East
by means of pacific negotiations, and, in
concert with the great European powers,
Il
made incessant efforts to induce the Porte
to effect such reforms as would protect the
Christians in Bosnia, herzegovina, and Bull
garia from the arbitrary measures of local
authorities. The accomplishment of these
reforms was absolutely stipulated by ante
| rior engagements contracted by the Porte
| toward the whole of Europe.
Our efforts, supported by diplomatic rep
reservations made in common with the 9th
er Governments, have not, however, attain
ed their object. The Porte has remained
mistaken in its formal refusal of any effec-
tive guarantee for the security of its Chris
tian subjects, and has rejected the conclu-
sions of the Constantinople Conference.
Wishing to essay every possible means Of
| Cancellation in order to persuade the Porte,
we proposed to the other Cabinets to draw
up special protocol comprising the most
essential conditions of the Constantinople
Conference, and to invite the Turkish Gov
eminent 20 adhere to this international act,
which states the extreme limits of our peace
full demands. But our expectation was not
fulfilled. The Porte did not defer to this
unanimous wish Of Christian Europe, and
did not adhere to the conclusions of the pro-
tocol.
Having exhausted pacific efforts, we are
compelled by the naughty obstinacy of the
Porte to proceed to more decisive acts, feel
ing that our equity and our own dignity en-
join it. By her refusal Turkey places us I'M
der the necessity OF having recourse to arms.
Profoundly convinced of the justice Of our
cause, and humbly committing ourselves to
the grace and help of the Most High, we
make known to our faithful subjects that the
moment, fereseen when we pronounced
words to which all Russia responded with
complete unanimity, has now arrived. We
expressed the intention to act independent
ly when we deemed it necessary, and when
Russia's honor should demand it. In now
invoking the blessing of God upon our va
liant armies we give them the order to cross
the Turkish frontier. ALEXANDER.
'Given at Kscheneff this the 18th day of
April, (old style,) in the year of grace,
reign" New style April 24.]
CIRCULAR TO FOREIGN POWERS.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 24.-The follow.
ing is the text of Prince Gortschakoff's cir
cular:
The Imperial Cabinet has, since the COM
mencement of the Eastern crisis, exhausted
all means in its power in order to bring
about, with the cooperation of the great
pow rs, the lasting pacifcation of Turkey.
All the proposals made to the Porte, in cor
sequence of the understanding between the
powers, have, however, met with insur-
mountable resistance. The London proto-
col was the last expression of the united
will of Europe. The Imperial Cabinet had,
In signing it, offered its hand as last at
tempt at Cancellation. By its declaration
accompanying the protocol it had marked
out the conditions which, if loyalty accepted
and carried out by the Porte, were calcula-
ted to bring abouc the re-establishment and
strengthening OF peace. The Porte has an
swered by fresh refusal. This eventuality
was not provided for in the protocol. Eu-
rope had confined itself to STIMULATING that
the great powers, if they were disappointed
in their hopes of seeing the Porte carry out
the reforms energetically, reserved the right
to point out in common the means which
they should think proper to secure the well
fare of the populations and the interests of
general peace. Thus the European Cabi-
nets had foreseen the contingency that the
Porte would not fulfill its promises. but noe
that it would reject the demands of Europe.
At the same time Lord Derby's declaration
had established that, since her Britannia
Majesty's Government only consented to
give its signature to the protocol in the in
terests of general peace, it was 70 be under
stood from the outset that in the event OF
this object, namely, mutual disarmament
and peace between Russia and Turkey, not
being obtained, the protocol should be re-
garded as null and void. The Porte's rejec-
ton of the protocol, and the motive upon
which it is based leave no hope that the
Porte will accede to the wishes and counsels
Of Europe. They exclude every guarantee
for the execution of reforms, and render
peace with Montenegro and the execution of
the conditions by which disarmament and
pacification could be brought about, impos
sible. Under these circumstances the sue
cess of any attempt at compromise is exclu-
ded, and there remains only the alternative
to allow that state OF things to continue
which the powers declared incompatible
with their interests and those of Europe, or
to try by coercive measures to obtain that
which the unanimous efforts Of the powers
failed to obtain by means of an understand
ing. My exhalted master has resolved to
undertake that which he had invited the
great powers to do in common with him.
His Majesty has ordered his armies to cross
the frontier of Turkey. You will bring this
resolution to the cognizance OF the Govern
ment to which you are accredited. In full
filling the duty which is imposed upon him
by the interests Of Russia, whose peaceful
development is impeded by constant trou-
bles in the East, his Majesty is convinced
that he, at the same time, responds to the
views of Europe GORTSCHAKOFF.