The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-10
wnshlngton Cor. Of New York Herald.

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conspicuous at that time,
Mr.. peixotto resided for over five years
as our representative in Roumania at the
court of Prince Charles Of Hohenzollem-
Sgmaringen, where he acquired an inti-
mate and thorough knowledge of the
Eastern question. He happens to be in
Washington just now. He was waited
upon by your correspondent, when the
facts were cleaned which appear in the
following interview
Perhaps few men, especially Ameri-
cans, are better qualified to speak upon
the subject of the terrible war now burst
ing upon the shores of the morning
land" ofthe East. During his residence
in Europe Mr.. PeiXotto was thrown in
contact with many Of the leading states
men of Russia, Turkey Austria, Germany
France and England, and his keen pow
ers of observation enabled him to ana
lyze the ever shifting, but never absent
"policy" which has inspired, actuated,
and controlled the minds of monarchs
and ministers since the fatal battle of
Sadowa in the summer Of 1866, which
lost Austria her proud place in the South
ern German Confederation, and as Mr..
Peixotto says, virtually changed the
map of Europe"
Correspondence called to ask your
opinion of the war in Europe; the mean
ing, rather, of Russia's declaration ofwar
against Turkey?
Mr.. Peixotto-It means conquest.
From the first to the last Russia has new.
er had but one object in view. Since Sc
bastopol she has brooded over this, until
frenzied with her own brilliant achieve
meuts since that day, which have pene-
trated the Caucasus, gone beyond the
Caspian, conquered the Khiva and Buk-
hara with their silk and cotton, she now
believes the moment rife to seize the
idol of her ambition and make Constan-
tinople the mistress of the Eastern world.
Correspondent-Bu she disclaims all
such inteations. 1t is holy war for the
long suffering Christians of Turkey for
whom she draws the sword
Mr.. Peixotto-Don't be deceived.
Leave sentiment to women or fanatics.
Meet the real issues honestly, Let there
be no Disguise. Who has invoked the
bloody intercession of the Gar the Sui
tan's subjects! No. Neither the Rou-
manian Servian Bulgarian nor the Bos-
nian, Herzegovinan-not one of all the
divers races making up the population of
the Ottoman Empire.
Corresl ondent-But these races are
kindred in relation, and desire a change
of masters.
Mr.. Peixotto-Only apparently in re-
ligion; in point of fact they regard the
Gar as q schismatic, and as to preferring |
his rule to that of the Sultan's, believe |
me, that is the widest of chimeras.
Correspondent-Why do you say that?
Mr. Peixotto-Because the sway of
the Sultan over his subjects is humane
and mild compared with that of Russia
over hers.
Correspondent-How do you make
that out?
Mr. P-ixotto-No Chmstitn or Jew in
all Turk. IS compelled to be a soldier
and fight the battles Of the Sultan. In
Russia every man, nay, every STRIPPING
must be and is moulded to be an iustru.
ment of death, sacrifcial lamb upon the
altar of unhalowed lust and o'erleaping
ambition.
Correspondent-Ar not the Rouman-
ians with Russia in this struggle?
Mr.. Peixottn-Beyond few ambitious
mobiles, no. The advance of the Russian
hosts is the death knell of Roumanias
hopes Of autonomy. The 100000 peo-
pie of that principality ceased to exist
yesterday as a separate state and nation
ality if the banners of the Czar are plant
edon the Bosphorous.
Correspondent-What facilities does
Roumania afford?
Mr.. Peixotto-As base of operations
for the Gar, the best. Railways and tel
egraphs permeate the country The soil
is light and productive. Owing to the
non demand for expectation for more
than two years, the corn and wheat ac-
cumulated is very large. If Russia could
pay gold her coming would he a god.
send to the poverty stricken peasantry.
But she cannot The circulation of her
gold and silver has for four years been
abolished by Roumanian law; but even
this coin she has nOtgot to pay with, and I
her paper money will not be worth more
than forty cents on the dollar if that,
before the war is sixty days old 1t is
simply worthless to the peasant to day,
dS Llb ueICLduL Will uUJ Idh6 lJs |
Correspondent-Where will be the
scene of war?
Mr.. Peixotto-The Balkan and Carpa. !
THAN mountains-the two chains enclo.
sing Bulgaria and Roumania-form
grand ampitheatre, where successive
hordes of barbarians first appeared upon
the stage of Europe to open the ever
changing scenes in her history. 1t was
on the plains of the Lower Danube that
the legons of Cyrus melted away like
snow before the arrows of the SCythians;
there Alexander the Great fought the
barbarians of the north; there millions
Of men perished in the early wars of the
Christians and the Turks; and on that
terrain, in the oracular language of the
great Napoleon, "the destiny Of Europe
is yet to be determined"
Correspondeut--Wil Russia have anv {
trouble crossing the Danube?
Mr.. Peixotto-Not half as much as an ;
ticipated by the newspapers. inspect
ed last summer the fortresses from Bel
grade and Widin to T1ltscha and Sulina y
None were formidable then, 1 may truly
say in May last of no account, except
from their natural position. If these
have been put in perfect condition dur
ing the winter, they could be rendered
impregnable. But l doubt if this has
been doue, and even ifso there are hun
dred landings for the Russian troops;
Roumania has nearly four hundred miles
bordering on the Danube. But if the
Muscoyites effect crossing they have
yet the Balkans before them, and these
the Turks can and will defend to the last
man.
Correspondent You think the Turks {
will fight well?
Mr.. Peixotto-With desperation and ;
confidence. Never before were they
more terribly in earnest to defend their
homes and fresides. 1t win be the most
terrible war Of the century. Russia de-
pends upon the uprising of the Bulgari-