Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-03
Causes of the Eastern War.

war and would ike TO see them Dfleny slateo III
our columns. In the New York Tribune we md
the following article, which presents in concise
form the facts desired:
II would be easy to follow the example OF some
Old historians and begin with the creation OF man
for the deepest base upon which all national an
tagonsms are built is the ancient difference oil
blood and faith But it is enough to say that
since the fall of the Eastern Empire. Russia,
whose sovereign assumes lis title Of Caesar (Czar(
has considered herself its legitimate heir. Through
her, the Greek Church lives and includes one
fourth of Christendom; and 1t is the creek
Church which has been called upon to endure the
barbarities and the iudignities heapcd upon 1t by
the triumph of Islam. Rus.a's sympathy with
the Christian subjects of Turkey is thus inevitable.
No doubt she has always sought to turn it to her
political advantage; but, if this were not possible,
the sympathy would none the less exist, for II Is
grounded in the deepest faith OF hei people. Ibe
Crimean War failed, because it was deliberately
forced apon Russia by the solitary will of the En-
peror Nicholas; the care of the holy places in
Palestine was too shallow a pretext, aroused no
nat ional feeling There was no response TO the
movement in the provinces of European Turkey
nothing which, as now, appeals to the common
Russian heart. Yet. when the war came to an
end, with results which caused its authors death
the whole people gradually learned the extent oi
| the national humiliation, and they have not yet
forgotten it.
The most popular proverb in Russia is: 81 sit
upon the shore and wait for the wind" Moth
pg could better express the slowness, the patience
the tenacity, which have always marked the poll
cy of the Government. When Russia seems to
forget, she remembers most keeny; when she
assumes an air Of indifference it is time for othe
nations to be on their guard. She accepted the
conditions Of the Treaty of Paris. in 1856. which
took away that corner oil her territory reaching
| down TO the Danube, and denied her naval force
| in the Black Sea but it was acceptance with q
slen determination to recoDquer, at the first ia
yorable moment. all she had lost. The war be-
tween Germany and France, in 1870, gave her the
first opportunity; she boldly announced her repu
diation of the Black Sea clause, and began to
struct her vessels of war The other powers were
then in no condition to interfere, aud the protest
| of Turkey evoked no answer. Meanwhile the
insane folly and seltishness of Sultan Abdel-Azz
we're rapidly bankrupting the Ottoman treasury,
disorganzing the civil government and corrupt
| ing the people. There are able statesmen among
the Turks; but if any Of them recognized the
necessity of retaining the good Will OF the other
parties 10 the treaty OF Paris, by measures OF
economy, reform, justice and material develop.
ment, he was poweiless 10 stay tue maIcn toward
| ruin.
The first little spark, which has grown into a
flame that may possibly involve all Europe in
conhagration, was kindled in the Slavonc prov
ince of Herzegovina, on the western border of
Turkey, between Bosnia and Montenegro. The
Christian peasants rose in rebellion against the
Moslem land owners, Of their own race, in June,
1875, and the disturbance which ensued soon ex-
tended into Bosnia. The people of Montenegro
and Servia sympaihlzed keeny with the desper-
ate resistance of their Christian brethren 10 OPP
pressions which the latter declared to be intoer-
able. Much secret aid was undoubtedly sent into
| the Herzegovina and Bosnia, as the rebellion
| could not otherwise have been so prolonged; but
Montenegro aud Servia remained neutral, and
Russia entered into an agreement with Germany
| and Austria, to secure peace On the Both Of De-
cember, Count Aadrassy, speaking both for Aus
tra and her two allies, issued a"Note' of the re-
forms which the Ottoman Government should APP
ply TO the rebeilious provinces. Even England
acceded, though not conformity, to the demands Of
this note, which was, IN substance, accepted by
the Porte. But nothing more was heard Of 1t !;
the terms of the reforms were not promulgated,
the rebellion continued, and by the spring OF 1875
| the insurgents were so encouraged by their sue
| cess that they increased their demands. During
all this time, Il fanatical spirit which has been
spreading throughout the East for several years
pasta revival of the old, militant Moslem faith,
| was on the increase among the Turks; the OF
| toman Government either WAS unable to control
! il, or was blind to the new element of danger
which it introduced into the situation.
| BY the end of April, 1876, it was very evident
that the excited feeling Of the Servians and Mont
enegrins, who were inspired by the gallant resist
ance Of the Bosplans, might force their reigning
princes to join in the struggle. On the 9th Of
| May the murder Of the French ard German Con-
| suls at Salonica, by a faDalical Turkish mob,
aroused Europe TO the necessity of action. Five
days afterwards Prince GortchakoH and Count
Andrassy met Plnce Bismarck at Berlin, and
agreed upon what Is called the "Berlin Memoran-
dun" IL repeated the demands OF the Andrassy
Note but added, that, as the latter bad been ac-
cepted by the Porte, its provisions must be Instant
ly carried in effect, with satisfactory guarantees,
failing which, ii pi opposed that the Powers should
take such efhcacious measures as might be de-
manded." 1t also stipulated for an immediate
armistice of two months, in order that the initial
reforms should be carried into effect. France and
| Italy were willing to accept the Berlin Nj, moran
dunn, but England refused As the measure re-
CURED the concurrence of the Christian Powers
| of Europe, it was thus thwarted-and the Tory
party Of England exulted over Lord Derby's dip
| iomatic triumph But this was actually the one
golden opportunity, when an efficient interven-
llon was possible-when all immediate troubles
might have been adjusted, and the faal Eastern
war (Which is among the inevitable thlngs) pest
poned for q number of years.
In less than q month after the failure of the
Berlin Memorandum. Bulgaria was the lheater of
the most shocking barbarities, the Sultan was de-
posed and dead, and Servia and Montenegro had
decided to declare war against Turkey. The
atrocities perpetrstcd by the Turks s.lenced for
time all considerations of political interest, aud
psrslyze the efforts of diplomacy to stay the
spread of war Russia, thwarted by England, no
longer hestated TO give secret aid and encourage
ment to Servia and Montenegro; England was in
no position to interfere, while halt her population
was holding indignant mass meetings and sending
help to the Bulgarians; and the other nations
were content to wait the result of the Turk ish
| campaign against Servia, which assured Russia s
neutrality for time. The events of last summer 3
war will still be fresh in the memories of our
| readers. We need only to remind them that Ser
Was defeat evident by the end of Au-
gust, at which time armstice was pro-
posed by England Turkey accepted suspen-
sion of hostilites, which lasted until the I'd of
October, when the war was resumed. The inter-
mediate month had been spent, to no purpose, 10
negotiations between Russia, England, Turkey,
and the other Powers, in regard to a basis OF
peace.
The delay brought no success to the Servan
arms. War on one side and diplomatic cores
pondeDce on the other continued until the 3lst of
October, when Alexina'z fell, and new suspen.
sion Of hostilities, followed by armistce OF two
months, was brought about.
BY this time all the Powers had agreed upon
the plan of conference at Constantinople. The
representatives of Russia, England, France, Ger.
many Austria and Italy in that CITY early in