The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-06-14
THE EUROPEAN CRISIS.


lpCI discussed DeiP llc pIcS'iiI hldtc VI |
Europe. The long residence of Mr..
Boxer abroad, his intimate familiarity |
with the leading statesmen of the old |
world, his acquaintance with the causes
which result in the diplomatic moves on
the European chess board and his recent
presence in the theater 50 soon to he the
scene Of the most yortentous events all
combine TO render his views deeply in
teresting at the present time. That
Europe is on the verge Of struggle, the
most terrific in history, is, in brief, the
conclusion to which one is forced after
hearing critical surveyor the situation.
In reponse to the writer's request for
his opinion as to the probable duration
Of the war as it at present exists Mr..
Boxer said: :" do not think it will last
long, Russia will carry everything be.
fore her, providing Turkey does not find
an ally or allies. have the opinion of
a distinguished officer in the Turkish
service as to that. lie says that the
Turkish forces are in no condition to re-
sist the advance OF an army directed in
accordance with the scientific principles
OF modern warfare, and that if unassisted
by any other nation Turkey willlind the
Russian army in Constantnople within
SiN weeks,
The officer to whom Mr. Boxer re
rcrred, whose name is not given for
obvious reasons, has Il world wide rcpu
taton, and his views on the subject are
those of an authority whose reliability
cannot be gan.aid Mr., Boxers opin-
ions, given in the conversation which
followed, justify the following remarks
on the present struggle: The aim OF
Russia was primarily the ameloratlon OF
the condition of the Christians under the
rule Of the sublime porte. This was the
object Of the war at the beginning what
will be the ultimate end remains for the
future to disclose. But as to Russia &C
Complshing her ambition Of becoming
permanent mistress of Constantnople,
that il another question. To this neither
Austria nor Germany would submit, Tor
the reason that it practically closes the
free navigation Of the Danube to the
outer world. Without the freedom of
the Bosphorus and the DardanelIes the
commerce of the Danube is closed eX-
cept to the Black sea. It's however,
not improbable that mutual under
standing has been arrived at between
Russia and Germany, and this surmlse Is
confirmed by certain events which trans,
pired before the Russian declaration OF
war The German chancellor has never
given up the idea of crushing France.
| mn, Gal nt
French nation after the peace OF Nersall-
les, TIE rapid reorganization of the army
and the certainty that the struggle would
be renewed at some future day-all
these have been taken into consideration
at Berlin. Germany to-day is one vast
camp; it is stronger than ever before
and better fitted for war but this has
been accomplished at the cost of pros
perity. While France is growing ricA
Germany is becoming poor by reason OF
the vast armies, the expense of which is
draining the wealth Of the nation to its
drcgs. This sort Of thing cannot 20 on
forever, and the German chancellor sees
this AS plainly as anybody else. The
army is there for an object, and that OBJ
icct is to so thoroughly crush France
that all ideas OF revenge by " lie grand
nation" will be completely out of the
question for generation or two. Ger
many could not carry out this plan had
Russia been at peace, for the Emperor
Alexander, when, the subject was
preached to him, would not hear of it..
And it is Il fact that but for his hrmness
and decision the Germans would have
declared war long ago. Hence, in order
to cnectuaIly dispose of Russia, Ger
many was obliged to wait until that
power became involved with Turkey, and
to effect this the German ambassador
spared no pains in urging upon the kus-
slams the fact that Germany would not
interfere with any programme the car
would undertake to carry out But so
thoroughly was the reason for this un-
derstood at the Russian court, that when
on one occasion the German ambassador
was speaking to the emperor on the sub
ject, his emperial majesty turned his
back and refused to hear any more. But
another most important iactor-two 9th
ers, indccd--must be taken into consid-
Grafton.
The readers OF the Press have been
made familiar with the excitement and
alarm which prevailed in England, 1t is
urged by the liberals that the conserva-
tive government are permitting the couh.
try to repeat ia experience under Palm
erston, "to drift to war" The latter
phrase, which is SO familiar to everybody
who is at all acquainted with English
politics, exactly expresses England's dan
ger 1t is well known to all newspaper
readers that Englands aversion to Russia
arises from the real or fancied dangers t.
which Muscovite success inTurkcy would
expose British India. But il isn0t known
except to those in possession OF dlplo
matte secrets, that on n former occasion
when Russia contemplated an attack or
Turkey, the government OF the car II
order to quiet the approximations OF the
British cabinet, suggested that if Eng
, land felt any doubts as to Russia's sin
cerity in declaring that she had no sin
, lister designs in India, the British coulc
take possession of Egypt, thereby secur
ing to themselves the much coveted alb
solute control of the Suez canal.
, need scarcely be said that it this arrange
mcnt has not been carried into effect i
has not been forgotten by British states
men, and that they will not be slow Il
act upon it should occasion seem to jus
: tifythem. Now that Russia does threaten
British communication with India, AM
thus, as the English believe, imperil thei
interests, England cannot long remain al
impassive spectator. 1t is, no doubt
this uncertainty as to the action of thu
latter power which prevents German,
acting at once against France. For, il
order to preserve the balance OF power il
Europe, England and Austria could No
consistently stand by and see France