The Lake Charles echo., 1877-01-11
RUMORS OF'UAR.
IT., g.r fj1g in EWroP"-A Rerie~ of the
Situation.


4josrpful reading Of the report Of the /
,,gr's speech at Moscow dos not show
decidedly warlike tone as the Eu-
.onean press perceive in it. It may be .
hat other information, not conveyed by |
..1ooraph, is in the possession Of those
nbo zee war imminent, but 50 far as the
subtle are instructed here, the new eIe-
roar+- in the problem are merely the
,ooocb sf Lord Beaconsfeld, the cars
connrer address to the people, and dis
oarcb in regard to the intentions of the
turkish government to the London Tele
crapb. Disraeli's speech certainly con-
roved threat and announced a di-
noratic position. But any Russian
.rqte-man knowing England knows that
neither of them may be supported by the
British nation, and both are probably
designed to influence the approaching
conference. 1t is true that before the
rrimean war the British ministry per-
nitred the people to drift into war, yet
rhpre was a long and gradual process of
naaming public opinion, 50 that when
var declared, the mass of the nation and
narliament were decidedly in favor Of it.
Under the old theory in regard to the
balance of power and the importance of
t'3ns,antinople, the British interests
seemed at the time on the side of Turkey
AMI strongly against Russia.
But now all this is changed. The
mb.:c opinion of England is almost uni
rersaIIy opposed to war. The idea that
Turkey must be upheld and Russia
c-ippled has passed away. In fact, since
me outbreak and the Bulgarian mas
sacyes, large numbers Ofpeople in Eng
land believe that Europe would be the
better, if Turkish rule in it were swept
utterly away. A war to support such a
tyranny. and to continue such Noham'
medan brutality over the istians,
mus. be intOIerable to great ma esOf the
British nation. The policy is still cher,
t,hed. indeed, of the importance Of
preventing Constantinople becoming
Russian. But even this is questioned by
bigh authorities, and it is perfectly cred
tble that opinien should yet changed OF
,na. question, up at least to the point O
arenitting Constantinople to become
free city, whose independence wa
guaranteed. Then it must be remem
oerei that in the event of Turkish defea
and prostration, Russia may accept mucI
.ess ,han the possession of the city OF tn
Ro~pborus, and may content herself will
the breaking down of the Turkish dom
nation in Europe.
Under almost any event, we look uPoI
the prospect of EngIand's carrying GU
Lord Beacons6elds threat as very faint
! rd that she is not likely to be draw
INTO this war, if war comes. The czal
L ti4 speech. does not claim more tina
Rus~jan diplomatists have claimed tror
the beginning, that. Turkey must Civ
>oe will cary out the reforms she prom
.~e>. This is clearly a necessity. In
Turkish government, after the Crlmea
Way. and on several occasions sine
promised on papers radical and swee pin
Internal reforms, and yet the people al
1he christian peasartry have been noI
ne better off, 1t is notorious that IL
pledges of the Turkish government 3
H.. ike the pledges of civilized COVER
m9N.s. The porte is unable to kee
:hem. The bigotry and fanaticism
che Mohammedans are so intense tn
the government cannot resist them. I
Z consequence occur the expressions
Bosnia, and the masSacres of Bulgari
It il obvious to all Europe, that if Il
"z&G desired merely to secure real pr
+ec.ion to the christians of Europe'
Turkey, he could only do so by tel
porary occupation of those districts
the European power behind the christla
% guard them.
When Disraeli lays down the conc
ZION of conference that the Turkish L
si:ory must be kept inviOlate, he clear
prevents, or seeks to prevent, nj
settlement. But though the claim
the car may not be in advance OF t
limit of Diplomacy thus far, his addr'