The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-28
TnE MUSCONITE DREAM.
Nrr.tiuE toustautinopIr from the TurL TO
rrr-cut q Go Eurupv--Russia's rlestiai
Ambition.

Wrc.tIuE IoustautiuerIr from the TurL to
frr-rut % 60 Eurupv--tiussia's triesIiui
Ambition.
Asst Petersburg cable dispatch 81 the
New York H.rH'5 is as follows Your
correspondent had uu interview recently
with u prominent Russian diplomat,
whose name. Tor certain cuErut reasons, l
am not at liberty to disclose Ii Will ho
seen that the Ea-s.-u official makes
some startling assertions
Upon my asking whether Russlas in-
tyntous were really as dslu,,rrstcd us
she had announced IN her several cIrcu-
lar Notes addressed % the powers of
Europe. Was told that RUSSIA intended
a. redeem hrr pledge as far as the az
crtuditem,ut ot territory went. hut that.
should she prove victorious, there WAS
no reason to duuh, that she would insist
upon the independence Of the different
tributary S.utcs-name.y bulgaria,
Herzegovina, RHumuu.a. SrrNIa and
Bosnia. and she would guarantee these
PROVINCES their Independence, no matter
against what power. In other words,
she would form defensive and offensive
alliance with these liberated territories.
Upon nay asking Wht Their CONSTANT
uaplc. I'M the event uf Russia gaining
decisive victories, would be occupied by
Russia. | was informed that long before
an army could hc brought iu front Of the
walls OF CausAutiuople peace wuuli be
made The terms ut peace, beside those
spoken oi above. would perhaps include
the surrender, uu the part of Turkey. of
a portion ul her fleet, ana. above all, the
cousummatiln ut treaty placing the
city of Coustantnuple under the JOINT
control of all the foreign powers. Up 20
tins time "a cosmopolitan city has been
frequently talked oi and several theories
been brought forward for rs government,
bat it has never been practically tried.
On Cun,tautiunVle, then, II my lufur-
mAut Is correctly advised, the first nj
tempt will hr made, The city viii proha-
bly, be rGrr,s1utd 10y troops of neutral
power, while it's virtual government viii
lee invested IN u Legislative and executive
body of men composed ut different ma
tlonahIles, and, perhaps, q tax or tribute
viii be paid - the Ottoman empire. The
plan IN itself is feasible aud one which
has often been spoken ot without having
seriously been advocated Should the
attempt o. make C1ustAuuuople cosmo-
politu city, ami, consequently, free
port. succeed, the advantages accEulug
to all uAt.ous would br immense.
England would bc the greatest gamer
hv il hence there is little danger that
she Will oppose thc scheme. England
need newer fear. continued my informant.
that Russia VIII ever attempt % .cupar-
,lzr her trade IN luIlu Hor ever Try 20
deprive her of ORG inch %! hcr Indian terri
tory i; would hc. in the first place,
absolutely impossible To send q sufficient
force uf men to defeat the English
troops. aided, us they would v, 10y the
natives. Hannibal may hnyv' crussei
the Alps, but certainly uu Russian gem
cral with has army viii ever cr'ss the
Hima,ava mountains. And even could
tins difficult undertaking be accom-
phshel and India conquered, the force
which would have % be employed %
keep that country in suhjugltiou would
he SO cnormuu, that i. would more
than cuuuteract the benefits derived
from its acquisition, especially as the
MusCoyIte government is not iAygrahly
looked upon by the Mohammriau pupu-
latou.
No. Russia has no intention Of aiyauc-
ing into India. Her ambition is % be-
come the master and Posscssnr OF % part
OF the Celestial empire. Toward tA.s
end all her iuruais into Asia are de
rectod. China. with all lis resources as
vet untouched, with it, peaceful bui in
dustuous population, with It's mineral re-
sources, with It's highly appreciated
manufactures, all these ufyr FAR more
temptation q Russia than the almost
exhausted Indla. And how easy o.; ac-
cess 10 Russia With IurEostan rs her
yassal ur tributary state she can Trans
port her troops q whatever part oi the
frontier oi the Chinese empire may bc
most advantageous, ugduopowcrcn pre-
vent her from helping herself e. as much
territory as nhe desires. With CuustAu-
tiuople free o- national port, and
China iu;crsec'ed by railroads, RUSSIA
NAV control q vast amount ui commerce.
Il Is trIe chat there is large papu-
lation oi MohammcLans in China that
the country is so thickly populated that
1t can put into the field an almost uu-
limited amy, but it must be taken into
consideration that the Chinese are not
warlikc people that they are very poor
" armed and have no leaders or pener-
ais. All of these facts wcr" demon
stratei in 1850 IN the war OF Formusa,
and still later in the Corran campaign.
Nor would il bo the interest Of
England to oppose Russian advance into
China, for naturally great amount of
trade would find it, WAY to her Indian
scaports, and though Russia may Toe
more dangerous ucighbor than China,
still she would certainly prove herself
more profitable one.
In my opinion, therefore, Russia in
making war upon Turkey, has a two
fold object. First. by her aIvauce into
Asia tp gain the right Of way and pas
sage TO China. ard second, 10y her opera
tions in Europe TO obtain the freedom Of
the Pansavonic States and make Con
stantinople free and cosmopolitan port
She thus rcdeems her word in not ag-
grandizing herself, but at the same
time paves the way toward securing i'm
mense benefit. For in China everything
can be found that is needed in Europe,
and her teas. wool. rice and cotton, not
to speak Of her minerals, can be cx-
ported in such large quantities and in
such an easy manner 10y railroads, that
i will reyolutionize the commerce Of the
world.
do not think that this war will be Of
very long duration. Turkey has already
recognized her own weakness, and as
soon rs Russia has concentrated suf1i-
cient troops on the Danube to he sure OF
success in an advance ! have no doubt
that after one or two decisive victories
peace will bc made on the basis
which ! have already mentioned. Tur-
key has been too dilutory in attacking
RUSSIA on the northern side Of tho
Danube before sufficient force could
have been collected. II is now too late,
and the final result may be safely autic-
patcd.
General Custer and His Officers.
1t has been. definitely determined to