Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
NafrlInan &c 0unrmL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1877.



Although events of the deepest interes
are occurring in the east of Europe, sup
pose it may be taken for granted that tn,
attention of America is almost exclusivel,
occupied with home affairs Interesting a,
is the news which arrives daily of th,
struggle going on between the Turks anc
Christians in Serbia and Montenegro,
must confess that the somewhat scanty in
formation about American affairs conveyed
by the English papers is vastly more wei
come to me. In few days, however, the
Centennial Exhibition, which according tc
European accounts has been so credtable to
America, will be brought to an end, and the
battle for the Presidency will be fought and
won, and then attention will be willingly
directed to the Eastern Question. The
struggle on the battlefield in the east of
Europe, and in diplomacy, both in the East
and West, involves the moral and material
well-being of many millions of men. The
Christian population of Turkey, after en-
during Mohammedan bondage for five nun
dred years, have risen up against their op-
pressors, and are fighting for just position
amongst nations, and for those civil and re-
ligious rights which make life endurable.
The war of diplomacy may be considered as
carried on between Russia on one side and
England on the other, in which Russia, up
to the present time, has much the better of
the argument. Turkey, though nominaly
principal power in the negotiation, is in
reality but puppet moved by England.
The other great powers are grouped as fol
lows Germany which says very little, has
without doubt, perfect understanding with
Russia. Italy sides with Russia. France
hopes for an alliance with Russia some day.
and treats England as she was treated by
England in 1870, that is, leaves her to her
own devices. England is isolated as com
pletely in the Turkish question as France
was in 1870 during the war with Germany.
Austria, or the Austro-Ilungarian monarchy,
as now named, is, of course, deeply interested
in the fate of the Turkish empire. She and
Russia will work together for the time being.
though the Hungarian part of the monarchy
is more favorable to the Turks than to the
Slavonic Christians of Turkey, who are now
up in arms against the ntolerable tyranny
of the Sultan's government. So we find, as
above stated, that four great powers either
observe friendly neutrality toward Russia,
or are in league with her for the purpose of
settling at least portion of the sick mans
estate.
The controversy is therefore between
Russia and England. Let us see what the
question at issue is. For this purpose it is
necessary to take into consideration the con-
dition of Russia, England and Turkey
England is a country which presents the
most complete embodiment of selfshness
now existing. The English people itself is
kept well in hand by an organized and pow
erful aristocracy, well aided by the richest
OF the monied classes. 1t is quite evident
that it is a life and death question for these
people to have place, power, and opportunity
of making profit out of as much of the world
as they can subject to their influence. India
gives places to great number of the civil
and military dgnitaries of England, and very
great profit to English manufacturers and
merchants. They think, for some reason or
other, or at least they affect to think, that
their position in India would be endangered
if the Turks should be deprived of their UNI
just and atrocious tyranny over the Chris
tians of Eastern Europe. Coupled with
this is the desire to oppose Russia in every
case and limit her power if possible. Eng
land has now undertaken, or rather is con-
tinuing that which she has long since un-
dertaken, to defend Mohammedanism in de-
fiance of the interest of civilization and
humanity, for the purpose of opposing
Russia, which she looks on as a competitor.
She thinks it is her interest to do so, and il
England thinks that her interest is fur
thered by keeping any number Of millions of
men in the most degrading slavery, she is
ever ready to keep them there, if she can, by
aiding and abetting their tyrants. Russia
is already very great power and England
fears her in the East, though there is no
need of doing so if England will only act in
favor of the Christians of Eastern Europe,
or speaking more correctly, will abstain from
aiding their oppressors, the Turks.
Mr. Gladstone, the late Prime Minister of
England, has written pamphlet comment
ing on the fearful massacres of last spring
in Bulgaria, and recommending a change in
English policy. A great impression was
made at first and number of indignation
meetings were held throughout England.
1t was thought for a time that the govern
ment would be forced to take more hu-
name and just couise, but after few weeks
the excitement died away and at present
England seems as determined as ever to
stick to her old policy, that Christians must
be slaves if England thinks she can gain
anything by it. We saw during the rebel
lion in the United States what English phil
anthropy was worth. During more than
generation of men, the English press and
the English people reviled, abused, and ridi-
culed us on account Of negro slavery, exist
ing in certain states of the Union. Every
writer, from Thomas Moore and Dickens
down to the feeblest penny-a-liner, was only
too willing to use his best efforts in herald
ing TO MS and to the world the shame and
disgrace of American slavery. English
ladies read Uncle Toms Cabin" with
tears in their eyes. In society the aversion
to slavery found universal expression. All
this seemed very well and sincere. What
do we find when pretended English philan
thropy and adherence of slavery was brought
face to face with supposed English inter
ests We find that government and very
large majority of the nation were on the
side of the states defending slavery. The
Vice-President of the new confederacy de-
clared that its cornerstone was slavery, and
England with an indecent haste recognized
the so-called confederacy as a belligerent
power, without waiting for the arrival of
Mr.. Adams, the American minister, who
was then on his way to London. The Presi-
dent of the United States, Mr.. Lincoln, is
sued the famous Emancipation Proclama-
tion. In the face of these two facts, which
stated the whole case so far as regards sla-
very, the ladies Of England who had wept
over Uncle Toms Cabin oroanizad faira