The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-22
RUSSIAN POLICY,

IDe great oriental war now raging
around the borders of the Black Sea
has not, thus far, proved SO eyentlul as
was anticipated when first the Gar and
the Sultan summoned their SUBJECTS to
arms. Then it seemed as though the
conflict would be sudden and sanguina-
ry. But, whatever MAY have been the
purpose at the beginning, the progress
of the war has been slow and the action
sluggish. Granting that great obstacles
were to be surmounted and physical i'm
lediments to be overcome, peculiar to
tho country and incident to the mar
Shaling OF all great armies in readiness
for the field, still the delays are obvt-
ously unaccounted for by such consid-
Crations.
Various theories have been pro-
founded as accounting for this tardi-
less of ofmovement, especially on the part
Russia. Some have suggested that
lle Car withholds the impending blow,
oping to exhaust Turkeys fnan-
cial resources and declmating
her armies by sickness and
desertion before moving upon
ler territory and .menacing her Capita.
Others have presumed that Russia was
Aesltating by reason of her dread OF COM
llieatious with the Powers of Western
Europe, especially with England, whose
attitude has been threatening and her
utterances bellicose.
But more recently we have learned
that the Gear, through his diplt m i,
representatives, has submitted to
Europe formal assurances disclaiming
any design to seiza either Constantine
pie or the Suez Canal. His statements
have been positive to the effect that he
considers both of those matters as pecu-
liariy appertaining TO the supervision OF
Europe, whose interests in that behalf
Ae does not propose to interrupt.
Inasmuch as these we're presumed to
be the focal points OF Russian ambition,
ner disclaimer OF bo Ii has put Europe
and America on the qui UiUe to ascertain
what are precisely the objects sought to
be obtained by the prosecution of this
stupendous war on the part OF Russia,
Russian diplomacy has always been
enigmatical. Her proiestations have
always been distrusted; and never more
dstrusted than when she has spoken
the plain blunt truth. But to those who,
from any cause, have had attention di-
rected in special manner to Russian
growth and development as an imperial
power, there have been made manifest
certain fundamental principles under
lying Russian policy, that give
direction to Russian procedure in
great national movement, such as
now threatens the Turks. This policy
has been summarized under the general
title Of Panslavism. Its central idea is,
the gathering together of all the various
members of the vast family OF the Slavi,
descendants OF the Scythian tribes once
overspreading all OF Northern and
Western Asia, numbering now abou,
one hundred and twenty-five millions
under the shadow Of that great Pansla.
vistic throne, whose incumbent is both
the Prince and the Pontiff OF, his people
among whom he is known as the greal
"White CZlr."
The prosecution OF this dynastic poll
cy of the Russian Empire involves more
than the mere assembling together o.
the Slavic tribes within Russian do
minions as now defined. 1t implies con
quest and annexation. The essentia
purpose OF Panslavism is, not 80 mucf
that the Slavi shall come from every
where to Russia, as that Russia shall
60 everywhere to the Slavi
Wberesoeysr ths slayic families