The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-05-17
WHAT LED TO THE WAR.
Turkey and Russia-H lst0ry OIL
the Eastern Question.
A Chapter that viii Assist to a
Proper Understanding OF
Current Foreign In
telligeDce.
Chicago Iuter-ocean

CHICAGO, Apit 10 10 e. '.'
Editor OF tie Inter o, can: such .
us as have net tne time 1T ou. com
mand TO fully read up and keel
pace with the causes and history o
the seemingly impending var il
Europe, as the news appears from
day to day in the Inter- Ocean
would still like to be made ac
auainted with the clay of the land.
In other words, would like "a short
and plain account Of the causes
which will produce war, and what
Russia wants and what Turkey
wants, and why it would draw il
other European powers. Not one
laboring or busy man in three in
this country knew the causes and
results of the late Franco-German
war Can't the Inter-Ocean set us
all right in regard to this war, that
we may intelligently watch its pro-
gress, and greatly oblige
THOUSANDS?
The causes of trouble between
Russia and Turkey are remote. and
the many complications leading to
existing difficulties cannot be easily
understood without n close study of
the political history of modern
Europe. Primarily Of a religious
nature, what is now generalized as
the Eastern question, gradually be-
came a political problem involving
the existence of some nations, and
the success or defeat of distinctive
national politics.
The Christian Church was for
many centuries n united body, with
power centering at Rome. When
Constantine made Constantinople
the Capital of the new Roman EN-
pire the Bishop of the new Capital
became the rival of the Roman Pom
tiff, and aspired to exclusive domin-
ION over the entire church. This
led to n bitter quarrel, and finally
to separation between the East and
the West-between the Greeks and
Latins. Constantinople remained
the actual Capital of the Roman
Empire and head of the Eastern or
Greek Church, while Rome was the
head Of the Latin or Roman CaUho-
lie Church.
The western portion of the en-
pire was overrun by the northern
barbarians, and several kingdoms
were founded on the ruins. Charlie
mango united these in one empire,
of which France was the head, with
recognition of Rome as the head OF
the Western Church. All this time
the Eastern or Greek Empire had
been in existence, with CONSTANT
nople as the head of the church and
the seat of government. The West
was hostile to the East, and church
and national policies were shaped
on this basis The crusaders of the
West even went SO far as to turn
aside from their attempt To recover
Jerusalem from the Turks to cap
Lure and pillage Constantinople, the
capital OF the Christians Oi the East !
This blow was n serious one, and
from it dates the decline of the
Eastern or Greek Empire. The en-
pre- and the church went down with
the capture of Constantinople by
the Turks in 1853 The Turkish
policy was TO trample out TIL reli
gion of the East as well as the po
litical spirit, and centuries of cruel |
struggle ensued. The Christians o.
the northern sections found friend !
in young Russia. That nation
adopted from the first the Greek |
faith and worship, and became its
champion. The struggling nations
of the East turned naturally to her,
and she rose rapidly in power. She
inherited the quarrel with the Cath
Ollie powers of the West, and all her
people hated the Turk. Her natu-
raj policy was rclentlessly aggres
sive. Her aim was to reposscss
the countries of the Eastern EN-
pire. and, above all, to recapture
Constantinoplc. That city was to
the Russian the holy city, and, in
rounding out the boundaries of his |
empire, he, in the earlier stages of |
the struggle, never lost sight of the
purpose to regain the old capital.
This policy, entering into a national
policy, became threatening to West |
ern Europe, and, as the Government
of Russia schemed for commercial |
as well as political ascendency, the !
commercial nations of the West
shaped their policy TO oppose any
such consummauon. This feeling |
catered into all alliances and com. |
binations, and the West, being
strong politically and commercially,
has prevailed. The West drove
the Turk from her every state or
OF nation, but she has resisted every
attempt OF the East to drive the
same people from her old empire
This Is one phase of the case.
Politically, Russia has always
been the friend and ally of every |
nation opposed to the Turk. She
has been in sympathy with the reb.
els in every revolutionary or insur-
rectionary movement in Turkey.
because the in ,urrectiunists were
Christians OF tue Greek Church
She early conquered Moldavia ana