The Hillsborough recorder., 1877-08-29
THE VAR IN EUROPE.


Various have been the expressions Of
opinions upon the mishpps Of the Russians
on the South side Of the Balkans and after
their defeat before the lines Of pleyua and
the crowds Of posthumous prophets were
prompt in their clainor of Il told you so. .
that the Turks were sure to conquer in the
end. The sympa,hies ofthe Southern mind
are strongly with the invaded empire, be-
cause there is parraellism between that in
vasion and the one that dcsolatcd our soil
and Russia is not remembered with much
partiality by US, because, as the chief Eu-
ropean representative Of despotic power,
SHE was somewhat too lavish in her interest
for the representative Of what claimed to be.
ryr excellence che government the farthest
removed from despotism. For our own part.
we have aimed 1t an evenly ba alanced judg-
rnent for while no admirers Of Russia, sg.
gressiye in her despotism, and looking al
WAYS around for fresh victims to her tyrran-
ny, we could not be drawn to Turkey, ag-
grieyed as she might be. and selected for
invasion and conquest for supposed weak.
ness, because Turkey added to the terrors
Of administrative despot,sm. the fercer fires
OF religious persecution. She deserved the
fate she seemed to have invited because the
plainest dictates Of political economy might
have taught her the good policy Of striving
to make homogeneous the varied elements OF
her empire and to embrace them all in
the same parental solicitude. whether they
we're moslems or christians. She has elect
ed to wage war upon her own subjects. and
70 mark out for pillags, oppression and mas
sacra, the race ard tho faith which care Of
their interests might have made her strong
est bulwarks.
We rather exulted that tho Muscovite
had crossed the danube, and burst the bar
rier Of the Balkans. We gloried at the
prospect that tie Sultan was trembling in
bis Seraglio. and making -eady for aigh,
across theiBorplorus. We did not believe
that the Russian would have made IN easy
and undisturbed bed for himself. even II
Roumelia lay at his feet 7; because, then the
other European powers would have come
forward to define tho limits and the tenure
Of conquest.
The withdrawal Of the Russians back to
the North side Of the Balkans. the defsat at
Plevna. the decentralization Of the Russians.
their besitancy, their want Of concert in nc
tion. their bad sanitary condition; and the
activity Of the Turks. their good general
ship. their magnificent fighting. their bold
ness in improving their advantages. all
seemed to Indicate turn Of fortune and q
fearful reversal Of positions; the invader
driven back across The Danube 70 renew the
neIs year the same perilous adventure.
From our telegrsphic reports, it would
appear that tho fortunes Of Russia are not so
dark As they seemed. nor that Turkey has
maeh more to boast Of than spasmodic &C.
tion and ephemeral success. WHAT'S now
going on will decide the campaign Of this
year.
In the mean time we look for that out
spoken and imperative dictatiOn which
Christian Europe must unitedly give 70
Turkey in reference 70 the fearful massa-
cres Of Christians which she ebforCcs as a
part Of her military policy. Tha. must be
beard and obeyed, or Turkey will bo left to
ber fate.