The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-24
THE RUssO.TURKIsH WAR.


rope, and Turkey, whicR ranks ouiy as u i
third OF fourth power, are now engaged
in o war, the extent Of which It is very
dimcuit To define 1t present. Tho wa7 /
reshlts from the antagonism Of race, 80.
l!gion and political interests. The os.
tensible pretezt on the parto of Bussis for
the declaration Of war against Turkay,is Is
the deliverance Of the Christian subjects
of Turkey from the oppression and hor-
rible prosecutions Of the latter power.
The Greek Church is the established re-
ligion in Russia, and the Mahommedan
in Turkey. A large u,ajprity Of the
people of most of the Turkish provinces
in Europe are of the Christian persua-
sion, and thess are dePsssed os ell polit-
ical rights, and subjected to the domina-
ton of the Mahommedau power, the
outrages and cruelty Of which have for
centuries shocked not only the Christian
bat the clvilired world. The barbarour
ferocity of the Turks could not have con.
inued so long in enlightened Europe If
ii ilad not been for the Influence OF po.
litical considerations which the leading
powers Of Europe have been unable to
settle to their mutual satisfaction. The
sympathies Of Europe are with the OPP
pressed, outraged and suffering Chrlstians
in the Turkish provinces, and yet 80
controlling are the conflicting political
interests of the leading nations, that in
1854 che two great Christian powers of
Europo-Englaud ard France--the one
Catholic and the other Protestant, united
with Turkey against Russia TO perpetuate
in European Turkey the barbarous power
and religious ostracism of the Moslem,
and thus has been presented the glaring
Inconsistency of Christian nations ap-
pealing to the sword 20 sustain the Ma
hommedan power. With nations, how
ever, religious subjects are always Of
secondary consideration, and made. SUBJ
servient to those Of political nature.
This hes been cmphatically the case liz
the course which tho European powers
have pursued towards Turkey. The
leading powers are jealous Of each other,
and opposed to the territorial aggrandize-
ment of any one OF them. CONSTANT.
nople is the objective point TO which
Russia has looked since the time Of Peter
the Great, and she will not be satisfied un.
til it is obtained. So important is 1t to
Russia, to afford her maritime outlet to
the Atlantic Ocean, that without it, not
withstanding her great extent of terrific.
~ and formidable armies, her navy and
marine must remain relatively inconsid-
erable.
The interests of England in the Medi-
terranean, in Africa and in Asia induce
her to oppose any of the great powers
obtaining possession OF Constantinople.
To prevent this England united with
France in 1854 to assist Turkey in the
Crimean War, and is now preparing to
involve all Europe in war sooner than
permit Russia to take and hold it. Italy,
Austria, Germany and Russia each wants
portions of Turkey, but they cannot agree
among themselves as to its partition, and
the other powers OF EaaTops are utterly
opposed to ony one Of them having any
part Of It. What Is to be done With
Turkey comprises in o nut,ahen what 70
implied by the Eastern Question." For
more than century the statesmen of
Earope have grappled with it, without
being able t. solve it, and the teznporesy
arrangements made for guaranteeing Ii
Independence were intended to avert =
general European war. which II WA
universally feared would follow any per
manent settlement Of tho question which
could possibly ho made. It cannot bs
supposed for o moment that Europe, by
those treaty stipulations which guaran-
teed the integrity Of the Ottoman terrific
~, intended to Eoist permanently upon
Europe, ABia and Affies che Mahomme.
dan religion and government. These
treaty siipulations were mere temporary
axpedients to NEE. threatening exigen-
cies, fsaught with moro immediate dan
ger to the general good than Mahomme-
dan impoaition aud domination.
These treaty stipulations ara now. at an
end, and the nations of Europe must
meet the question:, face TO face, "What
shall be done with Turkey7' % Russia, If
left alone, will conquer Turkey; but the
present indications are that she will not
be left alone, that alliances will be formed
by each Of the opposing poweis, and that
the Mahommedan power, which was cs-
tablished by the sword, uill perish by
she sword, having drenched all Europe
in blood.
PRESIDENT HAYES AS An ORATOR.
The annual banquet of the Chamber.
of Commerce of New York was celebra-
ted on the 10th inat., and President Hayes