Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-02
The War and Its Aspects.

SNOW tHal they are prepared Tor It,
There is scarcely more adroit chapter
Of diplomacy in the annals of modern
history than that which Russia has
furnished during the past three, or. we
may say, six months. How far the
other Powers have been hoodwinked,
or how far they have dissimulated in
the hope Of some favorable turn of
events, are features of the question
which cannot Jet be clearly elucldated;
but, on looking back to the conclusion
of the armistice between Servia and
Turkey, we cannot fail to see that eve-
ry subsequent phase Of negotiation
has been suggested and dexterously
used by Russia, to make wal inevitable,
to delay it until the most convenient
season, and to secure to herself free
dom from interference. 1t is equally
evident that Turkey alone has compre-
hepded her design. Sine knew what
her prompt rejection of the plan pro-
posed by the conference at CONSTANT
nople in. olved, and from that day to
this her military preparations have been
characterized by uufagging energy.
1t is most likely that, knowing the
power of the intererts and passions a.
reused in her own population, no ether
course was left to her. We must not
deny her the virtue of heroic pride.
But what end shall be forecast for
this renewal of the old. inevitable
struggle between the past and present,
between Asia and Europe? If not the
last encounter of the two, it will have
much of the character of final one.
1t may not reverse the history of more
than four centuries ago, and present
to us Sultan Hamid falling, like Con-
stantine Palaologus, before the shat
tered walls OF Constantinople; but it
will at least decide the tenor of Mos.
lem law in Europe. The Turks them
selves feel this, with the true instinct
of an imaginative race; the common
soldier knows 1t as we'll as the Pasha
who commands his division. Russia
will find on the Danube wall of ia.
naticism no less than of fire and steel.
The recent successes In Servia, and
the recollections of 1853 and'54 will
contribute still further to inspire the
Turkish armies; they will fight fierce.
ly and stubbornIy, and it will require
courage and very skillful generalship
to break their line of defense. What
other resources Russia may have in
store, besides the direct advance
through Roumania and the correspond
ing one against Armenia, We do not
ye: know. If she is able to throw a
strong force on the Black Sea shore of
Turkey, in the neighborhood of Varna,
to operate in the rear Of the line of the
Danube, she might speedily open the
way for her armies into Bulgaria.
1t is not probable, however, that this
movement will be attempted at the
outset. We may rather expect fierce
battles in the neighborhood of Silistria,
Rutchuk snd Widin. and temporary
| check to the Russian advance.
Other interests wait in the back
| ground. Bosnia and Montenegro will
assuredly continue their warfare; !;
Greece is weighing the chances, and
will make use of good opportunity;
and Egypt, Tripoli and Tunis may
either assist for the sake of later profit
or find it better to shake off their irk.
some vassslage. Much depends upon
the amount of purely religious enthu-
sasm which the war may excite
throughout the Moslem world. The
Commander of the Faithful has rarely
been popular as secular lord, and it
will be question, from Carthage to
the Euphrates,. whether the Faith in
Europe or his political supremacy in
Africa and Asia is of the greater con-
sequence. These are features of the
conflict which will be developed as it
goes on. Our expectation of the re-
suits Of the war, briefly stated, is this:
that, after desperate resistance, Turk
ey will be forced to succumb; that
Russia will content herself with slice
of Armenia, new harbor on the south
ern shore of the Black Sea, and her
former European boundary. including
one mouth OF the Danube; that she
will lay no. hand On Constantinople.
stop short of any proceedings which
might provoke the armed Intervention
of other Powers, and leave Turkey
phantom existence in Europe for
few years longer. But the influences
which the war will set in motion are
incalcnlable, and 1t is possible that the
end may be very different from that
which we have prognosticated N. 7.
Tribune.
ACCOUNTS from various points in
Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Ne
braska, and Missouri are encouraging
with respect to the prospects for wheat
and corn. A vast amount of seeding
has been done within the past two or
three weeks, the farmers being moved
to extra efforts in order to offset. as
far as nossih1o tho ravooo, oftL.