The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-04-04
The War Cloud.

/ AhO uoA NiVuus
The news from Europe looks squally,
and the political barometer drops day
by day. The storm may blow over
out, if the two Powers prin-
cipally involved keep approach
ing each other at dangerous points OF
incidence much longer at the rate they
have moved for few days past, they
will find themselves where they can not
retreat, and "the guns will go off of
themselves" Reviewing the ground OF
the past fortnight, it will be remembered
that, after the official text of the Treaty
of San Stefano was received, the En-
glish Government demanded that every
article in that treaty should be placed
before the Congress in such manner
that it might be considered what arti-
cles required the acceptance of the sew
eral Powers, and what articles did not
Russia promptly replied that she would
only agree to a discussion by the Con-
gress of those portions of the Treaty di-
rectly affecting Europe, and, as is shown
by the diplomatic correspondence for
the first time, Austria refused to sup
port England's demand. Thereupon
Germany withheld the invitations to the
Congress, which was equivalent to an
abandonment of it altogether. In
this critical situation, the English Gov
eminent announced its intention to
call out the reserve, the proclamation
for which will be issued tomorrow.
Russia, regarding this as a hostile act,
addressed a note to the Porte demand
ing the dismissal of the British fleet
from the neighborhood of Constantine
pie. In accordance with the instruc-
tons of his Government, Mr.. Layard,
the English representative at Constan-
tinople, replied that the fleet would not
leave until the Russian forces had de-
parted from the vicinity of the city,
and this was followed by orders to the
Admiral commanding the Mediterra-
mean fleet to patrol the Dardanelles and
BOsphoruS, with or without Turkish
consent. Thus the situation stands
now. When the English feet enters the
Bosphorus, in violation of the treaty of
1886, the Russians may be expected to
seize and fOrtify Constantinople and
Gallipoli. What then? Either war or
an ignominious backdown by one of the
two Powers. That Russia, flushed with
victory, in occupation of the battle
ground, and never in such condition
for war rs now, should withdraw, would
seem to be one of the impossibilities.
England, notwithstanding all her pre-
parations and buster, may withdraw
without injury to her aU2ottr propre. In
u. 10 Sat-,
suit of the war hangs upon the action
of Austria more than upon any other
condition. So far as the impulses for
action are now known, there is no
probability that Austria will
engage in the war unless
her personal interests are violated. We
have already seen, by reference to the
diplomatic correspondence, which is
just coming to the light, that Austria re-
fused to support England's demand
with regard to the Congress. Although
she has voted war credit, and Igna-
tieff's mission is reported as being fail
ure, it does not follow that she will side
with England as against Russia and
provoke an European war, in which she
would be the worst sufferer, and expose
herself to disintegration Germany will,
if necessary, hold her off from an En-
giish alliance with a grip of iron. She
owes that much to Russia, who kept
Austria out of the field in the Franco
German war. -.
If there is to be war, it means war be-
tween Russia and England, in which
Russia would be fighting to secure the
results of the recent war, to which she
is entitled, and England would be fight
ing without u Continental ally for an in
definite idea Such war would be re
garGed in this country with extreme sat
isfaction. Remembering the moral aid
extended to us by Russia in our own
war, the Bear would have our best wish
es in his struggle with the Lion; and
Yankee blockade-runners are as sharp
and swift as the English.