The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-07-19
BRITAIN IN ASIA.
The New Anglo-Turkish Alliance.

The European congress will be re-
garded in history as one OF the most
memorable gatherings in this century.
1t was not a long war whose results have
been scrutinized; 1t did not involve a
general European question, but was
fought upon local issue; and one OF the
cOmbatants was q secoud-class power,
and yet the aggregate of the results is
well nigh gigantic. It came near blot
ting out Turkey; has restored England
to her former position as great CONT
mental power; and has perfected an ALI
ance between the two which has over
reached Russia, and which must exer-
clse potent influence in the future upon
European politics.
It is evident now, says the Chicago
Tribune, that long before the treaty OF
San Stefano was concluded, Disraeli,
Salisbury and other English leaders,
contemplated the very results that are
now accomplished, and that, while they
were making such fuss over the pre-
liminary treaty between Russia and Tur-
key, they were contemplating a perma-
nent treaty between England and Tur.
key, which should give to the former the
suzerainty of the latter. Every move
ment that was made points in this direc-
ton. AS far as possible, the discon-
tented Christian populations have been
eliminated from Turkey in Europe, 30
that Russia in the future may not have
the pretext of Moslem intolerance
and persecution for again attacking
Turkey. They have compelled Turkey
to adopt better local administration of
government, because under such an adj
ministration taxation will yield more
revenue, and more revenue will guaran-
tee more interest on Turkeys large in
debtedness to England. They have
worked upon Turkish fears until the
Porte has become convinced that Russia
would devour the empire by piecemeal,
and at last completely absorb and assimi-
late it as she has the Circassians. The
moment that the Turks awoke to the rea-
lization of this danger was England's
opportunity, and she improved it by
making an alliance with them. There
was no other power that could make this
alliance. France, Italy. and Germany
have little practical interest in the East
ern question, and care nothing for SUI
premacy in Asia. They have no posses
sions there, and no interest in Eastern
Europe above the iron gates of the Dan
ube, where their river-commerce ends.
Austria has Interests, but she is neither
in military nor financial condition to
effect such an alliance, or, even if she
effected it, to use it for any valuable pur-
pose. England, on the other hand, is
strong both as financial and war power,
and, so long as she holds the purse and
the sword and commercial supremacy
on the seas, she can strike in every direc-
ton and hold this alliance in teyroTema
over Russia. She has, in fact, regained
her lost prestige, and come to the front
again as one of the strongest powers in
Europe. She can now defy Russia. Six
months ago she did not dare to do it
without consulting Austria.
The motive which has actuated En-
gland in making this alliance is not diff
cult to find. The Eastern question is
an abstruse problem and full of conn.,
plicated side issues, but the essence of 1T,
from the English standpoint, is the pro-
lection of India from some future Rus
sian invasion, for the natural growth of
Russia is toward India. She has al
ready stretched across the northern por-
ton of India to the Pacific. On the
northeast she is gravitating toward
China; on the southwest, down through
Khokand toward the Himalayas. With
Asiatic Turkey under her protection,
England will at all times threaten Rus
STA upon the flank. The alliance, there
fore, in the first place, is strong pro-
vision of security for India, and this Sc
curity will be still further strengthened
by her railroad systems now in contem-
piation, the most colossal of which will
be the road across the Syrian desert and
down the valley of the Euphrates to
the head of the Persian gulf, the first
step toward which has been taken il
the occupation of Cyprus. In the
second place, the alliance will strength
en- the loyalty of her Indian sub
jects and remove their discomfort
and restlessness. There are over
40, 100000 Mohammedans in India who
recognize the Sultan as the head o.
their church. When these Mohammedans
find that Victoria, Empress of India, il
in alliance with the Sultan, and has be-
come the protector of the Mohamedani
, of the mother country, the natural re
suit must be to make them more loya
I'd the EuBllSu CTOWu, anu reduy Az ALL
time to oppose the designs of Russia
the natural enemy of the Turk. In the
third place, England not only pacifei
her own Mohammedans and makes then
jealous partisans of hers In any foreign
war, but she secures an immense con
tingent to draw from. Making allow
, ances for the reductions of territory
made by the congress, there are still
100000 Turks left in Europe, while
Turkey in Asia has little over $1,000,
900, and in Africa nearly 1000, 900
making in all a population of abou
%. 900, 900, who will be active allies, ant
upon whom she can call in time o
trouble, besides the millions of native
in India who will rally with enthusiasm
3 to her support. With one stroke sh
has secured India against danger, ha
pacifed her Indian Mohammedan sub
jects, has placed almost insurmountabl
obstacles in the way of Russia, and ha
regained her lost prestige. Unless thi
alliance can be br' ken, England is in
position to influence European polite
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