Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-02-04
PEACE.

The fall OF Plevna was like the break
ing of dam. 1t let loose upon Turkey
a torrent so irresistible that to attempt
to stay it would have been madness.
The flag of the Gar was hardly fixed
upon the ramparts of the historic for
tress before his victorious veterans were
hurled through the passes, and, indeed,
over the very tops of the Balkans and
sent laundering down the valleys tow
ards Adrionople. The Turkish power
of resistance was gone, and the Ottoman
chiefs made no attempt to stay the ad-
vancing and avenging host. To escape
from it and reach Constantinople before
it, was their only hope and even this
was barren one. One after another
the fragments of their splendid army
have been overtaken and destroyed. For
tress after fortress has been surrendered,
town after town has been abandoned,
until less than 10000 men of those,
who, few months ago, faunted the
banner of the Prophet upon the banks
of the Danube, remain to defend it.
These, by abandoning their supplies and
suffering incredible hardships, have es-
capped and reached point where they
can be protected by Turkish gun-boats.
Their companions are dead or prisoners.
Everywhere in Europe and in Asia the
flag of the Turks has gone down in de-
feat. Of their strong towns worth de-
Tending, Constantinople alone remains,
and about this the legions of the Czal
are daily gathering.
Under these circumstances there was
evidently but one thing for Turkey II
do, and that was, to make peace by &C
cepting any terms which her victorious
enemy might impose. Prussia would
not help her. Austria either could no
or would not, and as for England, tn
Turk has learned by sad experience hov
: fatal is her advice, and how ruinous i
her support. At the last moment tn
British ministry has decided to send
feet to protect British interests by pre-
tecting ConstantinOple and Gallipol
= but it was too late The Russians ha
L reached point where they neither re
l. spected nor feared the British Lion, an
e the Turk naturally cared little for Brit
ish interests. For these reasons it
prOpduIy ruv, 40 r0PvrVOu, va
: Turkish commissioners have, withou
o consulting England or anybody else, az
G cepted the rigorous terms of Russia, an
; that peace will be declared in a fe
L days. The terms are stated to be these
u The autonomy for Bulgaria similar I
that of Lebanon. Turkey to nominal
Christian governor of the province fl
a long term of years, whose appointmel
must be sanctioned by European power
|, Bulgaria to acquire some territory sout
), of the Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegov
IL ma to be assured of protection and r.
! forms and have Christian governors. S
- curity to be given for better governmel
l. of other Turkish provinces. The ind
D. pendence of Roumania and Servia, to
S. independent without compensation
$ Montenegro to acquire Antivari, Nicsi
- and Spuz, and portion of the shore
10 Lake Scutari. The cession of part
Dr. Bessarabia and of Batoum, Kars, al
te Erzeroum. with the adjacent territor
m to Russia. Indemnity to Russia for Il
m expenses of the war is to be paid
money, territory or otherwise. II
~ question of the Dardanelles is to be I
O. served for the consideration of the Eur
Sc pean powers.
v The money indemnity to be paid
lie Turkey is stated to be 2O,OOO,OC
id pounds.
We The acceptance of these cenditio
in leaves Turkey little more than a pro
or ince of Russia. As great nation s
K disappears from the map of the world.
i'd Later news indicates that the ter,
We of peace have not yet been signed, a
nd possibly have not been agreed upC
ed Austria is bristling up little, and t
ls- English Lion is beating his sides wi
ch his excited tail, and the end may be
ne the future.