Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-11-07
The Berlin Treaty.

As the weeks and months 90 by,
the flimsy, patchwork character of
the formerly. mach Landed Berlin
treaty becomes more and more clearly
revealed. If coming events develop
themselves logically from existing
conditions and indications, this treaty,
instead of preserving the peace of
Europe and settling the boundaries Of
adjoining and conflicting nations, will
only serve as the occasion or pretext
for future wars, involving wider issues
and more numerous and DESPERATE
combatants than the one just closed
1t hardly seems possible that the half
dozen nations, more or less interested
in securing rights and privileges un-
der the provisions of this treaty, can
emerge from present complications
without further fighting. And when
once this international estate" is
smashed, and all existing obligations
and contracts declared ssoff," there
will in all human probability be such
a scramble for the remnants of the
now partially-devoured Turkey as the
Eastern world has never yet seen.
Russia's blood is up and her hand
in, and only waits for a convenient
season to pitch in again and finish the
work which was stopped by the inter-
ference of England Austria. Hun
gary is so provoked by the persistent
stupidity of the Porte as hardly to be
able to maintain peaceful diplomatic
relations with it; Greece is already
arming to secure the territorial pos
sessions granted her by the Berlin
conference; England has a job on
her hands which she would gladly let
out Germany and France are quietly
watching the movements OF the other
parties, and stand ready to espouse
the cause of the winning and stronger
side when the actual conflict begins,
so that altogether the prospect is any,
thing but reassuring for the advocates
and promoters Of European interna.
ticnal harmony.
What will be the final outcome of
it all is hardly practicable at the pres.
ent stage of proceedings. Most likely
the continuance of long, cold win
ter, which is now the prospect, will
prevent any further military opera
tons unless matters should suddenly
come to crisis but in the spring,
as all can see at glance, it will be
impossible for the several parties to
remain in their present attitudes to-
wards each other Something will
have to be settled, one way or an.
other, within the coming year. Mean.
time, tortuous and subtitle diplomacy
will have an ample opportunity to
display its powers in the preparation
of numberless notes, protests and re-
plies to be sent from one Government
to another whenever fresh move
ment of any kind awakens general
suspicion that some one isn't "play-
ing fair" in the desperate interna-
tional game.
The probabilities, therefore, are
that nothing more serious than diplo-
matte warfare will ensue until the
mild shining of another summers sun
shall raise the embargo of ice, cold
and snow which nature will soon lay
upon oil that hostile region. Russia,
however, will continue to hold her
own in the way of military occupa-
ton of disaffected and disputed PROV
inces, and will be by far the best pre-.
pared of any of the interested nations
for another tussle should it be deemed
advisable by England to begin one.
AS the matter rests, it depends alto
| gether upon the action and attitude
of the British Government whether
the final termination of this huge
drama shall be bloodless and equita-
bic, or sanguinary and revolving.
Should Bcaconstield live, the chances
are decidedly favorable for the re-
opening of hostilities at an opportune
moment Chicago EUening Journal