Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-04-11

ly been declared that England would
not go into the Congress unless Russia
bound herself TO submit to its decision
all the treaty stipulations between the
agents of the Gar and the Suit n.
RuSsia's answer WAS virtually that the
terms of the compact might be sub
mitted for discussion by the Congress,
] but there were certain of them that
she would not permit to be nuilified or
altered. For England to have yielded
TO the Russian ultimatum without
knowing what terms Russia held invi-
olale Would have been for the British
| Government equal to taking a plnnge
in the dark; and hence il became
I inevitable that the latter should state
fairly and squsrely the particular
features OF the treaty to which it would
not consent. This was done in the
ciicular, and il embraced in its ohjec-
tions nearly all of the rich fruits OF
aggrandizement which Russia hoped
To harvest 8s the results of the war.
There WIS rugged honesty in the
British Ultimat1m that was in glaring
cODtrastto the tOrtuous diplomacy and
STRATEGY of the Muscovites. 1t defin-
litely stated the British veto upon the
scheme by which Russia would gather
within her grasp the Sclavs, the Rou-
mans and the Greeks in Southeastern
Europe and fasteu upon them an in
definite bondage in point of duration.
This position of England was deity
put in order to gain the alliance OF
Austria. The Russian demands in
Europe do not actually threaten Brit
ish interests except in so far as they
menace the control of ths Mediierrane-
an and the Suez Canal. Really, the con-
ttemplated Russian acquisitions in Asia
lare of far more serious Importance to
England, but Austria cares nothing for
them, while she does care great deal
labout Muscovite designs in Europe, so
that if England had rested her opposi-
ton principally upon the Asiatic pro
lgraInme of Russia. Austria would have
fbeep, cold and Indifferent. But as E0g-
Hand antegonizes Russia iu Europe as
well as 10 Asia, she,plays a hand in as
sistance with Austria and consolidates
the aims Of London with thuse oi
Vienna. .F s.- --.s
Now.that the full text of the treaty
between Turkey and Russia has been
! published, we can understand why il
is SO sternly resisted by England and
| Austria. 1t contemplates making
| Rnssia the mistress of COnstantinCple,
1.-THE B0sphorus, the Dardanelles, Bul-
! garia, Servia, ROmania-In fact, all the
| Hellenic, Romanian and S.avic p0pu-
latiens. 1t is pact drawn withall the
lshrewdness and concealed force of Nus
covite statecraft, and armel at every
pOint with provisions fer its execution.
! There can be nothing more certain than
that Russia must either yield up some
of its leading features or defend them
upon the battle field. Another alarm.
ing element in the situation is the at
| titude Of Russia with regard to Ro'
mania. The principality is calledupOn
to cede to the Gar the province of Bes'
lsarahia, which includes the mouths Of
1.-The Danube and to allow Russia the use
of all its railroads and roadways for the
movement of troops and military
lsupulies. In exchange for fertile
[Bessarabia Romania is offered only the
marshes and sand hills OF the Dobrujda.
| The exchange would, leave her the
poorer for all the. sacrifices she has
made and suferings she has
Undergone as partner of Russia
lagainst the MOslem power, and the
yielding up Of her transportation
routes would greatly embarrass trade
and traffic throughout the country. 1t
is not singular that solemn protest
1 should come from Buchalest against
snch impositions, and the remOnstrance
is being heard and needed at the seats
of all the friendly Governments.
| Meanwhile, however. Russia arrogant
lily iniorms Romania that what she will
mot coneede will be exacted from her by
/ the strong hand of force, against which
/ she is clmost helpless if left unaided.
Servia appears for the present to be
com pidisant to Russian mastery, as il
shown by her occupation of the for
tress Of Widdin and the general dis
fribution of her troops so as TO be ready
! to cooperate with Russia in the face OF
an Austrian menace. Russia now has
lover 100 900 soldiers in the vicinity of
] COnstantinOple and near the Dardan
leiles, prepared at a moments notice
Ito advance into the Capital Of Turkey
! and seize the lines of defen e along the
Straits, Moreover, her armies south
| of the Balkans are moving towards
Constantinople, and in Russia draft
4 ing 10 fill up the bittaliOns is being
carried on with speed and yigor. Tie
British Ministry is exerting every
nerve to increase her fighting strength
on sea and land, and fresh iron cladS,
lamong. them. the. formidable Devasta-
| ton, have been ordered to. the Z lst.
,Austria. continues to mobilize her army,
and there is no doubt that a good
understanding with England has been
arrived at. The principal newspapers
Sh of ..f
peace, rather than predict that there
will be peace, and altogether the out
| look is luminous beyond all question.
i AS matters stand, the final reliance
| for a friendly settlement is the German
propOsition that the projected Congress
Shall meet and commence work on the
basis of the treaties of 1856 and ISL
that is to say, that it shall take up
those instruments and remodel them
TO suit the changed circumstances, per-
mitting Russia to present her demands
and providing for the Congress to pass
upon them. This programme would,
Of course. bring up the same Difficult
i'ties as are in tie way of the execution
of the treaty of San Stefano, but it
would practically igaore that compact,
and it is doubtful if such an arrange
ment would be satisfactory either to
Russia or England. The British peo-
pie have just been informed of what it
is going TO cost them to protect their
interests in the Orient against Russian
aggression, but the knowledge has
made no converts to the peace at-any-
price party. Instead of going into the
next fiscal year with a financial sur
plus of over. 81, 100000, as they would
have done but for the war excitement,
they have treasury deficit of S1l ,300,.
600 al the present moment, and the
prospect at the close of the year OF one
of S29, 900, 600. This is to be made up
by an Increase of two pence per pound
on the income tax, four pence per
pound on tobacco, and of 100000 on
the dog tax. But Englishmen will en-
dure heavier burdens than these rather
than recede now; and, indeed, the in
crease of the tobacco tax has already