The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-08
The Eastern Question

The daily European kilograms, the ma
nnuyring of diplomats, and the sensational
.rumors that are put forth with regard to the
Eastern question, are becoming tiresome.
They may go on for months and we be none
the wiser.
The present state OF the European question
is that Of several nations skirmishing for adj
vantage. Jealousy and ambition are at work
to acquire or to prevent advantages. The
termination OF the discussion will take such
form as may be determined by the interests
and the strength of the parties to the dis
cussion. JACK BUNsBY could not have given
more lucid opinion than that here ex-
pressed. Nevertheless, we doubt whether
anybody can exploit wiser one.
II it shall appear from the developments
now occurring that a war will necessarily
involve powerful allies on both sides, we 90
not believe that war will be brought on.
Such war would threaten consequences OF
such magnitude and ruin that the great
Powers would not think OF it.
Should England be able to ally with her
self Austria and one other Power, and the
continental Powers shall leave Russia alone
to fight such an alliance, we conjecture that
there will be no war. The continental
Powers are not blind TO the relation that
England bears to Europe. She holds Glib
raltar and Malta, and can at any time block
AIDE every European port. In proprietary
way she holds the Sucz canal. and may
readily put it under the protection OF her
Guns. BISMARCK and other statesmen OIL
forecast cannot shut their eyes to the power
OF ENGLAND over the Continent, and cannot
silently conniye at any increase OF that
power. A war between her and Russia
alone might end in increasing that power,
and we think the controlling force OF Euro
mean diplomacy viii therefore side against
a war that might leave it a matter OF doubt
as TO whether England would acquire fur
ther advantages or not.
Austria has become the generally unpopu-
lar European nation. She has been shresled
by everybody, and has little LETT for her in
tbe way OF ambition, but something in the
way Of revenge. Whenever trouble is
brewing she Gusts about to see what she can
do towards her qualification. She owes a
crudce to pretty nearly all the nations save
England, and would be gratited at an OPP
portunity to indulge her resentments. To-
wards Russia her malice seems to be en-
phatic, and it is accounted for pretty we'll
on the ground that that bad passion is espe-
cially pointed when directed upon one
who has conferred favor. Russia
saved Austria when the Hungarians
had completely conquered her. One
day more and they would have been in
Vienna. The Car entered the kingdom
and his soldiers turned the scale, defeated
the Hungarians, and restored the Austrian
Emperor to authority, Of course, the feel
ing of gratitude having given place to hos
tility, she will become the very ready ally
Of England. 81
But we do not think that war that
assumes the fearful form OF war between
powerful allies on both sides can occur,
and a war that Is waged by unequal COM
binations will not be allowed by European
diplomacy, because it will threaten state
OF things that will increase rather than
diminish the prospect Of trouble and dls Is
turbance in the futare. II
49, ~