The Hawaiian gazette., 1878-12-25
WEDNESDAY, DEC. Is. 1878.
Another War.


ately commencing in Europe and Asia is truly
terrible one 70. humanity. civilization and COM
merce but the Geographic news recently re-
ceived leaves but little hope that so great a Ca
lamity will be averted. From the day that the
august assembly in the RadzIvill Palace separa-
ted, TO the present time. every movement OF
Russia and Turkey has indicated the deep dis
satisfaction of both with the decisions Of the
Congress Russia has obtained far less than she
hoped for; Turkey has been made to surrender,
or promise to surrender far more than Ottoman
pride and obstinacy could submit TO- and it soon
became evident that neither Power would prove
loyal to Its engagements. So far as concessions
directly made to Russia itself were concerned,
the Porte has slowly and reluctantly swallowed
the bitter draught. but has on the whole kept 10
the hard letter Of the bargain which she was
forced to conclude with her conqueror.
When, however. 1t came to making humilia-
ting concessions to Austria, and worse still to
Montenegro and Greece she failed to carry out
the treaty stipulations in the way in which the
other Powers intended that she should do. If
the Government of Constantinople did not d.
rectly advise resistance to the Austrians in Bos-
MIA, Turkish officials and Turkish troops vigo-
rously aud openly helped the Bosnian peasants
10 an instruction which, though raging only for
q few weeks, cost Austria 1000 OF its best SOL
ulelo. Iuab OnCl was oIOuS 6uOusu " bc
able to pour an overwhelming force into the dis
affected provinces, and by mere brute strength
and unsparing sacrifice of life TO trample down
the revolt. We are now told that the provinces
are pscIhed-i. e. subdued-and that it is only
found necessary to keep 100000 men in posses
sion. This may be victory, but roughly calcu-
lated, it means soldier for every adult male of
tie MRhometsn population of Bosnia. That the
value OF conquest and pacification on these terms
is understood and appreciated at ConstaRtinople,
is sufficiently proved by the orders recently given
for Turkish troops to concentrate on Novi-Ba-
Ear. While this state of affairs continues, the
white elephant" which the Berlin Conference
presented TO Count Andrassy will require a
great deal of watching and tending, and, SO far,
Kossuths predictions have been abundantIy
justified
If the Porte has the will, which is very doubt
ful, to carry out in Albania the behests of the
Congress- she certainly has not the power, as
the rising OF the mountalneers and their massa-
ere OF Turkish troops has proved Sadyk Pasha
processes to be quite ready to give the Slontene-
grins the benefit of the libaral intentions of the
Congress in their regard but instead of recogni-
zing its authority and Fastening TO comply with
the instructions of Sadyk Pasha, the Albanians
declare that instead Of yielding territory, they
want and must have that of which Servia has
deprived them. They speak in the warlike words
that be6t the ancient fame of Suliote and Mri-
dite 1--WE will never permit foreign army to
enter our country. We do not recognize Bull
garian Administration and we urge Servia TO
respect our rights. and to restore to US the dis
tricts of which she has unrighteously possessed
herself, If our application is not complied with
we will send bands into Servia, and fight to the
last drop of our blood to regain the districts in
question. We will pursue similar course in
regard to Montenegro, and we will do our ut
most TO support our brothers who are now fight
ing on the Balkan peninsula" As to Greece,
matters seem even worse, for in its case the
Turkish government absolutely refuses to take
the action prescribed by the Congress, and Eng
land, appealed to by Germany to "brng pressure
TO bear" on the Sultan to induce him to do SO,
declines TO interfere vigorously.
These facts would perhaps Justify all the sig
natories to the Treaty of Berlin in taking com
bned action against Turkey, but how they could
do so effectively, except by occupying Constan-
tinople and abolishing the Sultan, we tail to see.
Some OF them would, perhaps, 90 even that
length willingly enough, but that is a matter
about the details OF which no two of them are
likely to agree moreover, the British Protec-
tOrate-no incOnsderable obstacle-stands in
the way.
Russia hus however least Of any of the Powers
concerned, reason to complain that Turkey has
not abided by the Treaty of Berlin. She has
given up in obedience TO the Congress the great
fortress of the quadrilateraI Schumla, and the
valuable and most important seaports of Varna
and Batoum. Sue could not be expected to Sc
cure peace and order in Roumela or prevent the
instruction in the Rhodope Mountains while the
Russians and their Bulgarian allies we're still
free to indulge in the horrible atrocities described
by the commander of the Musselman army in the
Rhodope, and in great part verified by the In
ternational Commission of Enquiry. 1t is, there
fore, the shallowest pretence possible for the Rus
slams to have suddenly returned in force to the
lines OF Tchekmedge on the grounds thar several
outrages had occurred in the neighborhood of
Constantinople How long this movement has
been maturing 1t would be difficult to say, but
there are several circumstances which clearly es
tablish the fact of its premedtation amongst
these are the refusal to give up Kiri Klisseh, an
outpost of Adrianople, or to retire from Bnrgas,
on the Roumelian coast of the Black Sea, A
still more significant fact is the warning given
some time ago to the Christian popuotion of
the country between Constantinople and Adria-
nople to move north with all expedition. The
TACT Is, the Russians have gained a hold south
oil the Balkans, and treaty or no treaty they
mean to keep 1t, and they foresee that Roumelia,
perhaps up TO the walls of Constantnople, must
again become vast battle field.
That this is the opinion of the English Gov
ernment is proclaimed only too plainly in the
words OF the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
though Germany and France, Austria and Italy
may for time manage to stand out of 1.-THE ter
rible game of war;" we do not see how it is pos
sible for England, with her lately assumed re-
sponsibilitIes to do so. No one ia likely to have
an earlier or keener perception of the whole po-
sition than Lord Beaconsfeld No one is likely
to see more directly the action which England
should take in view of Russiu again threatening
CoDstantinope; and no one is more likely to
set aside formalties and act on his own iudg-
ment IN such an emergency. In sending the
British feet from Ismid to Artaki, we think he
has already done so. Galpol peninsula is the
road to the lines OF the Dardaneles These &C.
cupied, the English ironclads would with the aid
of even a small military force make Constantine
pie not worth having. If Muscovite ambition
will be satisfied with nothing less than encamp-
ing under the ruins of st. Sophia, it is likely to
be gratihed, and there is enough of Satan and
"Mahound" still in STEAMBOAT to make the camp
very uncomfortable one for the unhappy SOL
diers of holy Russia. "-Brisbane Qussnslan-