American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-03-02
European Complications.


history of modern Europe than is
now developing on that continent,
and concentrating all interest
around Constantinople, the eye of
the Orient"
The Turkish dynasty is manifestly
rumblIng. The success of Russian
arms, resulting in the utter discom-
future of the Turkish power, has
aroused all Europe 10 the coTse-
quencts of this Russian triumph.
The alarm manifested by England
is almost hysterical. The course
she has pursued and seems resolved
on pursuing leads to political cons
pIicatioEs of the most serious chars
acter. Her previous hesitancy cons
traS!S most strangely with her recent
rashness. Her forced passage
through the DardaneIIes and an
chOring her fleet before CONSTANT
nOple in open defiance of all treaty
stipulatIons, the strict enforcement
of which as against all others she
had most vigorously demanded, has
had the effect to place heI i'll the
wrong, in the view of every Euro
pean State. 1t renders it impossible
now for her to demonstrate against
the right of Russia to occupy Con-
stantinople with an army, when she
though not party belligerent,
threatens to do the same thing
with her navy.
When England resolved upon
this course she evidently counted
upon the sympathy and moral sup>
port of the Western Powers. But,
since the calm utterances of Bis~
mark announcing Germany's en-
tire neutrality, and the growing
GOODNESS of Austria towards British
policy, has become known, she must
have discovered her mistake. The
fact is indeed manifest that Eng
lands aggressiveness of character
is quite as offensive to the other
Western Powers as is Russia's am
bition. Consequently, they are
quite as willing to clip the claws
OF the British lion as to clip the
wings of the Russian eagle. And
when she was found to have rashly
placed herself in the wrong, public
sympathy was coldly withheld, and
she was left to pursue her course
alone.
British pluck is undoubted. John
Bull is stubborn, thick-headed,
strong handed adversary. But he
has heretofore undertaken, and may
again undertake, some contracts
that he can not perform. Among
these may be his undertaking un-
aided and alone, to whip the great
Russian Bear. And circumstances
now Indicate that, if the conflict
must come, John Bull must go it
alone. With the friendly influence
of Germany in favor of Austria,
that power will doubtless be placed
by the Car. That beng done,
has no important alliance
obtainable. She must, consequent>
ly, take up the gauntlet on her own
account. This she is plainly unwil
ling to do; but she may be compel
ed to do 1t, or "back down."
We deem it certain that just as
SOON as the Austrian complication
can be adjusted, Russia will require
the British fleet TO leave the Sea of
Marmora and withdraw to BeSika
Bay, or in default of so doing, Rus
STA will occupy Constantinopie with
a powerful army. We presume that,
under such contingencies, no one
could gaipsay Russia's right to do
this. AS a belligerent she has a
right to thus secure her military
Then England must
with such demand and re-
tire, or espouse the rugged issue
of war. How she would come out
of tfIe struggle must present
difficult problem. A Russian army
once in possession of COnstantinOple,
we do not believe that any British
fleet could ever drive them out.
are equivalent to iron~
clads, and are far more readily re>
paired. 1t seems now highly prob
able that Russia has secured to
herself the Turkish iron clad navy.
If this be so, and war break out,
the British fleet i'll the Marmora
might never escape from that shut
sea. England has money and
and ships. But she must
carry every man and musket full
four thousand miles by sea before
she can land one of them at the
field of action. These disadvantages
are important. And yet we believe
England would enter the lists alone
rather than recall her feet from
JonstantinOple at the demand of
he Gar, now that she has ordered