The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-30
ENGLAND'S DEMANDS.

powers Turkey was completely crushed
broken in spirit, cowed and ready to agree t,
the most humiliating terms. The Russian
army, stronger and larger than ever was
scattered over Turkish territory, held al
the fortresses. and was within sight O
the minarets Of Constantinople The Rus
sian papers congratulated the Emperor on tn,
success Of his army; the Sclavs shouted thu
army rejoiced, and all were wild with joy
inflated with vanity and victory. After thu
armistlce, and when the terms Of peace were
under discussion, the prevalent Russian
feeling was well shown in the wild ant
excessive terms of peace that the
Russian papers demanded. The whole
Turkish feet was to be turned over to the
Gar; Turkey was to pay an impossibly
large indemnity, and surrender her richest
provinces until this indemnity was paid In full
tho Egyptian tribute was also to be pledged
to the payment Of this money; Turkish Arme-
MIA was to be surrendered and annexed to
Russia; Roumania, Servia and Montenegro
| were each to become free States and obtain
| large acquisitions Of territory; Bulgaria was
to be elevated into q principality under a Rus
sian governor, and to take up almost all of Eu-
ropean Turkey; the straits were to be closed
to all men-Of-war save those OF Turkey and
Russia; Russia was to have port on the
Egean Sea and another on the Bosphorus,
and lastly the Russian troops were to occupy
Constantinople and embark thence for home.
There seemed little doubt that these were
practically the terms that Russia intended at
one time to propose. There was every prob
l,,t L.
ALI Europe leaned toward Russia Austria
and Italy appeared willing to aid her, in re-
turn for small concessions of territory; Ger
many was strongly pro-Russian; France re-
fused to be drawn into the Eastern question
at all, while the smaller powers, Roumania,
Servia and Greece, were ready to "back up"
Russia In any demand she might make.
England alone threatened to resist the victo-
rious Russians, and to demand that Europe
be consulted In this matter. 1t was then that
the English feet passed the Hellespont and
anchored near Constantinople to protect Eng
lssh interests; and that the English govern
ment announced that the occupation of Con-
stantinople by the Russians would be con-
sidered as declaration of war
Great Brltain's action at that time and
since has been characterized by some papers
as "bluff." If 1t were, it was most sue
cessful 'bluff" Point after point the Rus
slams yielded to England's demands. When the
English feet first entered the Sea Of Marmora
the Russians grew exceedingly belicose,
advanced their army toward Constan-
tinople and threatened to enter that city; but
when they came to within six miles of the city
their senses returned, and they stopped at
San Stefano. At San Stefano the Turkish
and Russian plenipotentaries met and begun
to frame the treaty Of peace. It WAS evident
that Russia feared England, and tried to
piacate her by giving up many important
points which the English papers insist |
I'd should be yielded. The surrender |
Of the Turkish fleet, which England !
had announced as a casus belL, was given /
up; the Turkish indemnity was reduced, |
,he occupation Of Constantnople, the acquis-
ton of ports on the Egean Sea and the Bos-
,horus, the Egyptian tribute, all these and
many other important items were surrendered
~ Russia, evidently in order to avoid any
with England. When, there
ore the treaty was signed at San Stefano
N the third Of March, it was far more model-
lte In many respects than any one had ex-
,ected, still 1t Is treaty that England evident
y would not quietly submit to. The hostile at
itude that England and Russia then bore to
ach other persuaded Austria to propose a
congress Of European powers to settle the
Eastern question.
Russia pretended at first to object to the
congress- but finally agreed to go into it on
he understanding that at this congress GER
ain questions alone should be discussed and
determined. At first Russia proposed that
he alone should select the questions to be
onsidered, but this claim was soon surren-
erred, and she announced her willingness that
he question of GrHco-Turkish frontier
hOuld go before the congress; that the
limits OF Bulgaria should be determined
y it, ETC., but refused to allow the
realty Of San Stefano to be discussed
y the congress, or amended in any way
t is on this point that the present deadlock
hat threatens war arose. England's position
n the Eastern question has been the same
rom the beginning; has never been changed
r modified 1t is that the Eastern question
one affecting all Europe. A European con-
erence settled it once on firm basis 1t is
the duty of Europe now to step in
nd resettle the question on such a basis
S to preserve and assure the peace of Europe
,r the future. The entire treaty Of San Ste
mo must therefore be submitted to the Der
n conference or she England refuses to go
ito that conference.
1t is this point that England insists on and
lat Russia refuses to yield To agree to such
rms seems humiliating to the Russians; they
ave yielded point after point to England, and (
, be now compelled to submit their treaty
18th Turkey to England's approval is, they
,mplain, to surrender all the fruits and just
1vantages of victory.
That England will insist on her demand
lnnot be doubted. Russia must either yield
fight. The position of the other European
overs in the meanwhile have greatly