New-York tribune., 1878-02-01
TILE CRLSLS IN ENROPE.


Again tbo air of Europe is filled with con-
flichng cries of menace, protest, depreca'ioh'
pleadings for peace and indictments 10 war
The armistice between Russia and turkey Is
not vet signed and consequently the basis OIL
neacc cannot be officially announced; yet
ENGLAND is already in the midst OF new
feyer-fit. and Austria is beginning to show
svmntoms of the same intermittent character.
After carefully eliminating ther eports which are
evidently baselcss, enough remains to show tlat
the situation is again critical, at least TO thls
cytent-that the alternatives OF Immediate
peace or prolonged and complicated war are
thrown into the weak and tickle hands oil
Turkey. No holder of a lottery ticket ever
clung so fondly to his dreams of the great
prize. as Turkey, mt every stage of the strug-
ole. has clung to the hope of English inter-
ventjon: and to 'relnquiSh that hope, now
when English irCnclads have been looking
into the Dardaneles, will involve an amount
of abstinence and sclf-control when her
statesmen have not yet displayed.
In fact, nothing can prevent the forced ac-
ceptapcc of the Russian demands, except the
immediate action of England. In Bulgaria, the
last Turkish army is falling back on Shunla,
evidently unable to hold the line from that
fortress to Rustchuk. In Roumelia there is no
longer any army, except that now collecting
before the walls of Constantinoplc. 1he K'ls-
sian right and left are at Demotlka ana hiri-
Kiljssi. considerably In advance of Adrianoplc !;
and the shores Of the Egean Sea, from the
Dardancllcs TO Salonica are crowded with tens
Of thousands of MOslcms, flying from the IN
terror and calling. in their despair, to be set
back in Asia. Such an exodus of terror ana
fearful suffering has not been seen for ages.
It is prophetic picture OF the iinal return oi
a usurping race, and no dcXtcrous piopplns up
of the Ottoman Power can prevent It's future
fUliilmcnt.
Exccnt the fCur fortrcSScs in Bulgaria, the
only fragment of European soil which turkey
still firmly holds is the narrow peninsula be-
tween the Black Sea and the Sea OF Marinora,
terminating at the Bosphorus. The front oi
defence which has been chosen Is near Chat
alda, about thirty miles from ConStantinoplc'
where the peninsula is something over twenty
miles in breadth. BY concentrating the entire
Ottoman strength on this line, Russia might be
held 0t bay for n considerable time. The
question is, VIII England. within the next few
days, give sufficient assurance of help to Tur-
KEY. 10 encourage her in undertaking last
resistance! Turning to England, we find
some unexpected changes in the political stu-
alton. The Liberals have lost their cohesion,
and the BeacOn,iicld Government is surc OF
carving the vote on the question oi supple
mentaIy credit. The apparent change i'll the
temper of the people is still more sur
pri,inr. If the meeting at Sheffield, on Tues
,ay. be fair indication Of this change, We can
only conjecture that the great depression OF
business IN England is gradually creating Il
war-madncss (in the hope that any change may
bring some bcnciiU, corresponding to the lniia-
ton and reputation madness now rampant
among us. Lord BcacOnsfcld, if supported by
4 sufficient majority of Parliament, is reckless
enough 20 use this irrational excitement for
the aims of his personal ambition. He would
fam Law down bis high Office lOr the last time,
~ the civic hero OF triumphant war. What
ever hesitation is manifest III the attitude OF
Auslria-altbOugh the reports of her action are
undoubtedly much cXaggcratcd-inay be as
cribcd to his intIigucs. Bat the time for ac-
ton is very brief: Turkey, SD hardly pressed,
cannot wait a moment longer. And the Eng
Iish Parliament, we are sure, while voting con-
fdcucc and extra credit, will be III no haste
to sanction that form of Intervention which
means war. 1t does not yet seem likely that
the peace of Europe will he further disturbed.