The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-07-15
Official Press Of King County.
Monday, July Is, 1878.


Although Lord Besconsfield has ap-
parently played at losing game IN the
Congress and practically conceded to
Gortscbakoff the trump card On nearly
every issue, he has at last, as noted by
our recent dispatches, sprung a success
full and entirely original project on his
opponents, and by one characteristic
bold stroke fairly taken the whip in
hand in the diplomatic controversy now
pending.
Through the separate treaty with
Turkey he has secured to England prac-
tically the acquisition of Cyprus. This
Inland, even commercially considered,
will become of vast Importance to that
power. 1t is very large in extent, and
was once the home Of prosperous and
wealthy commercisl people. Situated
in the Mediterranean at its eastern
extremity, it is but about seventy-five
miles distant from the coast of Turkey,
opposite Aleppo, where the Euphrates
extends west to within hundred and
thirty or q hundred and fifty miles Of
the Mediterranean. Now that England
has once planted her flag on the soil OF
this island. which practically 10 now
British possession, she will never lower
it unless the coveted acquisition be
wrested from her grasp by actual force.
The policy which has secured this
boon to England is no short-sighted
chance project. 1t looks forward to the
time but q few years distant, when Eng
lish capital will be employed in the
construction of u railroad from Aleppo
up the valley Of the Euphrates into the
very heart Of Turkey. The country
traversed being under British protec-
ton. and great aud rich in resources.
which were formerly the making of
three Of the greatest cities of the
world, the plan will readily commend
itself to English enterprise Further.
it looks to the general sngliczation of
Turkey, and possibly to the secureing
of military Judgment on the Persian
Gulf. However, with large military
force and naval station at Cyprus, and
q railroad up the Euphrates, England
could defy the advance of the Russian
army from Kars and Batoum southwark
as effectually as the future Notifications
ut the Balkans will hem them in at the
north.
The value of this new acquisition is
immense when fully considered. as it
leaves Russia quite outgeneraled at
last. and places the dream of her
highest ambition still further ahead
into the distant and uncertain future.
All know that permanent and last
ing peace is not possible as result of
present negotiations. At most, the
Plenipotentiaries at Berlin are only
plastering over the mouth of huge
political volcano. which may burst
forth at any moment, shaking in its
course the very foundations of Europe,
and burying, it is to be hoped, this
vexed question effectually and for ever
from the politics of Europe. When it
comes, and the legiops Of the Red Cross
are again marshaled to storm the Castle
of the Moslem in quest of the remnant
Of its treasure trovs. they will find the
eutrance more effectively barred and
guarded. Then. as heretofore. the
Moslem forces will not DO found scat
tered over q vast aud semi hostile ter
ritory. but concentrated and united
within the narrow confines of present
Turkey, with the British lion resolutely
holding the entrance.