Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-28
The Uphill Fight of the Sick Man

The hereditary struggle between Turk and
Russian is an interesting chapter i'm the his
tory of the world. The Turk entering from
Asia, cimetar in hand, kindled to dangerous
enthusiasm by the prOmptings and the prom
iseS of his new religion, was checked in his
purpOSed conquest of all Europe and driven
back to its southeastern corner. As the re-
sources of the great MuscOyite nation on the
north were gradually developed its rulers per-
ceiyed that the control of the Black Sea and
its connections with the Mediterranean was
necessary to the unreStrained exertiOn of Rus
Sia'S power. Then the struggle began whose
last round has just been finished. The invad-
ing Turk had established a natiOn which,
through advantages of position, the bravery of
its soldiers, its diplomatic skill and the jealOu-
sizes of Europe, long resisted with success the
frantic efforts of the Russian power to free its
giant limbs from their cramping confinement.
Russia was like Samson bound: the nations
vast territories touched the branches
of the ocean only at three points,
in the extreme north where the de-
parting ship was compelled to cross the
Arctic circle, and in the Baltic, where her
ports were frozen for half the year, and from
which egress might be prevented by few gun
boats in the Danish Sounds, and lastly, at the
Black Sea. where the hated Turk, with fOrtifi
cations guarding the narrow passages of the
BOsphOrIs and DardaneleS, denied passage.
The Russian campaign of many decades has
been characterized by perSiStency of purpose,
in leaders. and unfinching firmneSs and per-
feet obedience in soldiers. The Turk is more
daShing, but less reliable, soldier; his generals
have always compared favOrably with the Rus
sian leaders. There have been many interest
ing phases of the conflict crowded within the
last fifty years. In 1896 the Porte repudiated
the treaty of Alderman, on the ground that
cOmpulSiOn had been employed to obtain its
signature, and the Turks butchered the inhab-
itantS of entire Greek provinces: this behavior
brought about the curious combination of
England, Russia and France, the battle of Ma
yarinO, the destruction of the Turkish fleet, and
the independence of Greece. Then came the
humiliating peace of AdriahOple in 1879, which
concluded the war with Russia: next, Won
derful to relate, an appeal to Russia for aid
against Mehemet Ali. the Egyptian ruler.
which caused the mediation of England and
France. Then, in 1s4O came another outbreak
OF Mehemet Ali. repreSSed by England, Rus
STA, Austria and Prussia. The Crimean war;
with the lease of life which it gave the Turks,
was the next important event. Internal trOu-
bles, caused by Turkish oppression and Rus
sian interference, eliminated in 1874 in a
series of instructions. The accounts of Tur-
kish barbaritieS filled the whole civilized world
with indignation. The unsuccessful COnStan-
tinOple conference, the Russian declaration of
war in April "a. 1877, and the campaigns of the
summer and winter are fresh i'm the recOllec-
ton. Though Russia met with reyerSeS at
first through undertaking her antagonist the
last part of her campaign has been ably
planned and brilliantly executed. 1t is evident
that without foreign aid, Turkey will hence
forth be pushed to the wall; and her old ally
England is an ally no longer. Though the
time has hardly arrived when it is proper to
write the obituary notice of the Turkish ma
tiOn, yet its condition is sufficiently preca-
riOus to justify this consideration of some of
the leading events of its diversified career