Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-02-02

periaI policy, while the German /
speaking States cannot forget the
time when the government of the |
Empire was administered in their
interest alone, and the Magyar CZe-
chish and Sclavic populations were
treated rs, for some years after our
war, the Northern States treated
the South. Now to add large
Sclavic element to the already dis
cordant principles of the Empire
would largely increase the balance
of power against these German
States and proportionately aggravate
their jealousy. In this temper the
tendency of all German speaking
States to gravitate to that vast con-
federation which is now called the
German Empire would be a most
dangerous, disturbing element, and
the Emperor of Austria would bein
imminent danger of doing homage
to that Empire as Grand Duke of
Austria, consoling himself as well
as he could with the independent
crowns of Hungary and Bohemia.
This possibly may be the reason
why no territorial ggrandizement
was accepted by Austria in the final
settlement. Another may be that
none was proposed by the other
two powers. The truth is that
the position of Austria in the
tripartite alliance Of the three
Empires is an abnormal one in any
case. Her natural position would
be defensive alliance with France
and England to balance the colossal
strength of that between Germany
and Russia; but this could not be
for two reasons. France is resolutely
determined to join in no conflict of
arms until she has entirely repaired
those resources which were so cruelty
shattered in the Franeo-Prussian
war, and moreover, during the
greater portion of this latter war,
has been engaged in a desperate in
ternal struggle for the integrity of
her Republican Constitution, which
leaves her neither time nor DISPOSE
ton for foreign war. England, on
the other hand, was deferred by the
change which has come over the
sentiments of her people, who are
sOliGly fixed against another war to
sustain the Turkish Empire in Eu-
rope. But the sort of allies which
Austria needs are allies who will
fight; such as expect to limit their
action to negotiations by no means
supply her needs. So, not beingable
to forman alliance against the Russo
German combination, she thought
it best to join it, in the hopes of
having some voice i'm the final settle
ment, whenever it might take place.
From the terms of peace SO far made
known we imagine she must have
taken a very inconsiderable part in
shaping them. Whether England
will have any is matter which
will be better understood when the
disposition of the Dardanelles is be-
fore the European powers.
Meantime we reiterate the denial
we made last week that England
led Turkey into the war and was
bound in honor to see her safe out
of it. The direct reverse of this is
the truth. Turkey refused the terms
unanimously recommended to her
by the Congress which met in Con-
stantinOple last winter, and indeed
Lord Salisbury, for his urgency in
pressing them, was treated with
something little short of insolence
for his pains. He not only advised
her not to go to war, but in the most
explicit terms apprised her that if
she did she must not calculate upon
the military support Of England
We have thought it as we'll to reit-
crate this statement, which is incOn-
trovertible, because a large portion
of the press in this country is indulg-
ing in virulent attacks on England
for having deserted the unfortunate
power which she isaccused Of having
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