The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-19

is blown away; that the danger which for
some days menaced an indefinite extension
| of hostilities is over and that there is now
no immediate apprehension of complica-
tons likely to imperil peaceful settle
ment between the belligerents which shall
be satisfactory, if not to all the Powers, at
least to those whose agreement will make the
| dissatisfaction of others of little moment.
1t is equally evident that the change IN
the situation is not in consequence OF
any negotiation or understanding between
Russia and England. Although the British
| ships have withdrawn certain distance
from Constantinople and the Russians have
evacuated the Samidie redoubt in the de-
| fensive lines, these acts have no relation OF
cause and effect, and are mere condolences.
Lord Derby stated in Parliament last night
| that the change in the position OF the fleet
! was not the result of any negotiation. and
was only to secure better anchorage and
| superior telegraphic facilities. 1t was, in
| fact, not withdrawal that could have sat-
| isfied any diplomatic demand to put the
| force of the respective Powers on
| ground that could leave negotiation free;
! for, with the British ships actually in the
| Sea of Marmora, they are practically before
| Constantinople at whatever point it may
suit naval convenience to anchor them.
| Therefore it was neither England's demon
stration in the Dardanelles nor any happy
| conception or proposition Of British states
man or dipIomatist that cleared up the
stormy scene; but, on the contrary, this So
luton of the crisis presents a new exhibi-
ton of the continental determination to iso-
late England; for the whole case was set
tied between the cabinets of the three en-
perors, without regard to England and in
absolute indifference to her relation to the
subject.
AS Austria has for six months shown her
sincerity in depending on the pledge OF the
triple imperial alliance, and has given
convincing evidence of her faith in the in
tentions Of her allies, so Kussia has now
exhibited the same sincerity in the readi-
ness with which she has concerned her atti-
| tude to the requirement Of the other two
courts when informed from Berlin that the
moment had come when the susceptibilities
of Austria with regard to the dan
| ger Of Constantinople should be salts
fed. Subjected to the most severe
test by which it could be tried the alli
ance Of the three emperors has proved
practical guarantee that topics Of interna-
| tional importance shall be determined not
by the accidental supremacy OF one Power
at a critical point, but by mutual conces-
| A. 20 I'll G.ck
hour of the war q great section of the popu-
lation of the Austrian Empire has been ex-
tremely unquiet. Agitated by national
hostilities and by acute perceptions Of the
possible danger of any disturbance of the
equilibrium on the Lower Danube, it
more effect because the government
saw plainly enough that if its de-
pendence on Russia's intention should
prove to be fallacious it was by its passive
attitude giving away in great degree the
power to control its own destinies It
needed no prophetic vision to discover that
if Russia, having exhausted Turkey and OBJ
| tanned foothold at Constantinople in vir-
tue of pledges made to Austria, should then
ignore and repudiate those pledges, how
calamitously Austria would be duped. And
England roared all summer with the decla-
ration of Russia's dishonesty. 1t was no
| small trial, therefore, of Austria's conf
dence that she held on and gave no effective
sign Of alarm.
But the Austrian government gave way at
last and reflected in some degree the ma
| tional uneasiness Whether the Vienna
government was so far disconnected with
| the conduct Of Russia ut Constantinople that
| an Anglo-Austrian alliance was on the tapis
| is not known. That this is asserted by
English correspondents is no evidence of
its truth. 1t is hardly reasonable that Aus
tria, after having depended upon the faith Of
her ally till her own case was clearly des-
perate if she had at last to fight for it, should
finally go to Russia's open foe for remedy
rather than appeal to the spirit of that
alliance upon which she had so implicitly
depended. Austria might perhaps have
combined with England as last necessity,
but she would not have done this until re-
course to st. Petersburg and Berlin had
proved ineffective. To the keen eye that
watches the world from the German capital
it was clear enough that one of the imperial
Powers might be driven into the arms OF
England, and it was necessary, at some cost
even to the pride of another member, to
prevent that. Hence the representations to
Russia, in consequence of which the troops
were withdrawn from Constantinople to
satisfy Austria In this Russia has gone as
far to show her good faith as her ally went
in the exhibition of confidence, for she has
yielded point of national pride, which is
far more difficult than any point of mere
material interest. With her hand raised to
grasp the great prize for which generations