Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-07
rag EASTERN SITUATION.

The EASTERN SITUATION.
The news Of yesterday aud to-day ia
exceedingly interesting to those who
have kept up with the main events Of the
great Turco-RussiAn war. Turkey lies
prone at the feet Of the couqueror, ready
to accept such terms as the czar may
dictate. The other powers have inter
vened at this late hour for selfish pur-
poses, and Russia very naturally feels
quite anxioas on the subject, and objects
70 the peace conference being held at
Vienna. By the terms Of the armistice
the Russians are to occupy S~ilistria and
Rustchuk, two Of the four great for.
tresses which are 10 be included iu
the principality of Bulgaria, and
it is understood that the Turks
are to eyacuate all the Danubian
fortresses and Ei zsroum. The sultan hav.
ing been utterly disappointed in the hope
Of ali. from England aud other powers,
hiss gone directly to the czar to make
the best terms possible. The following are
the terms OF the protocol sigued by the
Grand Duke Nicholas and Server and
Namyk Pachas. First, the erection
of Bulgaria into q principally;
second, a war indemnity or territory Of
compensation; third, the independence
Of Roumsuis, Servis aud Montenegro
with On increase of territory for each;
fourth, reforms 10 BosniA aud Hetzsgo.
VIVA; hftk, an Interior understanding be
TWEEN the sultan and car regarding
the Dardeuelles; sixth, the evacuation Of
the Danubian fortresses and Erzeroum
1t remains TO be decided how much the
territory Of the emsncipated States will
be increased, but one thing seems TO be
settled that the Turkish frontier is moved
southwark from its old line on the Dan.
ube to the line Of the Balkans, and Her
~zegovina and Bosnia are TO have a re-
formed system Of governments under the
porte which will guarantee the people of
those provinces against the outrages
which drove them into Instruction.
They will be practically independent,
aud will be almost surrounded BY indie.
pendent States. The autonomy Of Tur-
key is destroyed. And The existence Of
the empire in future will be more than
ever a matter of suGerance. The
Slavic States will be free once
more alter centuries Of misrule and
oppression. Turkey has more to hope
for from the ciemency Of the czsr
than from the selfish friendsbip Of Eng.
land. The latter has been 10 negotiation
for some days for the surrender Of the
whole Turkish feet under Hobart PashA,
and it was stated two or three days since
that the feet had been removed to Greek
waters for that purpose. This. however,
is not confirmed, aud the morning dis
patches announce that the Turkish mon.
of.war on the Danube have been surrtn-
dered to Russia. The Turks are miser.
ably poor, and must grant The war in.
demnity demanded ia European aud
Asistic territory and 10 fleets and mum.
tons of war rather than in money. Eng.
laud hss no righs 20 any of the fruits oil
Russia'S crest and costly victory, auC
will not be permitted by Russia or Ia,
other powers to share the spoils. Turkey
has no friends nov and little to hope foI
from either side. The peace csn
ference means u diplomatic game o
chess-a readjustment Of the map, il
which each power will strive to gail
some advantage Of position. Russia, O
course, will seek to acquire the Turkish
iron.clAd navy in the Black sea, and a
least to have the uss Of the Dardanslle
or Hellespont, a narrow strait lead
ing to the sea Of Marmors ant
Coustautinopls. This question PROF
erly should be settled between th
czsr and the sultan, but other power
will probably demand q voice in the Gua
arrangement. The car has Glread
pledged himself to respect the maraGn
rights Of all the nations interested, an,
it is not improbable that Hellespont vii
be made free to every flag. TIE eyes q
the whole civilized world will be tarns
to tie peace conferences Wbicbis abou
to assemble,