Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-05-09
by GEORGE NJ. TowLE.

the complete subjugation of the latter, is
only the prelude to settlement of what
has long been known and dreaded ns the
Nastern Question. It is to be followed
either by further war, in which Russia will
be confronted by more formidable powers
than Turkey, orr by conference of tho
European nations, whose difficult task it will
be finally to reconcile, if possible, what
now seem to be irreconcilabe interests.
In order fully to understand the prcseut
situation, wo must revert very briefly to the
ggCrimoan' War, twenty-four years ago. That
war was fought by Russia, on one side, and
England, France, Turkey and Sardinia on
4 tho other.gIt cap scarcely be doubted that
~ was then Rqssia's purpose to seck an
toutlet, both for her war Ships and her oonl-
moroe, from the Black Sea through tho
Qardanelles and the Bosphorous to tho
Mediterranean A mere glance ut tho map
Yill show what an immense Importance suoh'
"a passage way hos to- Russia. That great
iEhipire touches the sea only on two sidcs:l
on the Baltic on the North, and on the,
Black Sea in tho South The Baltic is closed
to navigation by ieo eight months in tho
year. Russfa, Before The Crin,ean war, was
not permitted to have access from the Blacki
Sea, to the Mediterranean through these
Straits; and these, Straits were, and arc still, !,
within Turkish territory. Now Russia has
always had, o good prctext for attacking
Turkey, because Turkey has ruled over and
oppressed many millions who are, like Rus
eia, Christian in faith, and also, like Russia,
Slavic in race. Her excuse for invading
Turkey just before the Crimean war, was
that she had right to champion the cause
of the down.trodden Christian Slavs.
But in attacking Turkey she assailed what
England and Franco thought to be their
lnterests; and for this renson: Thcso two
nations, especially England, feared that if
isussia should obtain the FREQ right of
passage through tho straits (the Bosphorus
andtho Dardanclles) she would soon, with
B tue Black Sea for a dockyard, create a
great navy, and become their maritime rival
on tho waters Of the globe. Turkey had
long. boen used, as a weak and almost de-
pendent State, as an obstacle in the way
OF Russian aggression; and the cause of
Turkey was cspouscd, not for Turkeys sake,
but because she constituted this convenient
barrier. II
Russia was defeated in the Crimca. The
oonanuererg dictated tho treaty of Paris, by
whioll the "intcgrity and independence Of
the Ottoman Empire" was guaranteed by
tho Powers of Europe, and Russia was for
bldden, not only to pass her war ships
through tho Strats, but even to have war
ships and arsenals on tho Black Sea itself.
In 1871 when Eugand's alIy, France. was
PROSTATE nt tho feet of Russia's ally, Cor
many, Russia succeeded in compelling hor
. " M on f,r ko s. T.
Paris, as to permit her to have, war ships
and arsepals in the Black Sea. Sho was
still forbidden, however, to sail war ships
through tho straits, though her merchant
men. wero freely allowed to pass through.
The present situation may be regarded as
the inevitable sequel Of these events. Rus.
a!a, having waxed strong again, found 10
tho bulgarian massacres ond tho Bosnian
{ lnsurreotion another pretcxt for advancing
. Southward, and onco moro attempting The
destruetion 6f3thc Ottoman Empire. tho
obstacle to her possession Of q mar;timo
position onstho Mediterranean and free
outlet to her ships. .Wo have seon with
awhatsuccese herattemp so far as subduing
the fTurks, has beer attended. She has
advanced DO the gates of .Constantinoplo.
and the shores.of the straits; and has there
dietatedgtho treaty of San stefano to tho
Sultan. tsr.f :, y II;
But now abe il confronted by the rivalry
and Jealousy oft.wo powers, Austria and
England: Austria's interest is opposed to
the creation Of new large Slavic States. on
her borders; because, hor own population
being n1ado upsof Slays as well as Hum
garionsi Germans, Roumans, and Czechs, she
fears the influence of aiow Slavic power as
milling her owns lSlavs restless, and arousipe
! tho jealousy Of her other racos.
England however Is Russia,s most
strenuous and determined antagonist. She
sslislikes 10 scs tlie Sultan's empire crushed,