The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-25
The Coming War in Europe.

NJ ]. SRa.-It no longer seems possible to
doubt that in due time war will be declared be-
tween England and Russia. How long time
NAV elapse before this declaration will doubt
less depend upon Russia. The interest OF
England is to protect negotiations, to bring
forward side issues and novel propositions,
and to put off the decisive moment as long as
possible Meanwhile the Russian rulers are
compelled to maintain their great armies Tar
from home, and even to increase them, though
the cost of transportation and of supplies is
something enormous; and thus every day that
this condition endures Russia is weakened by
an expenditure which she can i'll afford, while
England leisurely prepares, and, gathering
together her immense military and naval ap-
pliances, becomes stronger as her enemy IS
debiltated. (D
The bringing of the British Indian army
! into such struggle is new and rather a
startling feature. 1t indicates the possibility
of a change in the fighting relations of the
world which shall place the British empire in
the very first rank as military power. Out
of her two hundred and forty millions of peo-
pie, India can furnish an almost unlimited
number of first-rate soldiers, ~ and the cost
of the British Treasury of putting into the
field in Europe a military force of vast pro-
portions derived from this new source Is so
much smaller than that of maintaining a sim
liar force of Europeans, that all European
statesmen must at once perceive that they
here have to deal with elements as formula
BILE as they are unexpected.
There can be no doubt, we think, that in a
war between England and Russia the latter
power must go to the wall. (3) She is ex-
hausted by the immense efforts she had to
make last year against Turkey. az Her
treasury is empty; poverty and distress are
among her people. (5) England, on the
other hand, is both rich and strong. She has
money; she can have as many soldiers as she
pIeases; and she has the most wonderful navy
in the world Single handed she is, we think,
more than match for Russia; (6) but if she
has Austria and Turkey to back her, she will
have Russia at her mercy just as much as Tor
the last six months Russia has had Turkey at
hers. But how can such a conhagration be
kept from spreading? Will not Germany be
compelled to intervene to save Russia from
too fatal an overthrow? Can France remain
entirely neutral when such a struggle IS going
on? The mind is bewildered by the bound
less impossibilities of this unparalleled prob
lem. (O
1. We are not little surprised at the
general tenor of the foregoing article
which is evidently dictated by favoritism
for England and disparagement of Russia.
1t does not sustain the well established
character of that journal for intelligence
and sources of information which place it
in the front rank of journalism. How
should England be strengthened while
Russia is debilitated, when she is at a
greater distance from the seat of war than
Russia, and is obliged to incur a heavier
expense, both for the transportation of
troops and supplies.
2. 1t must be remembered that the
240, 10000 of India are not tall subject to
British control, and it is not true that
these barbarians are the best of soldiers,
even if British gold could place them at
will in the British army.
3. We should think that there was less
chance of victory for England than for
Russia, when we remember that their re-
,pective numbers stand as 35,000,0O0 to
35 900, 900, and Russia stands as much
chance of extraneous aid as England.
4. So far from being exhausted by her
against Turkey, it has only put
Ter in better fighting trim to meet such an
antagonist as England
5. Distress is equally the condition of
England where labor strikes and bread
lots have been matters of very recent &C.
urrence.
6. 1t is simply absurd to say that Eng
and, single handed is more than match
or Russia. The campaign in the Crimea
tterly disproved that; had she stood alone
Without the assistance of France she would
AVE made miserable failure of it.
Z. We think the writer must have been
'ewildered when he penned that article.
according to his own showing Russia will
lave an ally in Germany, if not in France,
nd England must come out of the conflict
gainst such odds, utterly Inundated.