The New York herald., 1878-03-04
Peace I'm Euiope-The Gains and
the Losses OF the War.

between Russia and Turkey there can be
| little doubt that the tremendous struggle in
the East has come to definite end. Turkey
| comes ont of the war shorn and crippled
forever The quasi friendship of the English
which led her to defy the Muscovite to
arms; which. while the unequal combat
was in progress was only efficient in induc-
ing her to court complete destruction, has
| not saved her from her bitter fate 1t has
| only been useful to the Ottoman in modify
| ing some of the severe terms which the
| even these, as will be shortly seen,
cannot affect the great fact that Russia
has reduced to q mere skeleton her
hereditary foe, has extended her frontier in
Asia, and has pushed the empire of the
Slavonic races over the Danube, camping
Slavonic power in the richest provinces OF
Turkey. The magnitude of this triumph
for Russia cannot be belittled by pointing
to the notifications Of her pretensions as
expressed in the first draft of the treaty OF
peace. 1t must be viewed in it's final re-
suits These come under two heads--first
as European, and second, as an Asiatic
Power.
AS European Power she gains little in
territory, but her chieftainship of the Sla-
vonic races is asserted with an emphasis
that will make her word more than ever the
law in Southeastern Europe. She has
erected Serva and Roumania into inde-
pendent States, with, probably, the i'm
piled reservation that she stands in the
relation of mighty father to them. She
has recovered the important slice of
Bessarabia which gives her position
at the mouths of the Danube She has cre-
ated new principality which is, of course,
destined in time to follow the example Of
Servia and Roumania and throw off the
Turkish yoke in name rs well as in fact.
But the greatest good to Russia will arise
in the actual control Of the Black Sea. which
the ultimate decision Of the question Of the
Straits cannot appreciably affect; for the
Turk who guarded them in the name Of
Europe, but really in the interest Of
England, is powerless, and bound to the
conqueror by tie which means that Turkey
must hereafter look to Russia before looking
elsewhere. In view of this fact it is of
small moment whether the iron-clads are
nominally owned by Turkey or Russia.
The war has established prestige for Rus
sian arms which it sadly needed as Euro
pean Power. What she assumed in 1871,
by the consent Of Germany, when tearing
up the Treaty Of Paris, she has now vindi-
Gated by her prowess in the field.
t., A,;o 81;
valuable piece of territory. She gains the
port Of Batoum, which will be in reality
what Poti was hoped to become-an outlet
on the Black Sea from the Caucasus. The
acquisition of Ardahan, Kars and Bayazid
is cor parable in Asia Minor to the gain of
Strasbourg and Metz by the Germans in
France. 1t is more than ever a pledge for
the good behavior Of Turkey. But it is in
Asia, above all, that the prestige her
arms have gained will bear fruit. The
khanates which have been swallowed up in
the Muscovite advance as we'll as the States
in the front of the Russian outposts will be
warned, and the effect Of the battles
be felt mp to the British outposts
in Northern India and to the borders
Of China. Russia will need rest after
her copious bleeding in the battle for
power, but it will scarcely be tatiguing
exercise to continue her periodic absorp-
tions of piece alter piece of Asiatic territory.
The Czar Alexander may go to rest with his
fathers we'll satisfied with his share in the
never forsaken struggle for tho advance south
and east of the Russian power.
But, will be asked, Has peace been cried
when there is no peace? Is England,
angry with the anger of the purblind blum
dcrer seeking to justify himself by rash
expedients; England, armed and arming;
England, protesting, fuming and swag-
gering. to sit down bewildered and
say, This is peace indeed? A care
full survey of the actualities leads us
to believe that the declared peace will re-
main unbroken and that England will pru-
IDENTIFY take the lead in so declaring. The
causes which she declared induced her to
send her fleet to Constantinople are, it is
distinctly indicated, no longer, if they ever
were, in the way. She allowed Turkey
TO be slaughtered, encouraged her to the
shambles, declared he had no other interest
in her than her position on the Straits and
no objection to the advance of Russia unless
the Cars forces threatened the road to
India. The question of the Straits will be
left to conference or congress, if any ever
meets England demands on this point that
the status quo ante bel,um remain, and Russia,
with Turkey so completely in her hands,
can admit this and suffer nothing.
The pledging of the Bulgarian and
Egyptian tributes for the war indemnity has
been waived and the now bloodthirsty British
bondholdcr can take what comfort in it he
may. The Turkish iron-clads will be lett to
Turkey, in whose hands they will be little
4la., ccin I.,l