The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-08
THE PEACE OF EUROPE THREAT
ENED.
From the Chicago Journal ]


Only a few weeks ago we were in
formed that the great Eastern ques-
ton was Mt last happily settled-a ques-
ton which has been bone OF conten-
ton for SO many generations among the
great nations of Europe. The close OF
the Berlin Conference was an event at
tended with great JOY and gladness. Its
echoes were reverberated throughout
the civilized world The grand results
OF that conference were proclaimed by
the Tory press to be the brilliant achieve
ments of English diplomacy, and Lord
Beaconsfield was the acknowledged hero
of this alleged great masterpiece in
modern craftsmanship. Even Queen
Victoria, in token of her satisfaction of
what was supposed to be the great finale
OF troublesome question, affixed in
person the Garter of Knighthood on
this astute Machiavellian diplomat, on
his return from Continental Europe.
But all is not peace that looks like
peace. The treaty of Berlin did not
settle any of the real questions involved
it only postponed them, and it afford
ed the leading champions in the affair
an opportunity to retire gracefully from
the untenable position assumed by the
respective parties. England was, there
fore, happy; Russia was happy, too, for
neither felt any great hankering for en-
tering on an interminable conflict, I'M
der existing circumstances.
The Berlin treaty is a curious docu-
ment for the student of international
politics True, it makes recommends
tions: but it leaves each party to see to
the fulfillment of its provisions. Moth
ing is mandatory. Everything is left
to the sweet will of the parties con-
cerned just in proportion to the power
each may possess to make its respective
claim good in accordance with the in
depreciation they may severally see fit
to give to this celebrated piece of patch
work in diplomacy What an outcome
lhis for SO much pomp and dis
play! How Bismarck must have smiled
over such a piece of tomfoolery In
the nature of things, he must at least
have been trying, good-naturedly, to
get two of his brother diplomats out of
an unpleasant situation, into which
they had unwittingly fallen, willing to
leave to the future the solution of the
troublesome problem as to what is
finally to become of the Turks in Eu-
rope.
Austria has nearly made good her
original claims in accordance with the
treaty by taking forced possession of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and she will
soon be in condition TO afford aid in
picking another bone of the Turkey, so
ingeniously carved up by the cooks at
their recent conference in Berlin. The
work thus so happily begun must go on,
in the very nature of things. There is
no help for it now. Servia will soon
come to the front, asserting her share
of the spoils. Montenegro will follow
suit. Greece also will become more
and more restless, and, under the sting
of bitter disappointment, she, too, will
be prompted, in spite of England's pro-
testation, to appeal to the fortune of
war in order to secure her proportion
in the distributions of the waning
power of the Turks. Instead, then, of
the twenty-five years peace promised
by the late abortive effort in diplomacy,
we are on the eve of new complications.
Russia herself is continuing her stay in
Roumeia with force 100000 strong.
and her outposts are still within twenty
five miles of Constantinople. 1t is the
most natural thing in the world to infer
that the outcome of such combination
of circumstances cannot mean anything
else than complete control of Turkey in
Europe and the final disruption of the
empire. What was left undone mt Ber-
lin must now be done with the force of
arms. Austria, Russia, Servia, Greece
and Montenegro are in fair way to
dispose of what is now left of Turkey in
Europe. The late conference ought to
have disposed of the subject, but, as it
is, the whole problem is remanded for
final solution only after another bloody
conflict.
In the meantime, it is confidently as
serted that the British troops in India
have already crossed the borders of At
ghanistan, and are threatening to over
run the Ameer's dominions in revenge
of Britain's offended majesty. The
Ameer, however, is apparently on good
terms with Russia, and is looking in
that direction for aid to successfully
resist the invading forces. Russian
troops are in control of the chief city
in Turkestan, ready to keep a good
lookout in the direction of England's
Interior purposes. On the whole, the
prospects for little trouble in the East
are more than usually promising. Under
such circumstances it will be little in
convenient for England to keep her eyes
at the same time on Constantinople.
The peace of Europe and Asia is simply
in condition of an armed neutrality.
Smoldering embers of war may burst
forth at any moment, and throw all
Europe into volcanic connection. The
sovereigns may cry peace, but peace
cannot reign SO long as the conditions of
society continue as they are under exist
ing circumstances.