The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-04


Russia and Turkey and which, to MI appear
ance, MS it ends one war may be the cause OF
another All the world has heard from
those whose interests are opposed to the
ratification of this trsaty elaborate state
menis of its dc iciencies of how it crushed
the Empire III Europe of that lovely ruler,
the Pndishah-a rs ii to crush such an empire
were equal ut once to all the cardinal
sins; how it was likely to upset the
world by putting that abominable creature,
the Christian rayah, in rather advantageous
relations to that best OF cutthroats, the Mos
lem gentleman -as if 10 put the bottom
rail on top" were hdeous crime in Turkey
also; and how, finally, it substituted here,
there and everywhere the sovereignty OF the
Car tor the sovereignty of the Sultan
Having heard the objections to it the reader
will perhaps have curiosity to know what
is really in it. AT one stroke it creates three
independent States and liberates forever
from the domination Of brutal savages the
people Of Roumania, Servia and Montcne-
gro. With regard TO Montenegro the world
has rejoiced and will rejoice in this fact,
for the heroic people of that country have
friends in all lands. Comparatively few
will heed the fate of the Servians, while the
Roumanians have exhibited 50 little APP
probation Of what they have gained in the
overthrow of Turkey that one cannot but
reflect how much more they would prob
ably have appreciated their independence
if they had gained it themselves. For all
Christian peoples whom this treaty leaves
subject to the Sultan it stipulates that
there shall be such reforms in the Ottoman
government as will practically better their
condition For certain peoples it suggests
that these reforms shall be those indicated
by the Conference OF Constantineple.
But the treaty docs not stipuate pre-
else time and way in which the reforms
shall be initiated and enforced. save rs to
Bulgaria. That district it declares to be a
tributary Ottoman province, with Christian
government and an elective prince, and it
lays down the particulars Of its boundaries
and it's future organization, and provides
for Russian occupation of the province
pending the initiation of this change.
Without such an occupation it is
very evident that the guarantee OF
the treaty would be mere waste pa
per. 1t would be an Ottoman prom
Use to create a Christian government
in country within the dominions Of the
Sultan, and if anybody believes that prom
Use would outweigh feather in any scale
he is ignorant of the story OF the many
promises of the same sort made by Turkey
in other days and always broken. What is
the value to the Danes of the promise that
Prussia made by the Treaty of Prague to put
to the vote of the people in Schleswig-Hol-
stein an option OF nationality? II exacted
promises have no other guarantee than the
honor of those who make them
performance never comes, whether
the promise be made in Germany
or in Turkey. In the Conference at Con-
stantinople this difficulty was compre-
hended. Every Cabinet in Europe knew
that whatever reforms were proposed none
would be enforced if action were left to
Turkey. Hence the suggestion made ut
that time that some foreign State should
furnish corps Of gendarmerie. which
should be the public power OF the province
and it's guarantee under Christian gov
ernor. Russia simply does now in hold
ing the country, an net the necessity of
which was then recognized on every hand,
and she does not define the limit oil her oe.
cupltion becauseit is not practicable to do SO.
An important part of the treaty is that
which demands great indemnity and
takes it out in land Russia demands in
all an indemnity of twelve hundred million
dollars, or sum superior by two hun
dred million to what Germany demanded
of France mt the end OF the war in 1871.
But if we count the acquisitions made on
French cities by German troops during the
war Russia's demand is not in excess of
that made by Germany; but it is certain
that Turkey cannot pay the demand what
ever it is, and therefore the determination
nifty demanded shall be covered by
the cession Of the Dobrudscha and part of
Armenia. by the treaty the settlement of
the point as to the freedom of the Darda-
nelles is relegated to an agreement between
the Car and the Sultan. In other words, it
is q part Of the treaty not given to the world
At least that is the Interpretation put upon
this section in England-and the demand
that the nature OF that agreement should
be discovered and that the agreement itself
should be laid before n congress Of tho
Powers if it exists, with the text of the
treaty, provoked the disagreement which de-
feated the project of a conference. On
that difficulty England has rested her case
with good judgment MS to what constitutes
the main point. With this treaty in their
hands and the English circular published
on Tuesday before them, the portion Of the
public that studies these sui jects closely
can Judge oil the justice that is on either
side. We have already declared our opinion