Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-04-27
In this England is wrong, Russia

right.
As to the immediate occasion fol-
war, if war follow, the facts are
not all known; but so far as known,
and as put forth by leading organ
of British thought, it is the English
who have melted the Afghans to tax
ing the offensive; and if this be so,
here again England must stand con-
demned. But if we blame each
power equally and desire to pass
judgment in this issue, we come to a
third eqnation-the results which
would follow victory on either side.
A victory for England would SIM
ply mean further lease of life to
the miserable Moslem rule. 1t would
result probably in placing the Russia
Afghan boundary northward proba-
bly, at line due east from Sarakhs.
As for the rest, we should see the
stdtu IN quo ante bellum,-the Cor
dian knot still united, the Sphinx's
riddle unsolved. Victory for Eng
land would settle nothing. 1t would
mean sooner or later another war
and another and another, till
Russia gets a seaport. With the
passage through the Dardanelles
open, Russia becomes European
power. European civilization at its
best will enter Russia-whose gov
eminent cannot fail to catch the spir-
it of liberty prevailing in Europe
and work an influence for good in
calculable. Keeping Russia closed
up as now, means the perpetuation
of absolutism of which her inaccessi-
bility to Europe, more than anything
else, Is the sufficient cause to-day.
The result of Russian victory then,
paradox though it be-, will inure to
the benefit of civilization and liberty.
And now, with these issues before
us, bit of retrospect may not be
improbable. And there is no ig-
noring the fact that it is to England
and the powers acting with her, that
such a solecicm as the existence of
an enervated Moslem empire IN
Christian Europe is due. Russia has
rightly claimed the privilege of
passing her vessels through the OAR
danells, and this right should be
conceded her. But instead of con-
ceding it Europe has persisted in
keeping Russia out of her natural
port, and has done so by supporting
barbara Mohammedan power-the
legitimate successor of that govern.
ment which under the command OF
the Sultan Mohammed II. overthrev
|
a Christian empire in night anC
assassinated its emperor. Yet from
pure commercial jealousy England
has sustained this power, and is to-
day sustaining it. The advent o
Russia to the Bosphorus would meal
the rapid development of that grea
power, and the civilizing and Chris
tianizing of Turkey, in whose gold
en-domed mosque the voice of Chris
tian praise would go up instead o
the call of the nuezzin to prayer o
the incense burned in honor of
sensual teacher. There is no gal
to civilization by upholding tn
Crescent, as England is doing to-day
but there is much with which sh
may reproach herself, as she pose
as the protector of Moslemism an
the champion of the Sultan. Shelle
it was, who in his better days sa
the Cross leading the generations
and the Crescent fading before Betl
lehem's star. But that vision wi
not be realized till Sultan and shei
+ and pasha and harem all are banishe
: from STEAMBOAT, and
:, On blue Marmora's waters and olive hid isles
the banner of the cross waves tt
umphant over the crescent emblem
STANDARDIZATION at Work.