The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-09
SATURDAY, OCTOBER ., 1850.
The Eastern Trouble.

Balkan States and the persistent opposition
to Russian demands made by the Bulgarian
deputies has tended to cool down the extreme |
overbearance Of General Kanlbars, the Czar's |
Commissioner.
Still it is believed in Constantinople that
Russia has no intention of modifying her de-
mauds Turkey has taken alarm and com
menced fortifying, moblizing her troops, and
placing the whole of Asia Minor in a defen-
sible position in order to meet any flank at
tack in Constantinople by the Russian gen
erals.
Bulgaria is a suzeranity of the Porte, and
the Sultan intends not to relinqush his
rights without repetition of those cam
paigns which were signalzed by such tri-
umphs to her arms as were seen at Plevna.
There is undoubtedly compact between
England and Austria. Those countries have
common foe aud almost identical interest.
Russian occupation of Constantinople and
domination of the Aegean and Black Seas
would mean the annihilation of Austrian
commerce.
In the recently published History of Rus
sia by Professor Rambaud the following pas
sage occurs :-"On the 9th and 14th of Janu-
sry, 1858, two private interviews between
the Gear Nicholas and the English ambassa-
dor to St. Peterburg, Sir Hamilton Seymour,
revealed to the British minister the ultimate
aim of all the Emperor's schemes. Theil
aim was nothing less than to wind up the
bankrupt estate of the "sick man." Servia
the principalities, and Bulgaria were to form
independent States under the protection o
Nicholas. AS to Constantinope, if circum
stances obliged him to occupy it, he woul'
establish himself there as trustee and not a
proprietor. England should in her turn
free to appropriate territories at her cor
venience, provided she did not stretch on
her hand for Constantinople. NOW" sal
the Gear to the English ambassador iu is
friend aud gentleman that speak to you
n If England and myself can come to an vi
derstanding about this affair, the rest ma
ters little to me, and shall care very lit
as to what Others may think or do He il
sisted upon this latter point. "If we are o
ly a1road am on,n nlatalx OF aaea ahnut II
West Of Europe what the others may thir
at the bottom of their heart is of small il
portance,'
These others were, first France and thC
Austria. Nicholas iattered himself that
could persuade and carry away the Euglis
the imprudent confidence &,
the invasion of the Balkan prncipalities a
peared to England to be the first ste
toward the execution of the scheme of Tt
kish dsmemberment."
The identity of the present political po
tion with that of thirty three years ago "
be seen at once The present crisis is 0
similar to that that precipitated the Crime
war of 1854 when Russia was subdued
the allies at Sebastopol.
In July 1858 a British fleet took up pc
tion in Besika Bay, outside Constantinop
or more exactly, the Sea of Marmora, as
the recent Russo Turkish war W hen Const;
tinopIe was threatened by the Czar's troc
in 1878.
Last week the British fleet was ordered
rendezvous at the same point. British 0
cials as well as Turkish ones at Coustar
nople consider it extremely improbable tt
Russia will recede from her position in
gard to Bulgaria. The imperial Turk
commissioner in Bulgaria, Gadban Pas
considers it even probable that the Bulg
ian Sobranje will re-elect Alexander as I'll
prince in the face of General Kaulb
threats. This will precipitate a Europ,
war,