The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-18
Russia rhreetens a "auction."

Later Developments ex planning tne dIleSeu
seizure by British warships of the Ottoman
possession OF Mitylene upon the theory Of
various alphabetically innocent escapades
OF troops, ranging all the way from prac-
tice drill to a moonlight picnic on the island,
recalls forcibly the craftily acquisitive
tactics which have led Russia to reach out
for Constantinople at regular intervals
about twenty years apart for the past 200
years 1t is merely the continuation Of an
old game Of diplomatic duplicity and
treachery between the Russian and British
sharpers Of statecraft. To the rest of civilized
mankind it is far more amusing than
dangerous.
So far as il has lately gone it strikingly
reminds one Of the encounter Of Drawn and
brightness between a courteous but sensi-
tive gentleman and bluff man of inten-
lions far less offensive than bis manners.
When Mr.. Bluff genially called Mr.. Courtly
liar that gentleman affably though vigor-
ously knocked him down. Whereupon Mr.
Bluff struggled to his feet and, as soon as
he could recover his hat and his breath,
made haste to shout:
whats the matter, MANI 1 was only
joking"
80 was | ;" blandly smiled Mr.. Courtly.
"But that was pretty rough joke OF
yours" grunted Mr.. Bluff.
$50 was yours" retorted Mr.. Courtly.
Probably Mr.. Bluff could not have
been SO effectually impressed with the un-
couth ruggedness Of that style of POPULARITY
in any other way.
| 1nta rrt,k cd
men recently passed the Dardanelle5, in vio-
lation of the existing treaty, tue cars min
listers very suavely explained in response to
lSugland's vigorous protest, that, since all
merchant vessels were exempt from the
treaty prohibition to pass through the
straits and all British merchant ships are
constituted by English law part OF the
naval reserve, the Russian reserve had the
same right to be considered by construction
merchant ships. Or in other words, If
merchant ship capable Of carrying cannon
is exempt why shouldn't warship capa-
BILE of carrying merchandise be exempt!
Very plausible sort Of sophistry, that. But
instead of wasting any time in intricate and
learned discussions Of those fine distinctions
England adopted the much quicker aud sim
pier course of ordering the British Med
iteranean fleet from Malta to watch the
Dardanelles, and then jumped upon the con-
venient island of Mitylene just to illustrate
what could be done upon pinch. Then she
gravely explained with ponderous diplo-
| matte politeness that it was all an innocent
escapade of the exuberant young officers in
Britanuia's wel-developed navy. That was
all.
1t was quite as satisfactory as the ap-
parently ELUSIVE penitence Of the great big
! man who has just deliberately crushed your
pet corn under his heavy heel. Yet you
! hesitate to hit him because you can't really
determine whether his diabolical grin sim
ply means Cancellation or an histrionic
repression Of ungodly glee. There are also
prudential reasons which materially assist
you in restraining your impetuous wrath.
That is apparently the exact present posi-
tion Of England and Russia. Between the
crouching lion and the sulking bear
nervously fidgets a somewhat panic-stricken
Turkey. Neither of the animals appear to
be particularly interested in 1t. Yet each
is SO alertly watchful of the other as to
prevent any sort of sudden grab for the
prize.
Possibly the most curious and remarka-
BILE phase of the whole ancient and intricate
affair is that the great Russian autocrats
have not been actuated by mere spirit Of
territorial acquisition. On the contrary,
! there is good reason for the belief that their
persistent and long-sustained maneuvers
and Vaccinations to get possession of Con-
stantinople have been and still are inspired
by religious influence and zeal.
Ever since the great religious organize
ton established by Constantine the Great
was divided after his death between the
eastern and western empires of Rome the
patriarch of Constantinople has held to the
eastern church the same relation that the
pope holds to the western church. That has
made Byzantium the head and centre of the
two most powerful and numerously followed
religions in the world.
AS Russian rulers have long been ambi-
tious TO have duly authorized established
national church similar to that of England.
and Russian diplomacy and intrigue have
thus far signally failed to secure from either
| the pope or the patriarch of Constantinople
the needful ecclesiastical concessions, the
Muscovite idea seems to be to seize
the central sanctuary and get
all the salvation there is in it all
at one fell swoop By controlling the prop
erty of the church the car seems to assume
that he will secure a more potent influence
with the patriarch. That is apparently
what an unusually long dynasty of auto
Gratis have schemed and fought for with a
tenacious pertinacisy that has remained I'M
wavering for centuries.
Unless Russia makes some sort of further
menaciug movement toward Constantine
pie Europe will probably continue in the
enjoyment of serene peace. Should the
Muscovites manifest any more symptoms OF
acquisitive treachery. however, there will
probably be q very lively international
"ruction."
Probably Col. Cockerill with his bright
young family of newspapers is just begin
ming to realize his great luck in getting
safely out of the antique building in which
the Commercial Advertiser had spent SC
many years of its eventful existence jus,