The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-23
AN APPLE OF pIscoRp.
Constantinople Should Become the Seat
Of n Universal Congress.


In our last article on the Armenian Out
RACES we advanced the theory that Turkey
must disappear but in that case what
should become Of Constantinople, the great
capital of the east? Let us see. When
the gods drove Discord from Olympus, she
avenged herself by throwing behind her a
golden apple on which she had written:
For the most beautiful" This was sure
means of stirring up dissension among the
genter sex Of the celestial abode, and
consequently of prolonglng her empire
For many years the European powers have
been making great efforts to eXpe from
their society the same recreant goddess.
But the marplot replies to all their di-
plomatic missiles by savage jeers, and as
She fees, casts behind her among the
powers a splendid golden apple upon which
she has written: For the cleVerest
This golden apple Is COnstantinople.
Never was a richer and more tempting
prey offered to these covetOus nations, but
none Of them dares to openly show her
greedy desires. Three goddesses OF an
cient Olympus eagerly disputed Tor the
prize of beauty, but only two powers or
modern Europe venture to manifest any
pretensions to the capital Of the east. and
even then this is not done openly. Since
Russia was delivered by Peter the Great
from the state of barbarism, she has
claimed her place in the bosom Of the
western family, and she has never ceased
to encroach upon the domains conquered
centuries before by the Ottomans. NO
ambition could appear more natural and
legitimate These Ottomans were barDa-
rians whose very presence defiled Europe,
Russia therefore, the advance sentinel OF
civilization, took upon herself TO drive
them back TO their ancient haunts These
Ottomans We're infdels who had subJuga-
ted the Eastern church. Was IT not Rus
sia's duty to seek by every means IN her
power 10 emancipate this church, The
Ottomans had reduced the 5laV popula-
tions Of the Lower Danube to a state Of
servitude; was II not then right that Rus
STA, the great Slav Russia, should take
these populations beneath her aegis and
extend her protection 10 the GreehS VINO
were also assailed I'm their religion and in
their liberty The OttOmans inhabit
fertile and temperate region, over which
they have no rights other than those OBJ
tanned by brutal usurpatton and occu-
pancy. Why then should Russia, so far
relegated to glacial climate, scruple to
take from them their conquest The otto
mans have in their hand the key TO that
great lake by which alone Russia can com
municate with the waters OF southern
Europe; why should Russia not wrest from
them this key Why should she not take
possession Of the city which would insure
the liberty Of her commerce and Of her
movements in the south, the city without
which she will ever remain a prisoner In
the Black sea Why IN short, should she
not deliver herself from the tnsolVent
jaller who opposes the accomplishment or
her glorious destiny? All this is at the
bottom Of Russia's every thought and de-
sire but she is careful not 70 express II
in such clear and precise terms. H. under
lies the articles Of her newspapers, but her
government dissimulates il with Machiay-
Gillian prudence.
And England, what does she think? She
thinks that her empire represents the
highest degree Of civilization 10 wbich
humanity has ever attained, and that this
civilization can only increase with the
British power She thinks that this power
is represented by her navy and marine ana
that her vessels should penetrate without
imposition wherever there are navigable
waters. She thinks that India is the prin-
cipal part of her empire and that between
the island which Is the seat of her govern
ment and this distant posses
sion there should be no obstacle no
solution Of continuity. She thinks that