The sun., 1896-09-20
STORM OF BRITISH WRATH.
ITS PROMOTERS DID NOT EXPECT
so MUCH OF A HHIRLWIHD.


to Publie CIsnor Mt tho Risk of - Euro
peau wsr-The Sultan Knows Russia
WIN Maintain Mim-sir Charles Dnke's
Concise Anaiysis OF the situatioa-Couid
England Convince tho Powers that Her
Motives Arc Simply Humane s-Respects
in which the CEar Differs from I1is Father
Special Gable Despatch 10 THE Sun
LoSpoN, Sept. 19.-More than anything which
can happen in Constantinoplo, Europe fears at
this moment the threatened whirlwind OF Brit
,sh public opinion. Lord Salisbury breads IL
most OF all, and every possible influence 10 be-
ing brought TO bear to check the agitation In
this country There are signs to-day that those
who have conjured up tho storm are beginning
10 draw back in alarm; but II 10 too late. Mr..
Gladstone has virtually pro missed to address the
great meeting in Liverpool next week, and after
that there will be no silencing the thunder VI
Englnnd's wrath.
But the situation has changed and the indica-
tions are that the wrath will be utterly impo-
tent. England's isolation Is no longer splendid,
md her rulers will make no attempt to render
II glorious long 40 the present conditions con-
tinue Tho refusal Of the Continental powers
10 permit Intervention in Turkey has now be-
come unanimous aud emphatic. Lord Sails
hury's Government has declared unofflcialiy
that It will do nothing. no matter how much
PEOPLE may agitate, as long as that refusal
stands Lord Rosebery to-day practically en-
dorses this policy, thus putting himself in d.
rect opposition to the Grand OLD Man. his for
rner chief. Every Unionst and independent
newspaper to-day joins in an almost hysterical
appeal to tho mad sentimentalists" F." to aban-
don a course which would end in rushing the
country into war.
tits the peculiarlty of all these utterances. Of
tharx hat
without argument that for England to interfere
alone would inevitably bring about general
European war. The danger of that eventually
would certainly be great but 1t Is by no means
inevitable. There is no power in Europe more
earnestly opposed to war at the present moment
than Russia. Tho reasons for this attitude on
the part of England's chief rival are vastly in
teresting and important, and they are fully pre-
sented in q communication which will soon ap-
pear In the columns of THE SUN. Thew lead me
to urge that It is not impossible for England to
insist upon tho deposition of the Sultan under q
full guarantee of the unselishness Of her motive
and purpose.
The impression seems to prevail in Continen-
tai alcounlries that public opinion In England Is
absolute master of the British Government t,
hence there is great alarm throughout Europe
over the rapid spread OF indignation in these
Islands. Perhaps tho unofficial announcement
from Lord Salisbury that he will refuse TO yield
TO pressure from that quarter will calm Contl-
mental apprehensions. What effect 1t will have
upon the Sultan it is difficult to conjecture. The
dispatches printed by the Times and other Un-
iouist journals from Constantinople are of the
most alarming description. The best ground for
hope In that quarter 10 tho fact that Russia Ia
certainly using her strongest efforts To restrain
-tbs bioodeldrsty instincts of tho gracious SOW
eregn who sits on the Turkish throne. The
Sultan himself knows, unfortunately. that Rus
sa will maintain him In his position, no matter
what excesses he commits. hence the difficulty
of control.
A brief allusion has been made in the cable
dispatches sent to America this week to the
opinion of Sir Charles Dixie. His analysis OF
the situation from purely political and ma
terial point of view is so clear and comprehen-
sive that 1t deserves the most careful attention
which 1t Is receiving in this country and Europe
lie says:
Whether we can interfere In Turkey az well
as denounce depends upon an accurate ascer
tainment Of the facts. What we are asked tc
dois, in the first place. to act through European
concert As to this there can be no difference
OF opinion. 1t is the next step which 10 more
doubtful, viz. that failing decisive action By
the powers, Great Britain should intervene By
force.
Intervention at Constantinople by forcI
would mean forcing passage through the Oar
danelles, an operation which can be success
fully carried through by her Majesty's Medi
terranean feet. but probably not without heavy
loss, and possibly not without tremendous loss
Tho loss Of q frst-claSs British ironclad II
equivalent, as regards our position In the world
TO the absolute destruction of q French or Ger
man corps with all its guns
The forcible passage OF the Dardanelle
might also cnncaivably hiring abDut n
war. Tor which We are wholly unprepared. ant
in which our very existence power woult
be at stake. Forcible action elsewhere thai
at Constantinople by the seizure of ma
terial guarantees, SO far from sufhcini
to prevent q massacre at Constantinople
might possibly aRgravate 1t. 1t would DO likely
whether exerted In tho Archipelago or Arabic
or Smyrna, to bring about that partition OF tn
Ottoman empire between the great powers b,
which we have much TO lose and nothing Il
gain except a most dangerous inheritance i'm
possible to defend. Our worthless acquisition o
Cyprus and our. in my opinion, embarrassing
virtual protectorate OF Egypt, have destroyed
IN the minds OF the powers our credit for clea
hands In relation to the Ottomon empire AM
our power for usefulness in the Mohammeda
East. They have made 1t difficult for US TO lea
European concert. .s.They have made 1t in tn
highest degree dangerous to act without II
ana IL e, perhaps, question IL al thoso "h
call for forcible action by ourselves alone realiz
either our comparative weaknesB-only. hope
temporary. until the nation arouses itself TO loo
into its defences- the depth Of our unpopu
larity."
Not fact or statement in that terse summar
OF the situation can be controverted. EnRlan
must, in plain language, remain absolutely iner
no matter what happens in Turkey, or she mus
boldly face the risk of being compelled to hgh
Europe.
There are two inducements held out by tn
Cnion!st journals to-day to persuade the peopl
torestrain their indignation. One is that pei
haps somebody will be good enough to asBass
nate the sultan the other is that tine Prince c
Wales or somebody else may be able TO induc
tho Car 10 change his policy. AS for tn
former suggestion, the wish 10 father 10 tn
thought. As for the latter, II offers the smalle'
possible hope. Russia is now too fully committe
TO her great scheme of aggrandzement In var
Gus quarters OF the world to be willing to abaI
don It at the request OF its prospective victim.