New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
RUSSIA PREPARING.
grMBLINGS IN EUROPE OF ANOTHER
WAR AGAINST TURKEY-DISTURB
ANCES WITHIN FORCING THE
CZAR AGAINST HIS WILL.

CAR AGAINST HIS WILL
However much the political testament Of Peter
the Great may be denounced mythical by stu
dents of history. there is no doubt that the di-
rections which it contains constitute the keynote
of the national policy of Russia and the founda-
ton we'll as the inspiration Of the patriotic
aspirations Of the vast majority Of the subjects
of the Car. Coupled with the recommendation
10 extend the Muscovite Empire in the direction
Of Germany and OF India, there is the command
10 keep Constantinople In view the chief OBJ
iect OF Russian aims. since its possession would
give to 1.-THE Great White Gar the mastery of
the world The first Napoleon professed the
same ideas abour Stamboul, and while We may
hesitate to believe that the acquisition Of the
Turkish capital and control OF the entrance to
the Black Sea will endow Nicholas III with the
universal supremacy predicted by Peter the Great.
vet must face the fact that it is an article
OF faith and obstinate conviction to the entire
sav race. 1t is this traditional dogma, which
has become almost a matter Of religious princi-
ple in Russia, that has been the cause OF each
of the latter's with Turkey-wars which
have been forced upon Car and government by
g popular sentiment. which. despite the much
vaunted autocracy OF the crown. is so strong as
10 be practically irresistible. Every one of these
conflicts with Turkey has been started by Rus
instance there has been evidence to show that
the beginning of hostilities was forced upon the
government at ST. Petersburg against its wishes,
and without due preparation.
These wars have succeeded one another at in
tervals Of from twenty to twenty five years
throughout the last century. In 1906 the nom
execution of the treaty of Jassy, concluded in
1892, was put forward as reason for carrying
Muscovite fire and sword into the Ottoman En-
cfrn C0l~ inIon
dence provided Russia with another cause for
the invasion Of the Sultan's dominions Then
came the Of the Crmea, which originated
with a demand made by Nicholas upon the
Padishah for special privileges in connection
with the holy places in Palestine, which could
not have been granted without involving Turkey
in conflicts with the other great powers. notably
France and England. Nicholas deplored the
Crimean War which, with all his despotism. he
was powerless TO prevent, and 1t is a matter Of
history that 1t ended by breaking his proud
spirit and that he succumbed to the distress
caused by the disastrous consequences which he
had foreseen.
In 1877 his son, Alexander H. champion Of
peace and most enlightened man, who realized
that war would arrest the economic development
OF Russia and prevent the fulfilment OF the re-
forms which he had already inaugurated, as we'll
as those which he had in view, was literally
driven by public feeling in Russia into once
more invading the Ottoman Empire under the
pretext Of coming to the rescue OF those Chris
tian lieges of the Sultan in Serva and Bulgaria
who had risen in rebellion against the rule of the
Sublime Porte. Russia IN no sense Of the
word prepared for this war, and in its earlier
stages suffered a number Of cruel and humiliat-
ing reverses, while she was eventually robbed
by the international congress at Berlin Of the
fruits OF victory purchased at such terrible
cost.
And the time has come round for another
move on Constantinople. Nearly a quarter OF
century had elapsed since the last attempt made
10 fulfil the instructions contained in the will Of
Peter the Great-an attempt which nearly
succeeded that the Russian army actually
encamped at San Stefano, within sight OF Con-
stantnople, when forced TO halt by the English
feet, and compelled to withdraw by the concert
Of great powers assembled in conference at Ber-
lin in 1878. AS was the case with Alexander III
and with Nicholas /, the present Czar is strongly
to In fact, 1t may be questioned
whether there is in all the world ruler more
sincerely anxious for peace than the present
Muscovite Emperor who came to the throne
few years ago with strong hopes and Arm belief
that il would he possible by means of an inter-
national system of arbitration to put an end TO
all war
ton the good faith of Nicholas in connection
with the Peace Congress at The Hague, owing
10 the numerous contradictions between the
pacific views which he processes and the ag-
gressive policy Of his government But those
who have any personal knowledge Of him and
of his character firmly convinced that he
and still means all that he has said
the subject of peace and Of his horror OF war,
that Russia's aggressive policy In China,
pecialy In connection with the military occu-
patton Of Manchuria, has been forced upon him
against his will, and that he may in the same
way be compelled by public sentiment and by
lnexorable fate to embark upon another
against Turkey. with just the same reluctance
and the dark forebodngs that were
pressed by his grandfather and great-grand
father at the outset of the two previous Musco-
yite invasions Of Turkey.
Before giving a brief enumeration OF the ind-
Turkey and Russia, it msy be as we'll to point
OUT that matters have reached such a stage, eco
nomically speaking in the dominons of the Car
that. ruinous such struggle is certain
prove 10 Muscovite industry and trade, well
as 10 the entire fiscal system Of the govern
ment, IL may nevertheless serve to avert worse
efl In the shape of civil and revolution
within. Never before has Russia been con-
nonted by such an economic crisis that with
which she IS brought face to face. She is
on The eve Of another famine, more terrible than
any OF those which have gone before. Out of
ihe seventy odd provinces Of the European di-
VISION or the empire, only two are officially