Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-18
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Fifty years ago another European
congress" was about to assemble at
~ Berlin 10 consider ad-
Inc congress justrnents incidental TO
NJ Rsrl;r the Russo Turkish War
The Star Of March &c,
1878. thus comments on the subjects:
twenty-five years have wroushr
great changes in the relations Of thu
European powers. The Congress Of
Paris at the beginning and the Con-
greSs OF Berlin at the end of this period
are the historical opponents Of their
respective epochs. Their very names
are suggestive OF the important fact
that the crown of European pre-emi-
hence has been wreSted from France
and now adornS the Emperor Of Ger
many. The treaty OF Berlin, II Europe
shall be favored with such a document.
viii annul the treaty Of Paris. The
year 1856 saw the signature OF the lat
ter. The powers. soon to reaSsemblc,
then engaged TO respect the trdepend-
ence OF the Ottoman empire. Declara-
ton was made that it is clearly under
stood that il cannot in any case give 70
the said powers the right TO interfere
either collectively or separately in the
relations OF His Majesty the Sultan
with his subjects, nor in the internal
administration OF his empire.
by special agreement Gr~,t Britain.
France and Austria. joint e ! Seyel-
ally. guaranteed the inder> Ice and
integrity of the Ottoman q. ire and
declared that any infract.on Of the
StipulationS OF the treaty Of Paris would
be considered by them sufficient cause
for war, All these barriers against
Russian aggression have long been the
merest rubbish. hardly obStructiEg n
course of events which they seemed
powerleSs 10 prevent, The sooner they
are formally tossed aside the better,
The flrmneSS OF the English repre-
Sentatives at the Congress Of Paris fast
ened severe terms on conquered Russia,
which have not, however, been SO easily
shaken of. Stringent they gndcuet-
edly were says Mr.. Theodore Martin
In his life OF the Prince Ccrsort. for
they involved an acknowledgment CT
humoling defeat in the StipulationS that
she should thenceforth erect no Tih-
tary or naval arSenalS IN the Black Sea.
which was To be absolutely closed ~
vessels OF war, and that she should con-
sent 10 the recufcation Of her frontier
with Turkey IN Europe. This. Russia
knew, involved the surrender OF thRt
portion Of ReSSarah,a which hcrdeVec
on the Danube. and in all her history
Russia had never given back any terri
tory which she had once Appropriated
With ReSSaTabia restored to Its orlgtuat
proportions. the last trace Of Ru$SiA&
humiiiationS will be eftaced
1t remains 10 be seen whether the
powers which guaranteed the E0nlA~
mans the possession OF their privileges
and tmmunitieS Will permit the MUS
tlce 10 be done them which \ robbery
Of ~ hAf -
much for the CVSSreSS Of Paris
The assembly At Berlin will meet
under greatly changed conditions, Nus
sta appears as conoueTor Rt this time
France has lost much OF her military
prestige. Germany, which Mas Admit
ted at Paris only oy Suffrance, and In
a manner To humiliate her, ROW pEe~
sides, Austria II stan the same, rNvg
strong on the strongest side watchtrI
an opportunity 10 do a gVNNd S1gNke ~
business, England served as u spur on
the measures At Paris; she VIII ace -
y check OH these at Berlin, Aeg kreA'
aim now II \ combination with AslSl'a
which will enable her to SlNeAS Win
authority and 10 sustain herself In the
bold I>aSltion which she Is alnscNs eel
tain IL assume,
MANY aifAcultiaS wait upon the coma
Ing conference, 4 cCslliSANn between the
representatives ee EaglsnA anu Russia
seems Inevitable. The former natitG'
has suftered no crushing military de
feat 60 ra,,se II tn reeeVe frum INNSittSaNs
which q has hesege deiended by felre
og arms, aud the latter, elased Nv i&
recent victory, seems diSgNASed - carry
matters With htsa hand IL II u DC
hepad that the struggle IN Diplomacy
may not prove the precursor ~ ~'s OF
more SeFlt@lS nAtuSe,N