The Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3896, 12 October 1880, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1880.

We havo Bbown how, afc the first Conference of representatives of the Great Powers at Berlin upon the termination of the Rueso-Turkish war, France through M. Waddington appeared as tho advocate of the claims of Greece ; England through Lords Beaconsfield and ,'alisbuey oppoeing by a sullen negative any attempt to still further weaken the Ottoman power in Europe. France was successful in obtaining a sufficient recognition of the Greek claims to found a basis of further and continual agitation for their full realisation. During the period of M. Wadding - ton's term of power, France, upon all occasions, is found favouring the cause of Greece, whilst in consequence of the Beaconsfield Cabinet nothing practical resulted. Suddenly the position is changed. Almost simultaneously Waddington falls in France and Beaconsfield in England. The Ministry of M. Feetcinet is averse to any action being taken of a nature calculated to bring aboufc a crisis, whilst the Government of Mr Gladstone immediately takes measures to call upon Turkey for a strict performance of the obligations which had been forced upon her. This is the record of history. Ifc will be found that, when news first came to us of the initial step by the Gladstone Government, we pointed out in these columns whafc the inevitable reaulfc would be, and events have followed precisely as we predicted. We do nofc claim acy credit for this, for any ordinary intelligence could have penetrated the reasons for Beaconsfield's refusal to take action against Turkey, and anticipated the determined obstruction of the Porte, the obstinate policy of procrastination and deceit in which it would be embodied, and the consequent difficulties of the Powers in seeking to obtain a compliance with their demands. We have indioated more than recited fully the promises, trickß, and subterfuges with which fche efforts of fche Great Powers have been met, until at last apparently the patience of Europe has been exhausted, and the public opinion of the world demands tbat fche game of promise and shuffle so long practised shall cease. Even in France, the voice of opinion is against the professed policy of tho Government, and a demand is made that the coercion now fco be adopted, shall be of a more stem and effectual character than thafc bifcherto employed.

Those who hold ifc is necessary for British interests that the command of Constantinople and the Dardanelles should be in possession of a strong Anti-Eussian power will, as a matter of course, agree with the Conservative policy of Lords Beaconsfield and Salisbury. To them the dismemberment of Turkey will appear a source of the u;mosfc danger tj Europe, and the creation of a number of small principalities such as Servia, Rou mania, and the two Bulgarias simply a division of the Turkish dish to be swallowed in convenient mouthfule, afc his leisure, by tho great Northern Bear. If this view is accepted, tben the course upon which the Gladstone Ministry has led the Great Powers has from the first been a fatal mistake. On the otber band those who hold that the alleged acquisitive characteristics of the Bussian are mere bogey tales devised to affright the weak hearted, will join in applauding every effort to drive the Turk oufc of Europe. Certainly every great name in the history of England in modern times until thafc of Mr Gladstone is reached, is to be found in association with tbe former view, and in opposition to fche latter. Mr Gladstone himself was a member of the Palmerston Ministry, called into being by public opin'on in England, demanding a more vigorous and able prosecution of tho Crimean war — undertaken to maintain the integrity of Turkey — which cosfc the Mother Country thousands of her bravest sons and millions of money. We are now asked by Mr Gladstone to believe that he, all the foremost statesmen of the passed age, and almost the whole British people bave been labouring for long years under a most expensive — almost ruinous — delusion ; that we bave, under his able guidance, gofc upon fche righfc track at last ! Nevertheless, it is to be remembered that many of the profoundesb thinkers of tho present day Bfcill cling tenaciously to the old traditions of British policy in the East, which Mr Gladseone has forsaken. It certainly must be regarded as a moßt extraordinary spectacle to find English and Russian troops arrayed side by side against Turkey — a spectacle enough to make Mr Gladstone himself start back astounded. Ifc is truth to aay that there is no literature so melancholy as human history — recording, as ifc does, the huge mistakes and blunders of statesmen and peoples.

Apart from theso considerations ifc must be confessed that the position of Turkey morally, financially and politically is utterly hopeless. The debasing influences of a rotten system, operating for centuries, has destroyed all energy ani purity in administration,, as it has vitiated her social life. Capacity, ambition, and a spirit of devoted patriotism has ceased to find existence in her Councils. Turkey is as weak and a 9 powerless (o work oufc her own redemption by reform, as — by her corruptions — reform is imperatively required. If we have not succeeded in making clear fco our readers by the long narrative of subterfuges and false pretences — demonstrating how thoroughly incapable of honesty and straight courses her Government id — which we have placed before them as an indication of the policy of Turkey during the past two years, then we have altogether failed in our purpose. ifc might bave been expected tbat the determined attitude assumed hy the Great Powers under the leadership of England would have awakened the Porte to the consciousness that the time had at length arrived when all furthei 1 hope to avert the inevitable by speoions promises and supplications for delay was delusive, but it has not so proved ; she haß trusted to her powers of temporising and the international jealousies known to subsiat in Europe to burst up the concert of Powers j but she has failed, and it is now clear she cannot longer escape. Turkey must yield wholly to the demanda of the Powers. Confidence in her deßire for amendment haa departed j there are now no believors in her recuperative powers ; and the long suffering patience of Eurepe is exhausted. 'Xhis is the Btrtte ct Turkey to-day, If the de-

manda of the Greafc Powers are nofc immediately assented to, and steps at once taken to carry them into practical effect, the forcing of the Dardanelles by the combined fleets of Europe and their appearance before Stamboul is inevitsble, to be followed posaibly by consequences more fatal to the existence of Turkey as a power than any suggestion thafc has yefc been put forward.