THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 177, 18 August 1876, Page 10

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

«-» Intelligence from Europe continues to assure us that there is no likelihood of a war breaking out, in which the great powers would become involved. The Turks are to be left to themselves, it appears, in dealing with the insurgents and those who are joined with them ; and very energetically the " murderous brood" are endeavoring to subdue their opponents by means of indiscriminate slaughter, and all the horrors for which Mohammedan warfare has ever been renowned. For some years it has been the policy of England to support the tottering throne of the Sultan ; to this end, enlightened British statesmen have devoted their talents, and the pens of British writers have been dedicated to the praises of the Turkish character. It is but a few months since we read a glowing panegyric on the mildness and humanity of the dwellers by the Bosphorus. If a beggar turned away unaided, the hard heart that had remained untouched by his appeal did not beat in the bosom of a Turk ; if a mongrel was heard to howl, the foot that had kicked him was not that of a follower of the Prophet Such were the contents of a paragraph, found in a work written on Turkey by an enthusiastic Englishman, and thence quoted by the pres3 and pub-

lished far and wide. We were not converted by the opinions put forward in thia paragraph. History and the aspect of the countries under Turkish rule too strongly contradicted any argument that might be advanced in favor of this people ; even had we not been firmly persuaded that the principles of Mohammed were far from tending to form a character remarkable for its philanthropy. We held fast to the belief, and still maintain it, that amongst the many and great benefits conferred on Europe by the Popes, there are none that more entitle their memory to veneration than the check given by them to the power of the Mahommedans ; for had not the Crusades begun to weaken the Crescent, and the battle of Lepanto consummated its decline, it is hard to say to ■what extent Christendom might have come under its dominion. TJI^o not think it is now necessary to show the superficial nature and the undeniable falsehood of panegyrics on the Turks. All plainly see these wretches in their true colours, revelling in murder and brutality, a blot on civilisation, and •a disgrace to the policy that has upheld them. But can we believe that hostilities will be confined to Turkey and the adjacent provinces ? This seems to depend upon the issue of the present contest. Should the Porte be victorious, the unfortunate inhabitants of the districts revolted will, no doubt, be obliged to bend again to the bitter yoke ; but should these latter eventually succeed, difficulties of a grave nature may arise. Already the Sclavonic element in Hungary is troublesome to the Government, and Austria would look with suspicion on the erection of an independent principality on her frontier, in which such an element would prevail. A like objection would lie against the annexation to the Austrian empire of the provinces separated from Turkey ; and that they sbouid become subject to Russia would be still more perplexing. Hence, it seems by no means certain that the great powers will, for any lengthened period, be able to abstain from war, and there are quite grounds enough, in considering the present aspect of affairs, for apprehension and uneasiness.