RUSSIA'S DEMANDS AND BRITAIN'S DUTY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 268, 21 June 1878, Page 19

RUSSIA'S DEMANDS AND BRITAIN'S DUTY.

With a mental obliquity that is perfectly amazing, there are still some persons who maintain the disinterestedness of Russia in invad"S&e Ottoman Empire. With tho Treaty of San Stefano before tnem bristling with testimonies of Muscovite faithlessness and perfidy, suck intellectual blindness is truly astounding, Russia's avowed intention in commencing the war was, the liberation of oppressed Ohnstiansirom larkish rule, unquestionably a purpose noble and « *?% all sinister design, she indignantly repuclia^cl the accusation that her real pnrpose in undertaking hostilities was territorial aggrandisement, she had no avriere jmrnic, her desire was a grand and pious one, for the achievement of which she wanted no recompense but the thanks of a lib-rated people and the applause of freedom-loving nations. l • + ? a * S * lC merely fulfilled this mission and refrained from diverting the traits of the war to her own interests, with what a great moral prestige could she not have retired from the struggle, and what an imperishable niche in the temple of fame would not have been reserved for an Emperor who had spilled the blood of his subjects and lavished his treasure in the emancipation of an enslaved race.- But now, after all her sacred promises, we see her attempting to limit the irceaoni of the peoples whose liberator she proclaimed herself to be, endeavouring to rob them of the territory guaranteed to them by the sacreel word of the great powers, and trying to move every obstacle trom tlie path to that goal, the dream of every Czar and Minister, the city of Constantine and the natural seat of the world's "empire. 1< rom a new and independent Bulgaria, Great Britain has nothing to fear ; but a Bulgaria, governed by Russia, and kept in order by a Hussion gendarmerie, voila, vne mitre chose, and one which affects in a very sensible and material way those interests which it is the paramount duty of every British subject faithfully to conserve. Under the new arrangement 170 miles or more of sea coast on the Mvesai are given to Bulgaria, with several important sea ports. Such ports would be simply rendezvous for a Russian Mediterranean fleet, and hi a very shsrt time the sham would be discarded and the reality of Russian Bulgaria exhibited to astonished Europe by a formal annexation^ lhen, m order to facilitate the speedy subiucation of the remaining portion of the Turkish Empire in Europe, in the next war, all ancient fortresses will be demolished." " There will be no strongholds m future on the banks of the Danube." The clauses in the Treaty relating to the occupation of Bulgaria by Russian troops could never be assented to by either Austria or Great Britain. Witness the naivete with which they are worded :. " Until tho complete formation of a native militia that vrill be sufficient to preserve order security and tranquility, Russian troops will occupy tlie country and will lend effectual assistance to the Commissaire in case of need" And again : "The Russian army will preserve its communication with Russia not only by Roumania, but also by tho ports of the Black bea, Varna, and Burgas, where they -can organise for the term of the occupation the necessary depots." And let us remember this army is to be supported by the impoverished and exhausted Bulgarians themselves No ! there is no justification for a single Cossack to remain on iurkish territory after the definite conclusion of hostilities, and the attempt to force this condition upon tho Powers must necessarily end in war. But it will be said the occupation by Russian troops is only provisional. True : the parchment declares so. But, cut Vono? Has not a bitter experience taught us that Russia's word is only provisional, and do not the documents of centuries attest the falsity of her professions mid the sliallowness of her honour ? Wherefore should we lull ourselves into a false security because of a compact dictated by expediency, and made but to be broken ? The retrocession of Bessarabia is such an outrage on international law and right as to demand our most strenuous and determined resistance, lo permit it would be to acknowlsdge the fruitlessness and muhlity of the Cnmean war and to confess the humiliation of England It would virtually hand ovor to Russia the command of the Danube, the grpat water-way of central Europe. The question at issue plainly stated and stripped of diplomatic cobwebs is shall Caesansm prevail over Western Europe and the military tyranny of a semi-barbarous nation he confirmed through the inaction of those powers which erst have been the upholders of international honour and the sacred obligations of treaties. Our own statesmen now see clearly that iurkey will not be the bone of contention in the strafe ' 1 f # J? bon C * Com , e< There wiU be grater interests at stake than wEetber this or that river, or this or that mountain, shall bound the limits of the new Bulgaria. It will be a great conflict for the world's liberty which is imperilled proportionately with the advances of Russia. And should England's trumpet now call her sons to arms in defence of whatever remains of public right, its blast will be echoed away in the dimness or the distant future, and remembered as Freedom s signal for swords to flash against the menacing hosts of the Muscovite. Russia's ambition is absolutely chainless ; she may dream of the wildest designs, and no obstacle, however apparently insuperable, will she permit to frustrate their accomplishment. By deception and untruthfulness she has persistently, and with incredible success hoodwinked Europe, and even lately up to the moment that the treaty with lurkey wa3 signed, GortschakofE endeavoursd to disarm British hostility by uncandid declarations, insincere promises, and unblushing falsehood, and he succeeded to such an extent in imposing upon the too credulous nature of our foreign Minister, Lord Derby as to lead him to resign his distinguished office which ho held with so much honour to the empire. Then, if Austria still continues to hesitate through inability to sec the greatness of the issues involved let Britain no longer pause when tho path of duty is so clear and Giorv beckons her to battle. There is a feeling I know entertained by many of our statesmen almost amounting to actual fear that England s forces alone could not successfully oppose the Muscovite armies. But .examination will show them that while Russia must keep her troops extended over an immense extent of territory we could concentrate our whole strength upon any given point with telling effect, and furthermore, that while Russia's resources are now expanded to their utmost or nearly 'their utmost limit, ours arc practically inexhaustible, and our army is easily capable of indefinite in-

crease if the contest should be prolonged. But were it not, even were we numerically inferior to her, should we maintain an attitude of cowardly hesitancy ? Seeing the greatness of our cause, should not the illustrious deeds of freemen recorded in every page of the world's history nerve the arm of England to strike with power and decisiveness. And should we not remember the deeds of the immortal Leonidas and his three hundred Spartan heroes who defended their country's pass against tho Asiatic hordes until Thermopylae's hungry earth had drunk the last drop of their blood, and three hundred corpses barred the path of the Persian, conqueror ? There need be no fear of England's defeat. Unassailable in her insular home, she has the advantage of being able to strike where she likes and when. Her cause is the cause of justice, freedom, and honour. Her people are haters of oppression and tyranny oE every form and are ever ready to give their blood and treasure for a cause which, they are convinced is just and noble. No military serfdom hampers their energies, nor haughty autocracy alienates their affections from their sovereign. Backed then by such a people, united, devoted and brave, England's triumph is unquestionably assured. And though the terrible arbitrament of war, which must now bo appealed to will still tho beating of the generous hearts of thousands of our countrymen, and cast the gloom of desolation upon innumerble hearths, yet our recompense will be large and glorious, the overthrow of an aggressive despotism, the consciousness of having done a great duty and the plaudits of civilized humanity. Auckland, June 5 th, 1878. W. J. N".