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SPIRIT OF THE DAILY PRESS.

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SPIRIT OF THE DAILY PRESS. DIFFICULTIES OF THE EASTERN QUESTION. There is no reason, says the Times, for deeming the ttandard of European statesmanship of to-daj utterly be- neath that of former tim,1. and it would be fairer and more like the truth to recognise at once that all this per- piexity indicates the existence of one of the most entangled and momentous problems which have ever presented them- selves in the course of modern, or of any, history. It is quite evident, moieover, that the explanation of the diffi- culty must he sought in something far beyond the dis- turbed provinces themselves. As for the abstract difficulty of providing good government for them, we may as well say at once that there is no such difficulty at all. Any one of the Great Powers could solve that problem to-mor- row if it only had the chance. Austria certainly could do ii lsetter still could Eng'and, which already governs hundreds of millions of people of mixed races. Lord Justice James i? so far quite right. We o»ly want a rea- sonable code of laws, some trustworthy courts of justice, and a sufficient force at Cliii- back toc,irry out their deci- sions and, itS we have said. this could be provided by any one of the Powers—still more by a.il combined. Where, then, is the difficulty ? In ,hat", does the problem consist ? Obviously not in the circumstances of Servia, or of Bosnia, or of Herzegovina, or of Bulgaria; but in the sense en- t.-rt;i,;iiecl on -ill sides that political interests of the first importance to every Power concerned are involved in any alteration of the government of these unfortunate pro- vinces, and that the issue at stake is really greater, of more moment to civilisation, than even the looal interests which justly excite such intensity of sympathy and enthusiasm in this country. The Bulgarian atrocities themselves are an illustration of this truth, however unweloome it may be to recognise it. They are horrible beyond all conception but what do they really mean? Not merely that the Turkish Government, is weak, corrupt, and wicked. They reveal the fact that Europe, no less than the Tn i kish Go- vernment, has to deal with the portentous facts of the existence on its soil and adjacent to it of a mass of reckless and uncontrolled barbarism. We have to deal, in other words, not merely with certain ruffians who disgrace humanity in Bulgaria, but with an Asiatic Power still pre- serving in its midst the fierce and barbarous instincts of an uncivilised race. AN ARMISTICE AND A CONFERENCE. Upon the hypothesis, soys the Daily Telegraph, that there is no Khivan trick being prepared again—rio Tartar duplicity where what is solemnly promised by the ruler is laughed to scorn by his subordinates'-»we must still recall tre pacific assurances of Alexander II., and believe him solely desivous to see ihe Christians secure and contentedly settled under good and equal laws. What the Powers w;h in these respects the Porte now engages to carry out; And. mei-iiwhile.there are many plans and ideas everywhere published and discussed which hitherto have goneunder the common name of ■' local autonomy." The Sultan ha« asked to have this loose term dtfined, and pledges himself to put in execution the best phms which will give it effect--preser- ving, of coiii-,e, as evn Mr. Giadstone has stipulated, his territorial sovereignty. The time has, therefore, arrived when all such floftirg iuess should be reflueei to solid propositions of reform in a conference and by his readi- ness to accept this practical step the sincerity of th^ Em-j peror of Russia will now be tested. A suspension of hostilities in the Morava Valley, enforced upTin T.oher- naycff -for Servia is at present virtually a province of Russia, must precede the Conference and the rest is matter for exhaustive discussion, since we know that. the intei.tions of the Su'tan actually exceed what was demand. We hope, therefore, to see Russia gladly loin to promising a gathering, and thus vindicate the pious single-mindedness upon which her recent demarche has thrown such ugly suspicions. If nhe refuse the end would then be gained of demonstrating that the Servian war and the Bosnian and Bulgarian insurrectioRs,together with the Sumarokoff mission, nsve been all merely stages of the old sinister policy, and that Constantinople, not Christian emancipation, is the object of so many acts of double- dealing. In that case the political situation would be cleared up, and we should at least hear no more at home of" friendly accord with Russia," which way lately the sheet anchor of Bulgarian orators. In this direction, then, the path of honest Governments seems to lie plain and straight an armistice and a conference will help all Europe to know what can be done to right the wrongs of the past, and to open an era of quieter times for Turks and Christians together for both must continue to exist. TURKEY'S RELIANCE ON ENGLISH SUPPORT. "The belief is general," writes the Constantinople cor- respondent of the Daily Netos, "that in spite of the massacres, in spite of every crime in which the Turkish Government may indt-lge, England will still be its friend." If such is the inveterate hope of the official classes at Constantinople, it must be admitted that language has been and still continues to be emploved by some public writers in this country well ellculated to foster such a de- lusion. It will be for the Queen' Ministers to convince them how utterly they have mistaken the intentions of this country. The time for illusions is past, and the Ottoman Government munt brace itself up to encounter realities. Whether we assume that it is from inability or unwillingness to comply with the counsels of the Powers that it has just rejected their proposals, the necessity of decisive action on the pari, of the European Cabitusbs is equally demonstrated. If the Turkish Government is powerless in its own dominions, the fate of the Christians certainly cannot be left in its hands. The Powers have not interfered without the amplest justification and proved necessity, and they would leave the Christians, who constitute the majority of the population of European Turkey, in a worse position than ever if they recoiled beiore threats of massacre. The Powers are well able if they choose to put such notions out of the heada of the most excited of Moslem enthusiasts, and com. pel the Porte to grant any securitiea which may be found necessary for the good government of the Christians of Turkey. It is only the belief that the Powers will not agree to aet together that encourages the Porte to reject their advice, and as good as it was seen that this confidence is ill-founded, we should hear that much which is now de- clared impossible of acceptance had been agreed to at Con- stantinople. RUSSIA AND THE TURKISH QUESTION. Eliminate Russia out of the question, says the Morning Pott, and if there did not cease to be any Eastern Question at all it would at any rate be emptied of all really danger- ous elements. Therefore Russia is the disturber of Europe. If reform in Turkey would settle the question and satisfy Russia it could be obtained easily enough, for if the Porte shewed any hesitation in giving practical effect to its promises the Great Powers, were it not for Russia, could bring the required pressure to bear. But Russia has only used the question of reform in Turkey, the proteoting of the Christians, as a means to her own ends, which have been pursued with admirable tenacity and continuity from the tia..es of Peter the Great. Twice she has thought that the question was ripe enough to allow her safely to lift a corner of the veil and shew for an instant the features of her policy-on 00 when the late Csar became confidential to our ambassador, and now again in the proposition to occupy the provinces of Turkey and to watch the Bosphorns. It mighlj be thought that if the root of the evil afflicting Europe coOn thus be determined the remedy would be alire obvious and simple. And so we believe it is. Europe, we are convinced, might be spared the paralysing fear of impending disaster if only it would ceme to the conclusion that instead of taking common counsel with the burglar for the security of the house, tht true wisdom would be to hand him over to the police. I.et the real offender, the promoter of all mischief, be stripped of his assumed garb of Christian sympathy, and compelled to attend to his own legitimate affairs, and the Eastern Question will be almost solved. TURKEY AND THE CONDITIONS OF PEACE. May not the Turks, says the Standard, fairly desire to know which of the several interpretations that have been put upon the conditions of peace they are to accept ? frothing can be clearer than that the views of England are not identical with those either of Austria or of Russia. The Austrian theory probably falls short of out-s in regard to the measure of independent action to be allowed to the provinces. The Russian theory, it is certain, is far in advance of what any Power has put forth. Literally interpreted, it would mean something even beyond the programme proposed by the Emperor Nicholas in 1853, for it amounts to com- plete obliteration of the Turkish rule—at least in Europe. If that, or anything like that, is v. hat Turkey is required to accept, we cannot be surpr.sed at her exhibiting some opposition to the project. She may reasonably urge that this is hardly a peace programme. She may point to what has been done and is being done m Servia as evidence that such a scheme is intended to be a distinct provocation to war—a ° averted by ber self-destruction. T ?"r 18 the autonomous process to be carried? s Turkey to. sur- round herself with a network of Servias- of provinces whose neutrality is to be interpreted ItS perfect frteedom to attack Turkey,but absolute immunity from being attacked by Turkey ? It is no wonder that the Porte should rebel against such a pIau-that it should resist it even at the risk of breaking off the negotiations. To demand sufch a sKitifinlfjCtOuBft Gt,J_i of them—that they are brutal, ferocious, and fanatical. They would be exhibiting a more than Quaker- like temper were they to assist in their own annihilation in the manner proposed. To urge upon thexn the total dismemberment of the empire can only be a proposal suggested in the interest of those who believe that thty have an exclusive right to its reversion. Such a plan can only have been framed with a view to its being rejected, in order that the rejection might serve as an excuse for a fresh violation of the public law, and a further develop- ment of the Sclavian conspiracy. TURKSY AND EUROPEAN INTERVENTION. But the Turk in Europe is not, says the Morning Ad- vertiser, and under present circumstances cannot be, his own master. His fate is bound up with that of others, and it is imperatively incumbent upon them, in their own self-defence, to protect him from his own folly. He is at present, and must be as long as he continues to be a I member of the European family, in leading-strings. The time may come for his expulsion from that body—and it may come sooner than some of us expect-but until then he must be content to be treated in forma pupillari. It is not, therefore, to be' for one moment sup- posed that the obstinate attitude assumed by Turkey to- wards our proposalm for peace is to be tolerated. The peace of Europe is in the custody of the Groat Powers, and it is impossible that they should allow it to be impe- rilled by a nation so hopelessly vicious and corrupt as Tur- key has proved herself to be. If she has no consideration for the fears and apprehensions of Europe, and refuses to listen to the voice of friendly remonstrance, then force nrnst be used—as much force as shall be found necessary to bring her to reason. But in the exercise of this force the utmost caution must be observed. No one Power must be allowed advantage or precedence all must act in unison. There must be no territorial aggrandisement; but, on the contrary, the most complete and entire disinterestedness. The sphere of this joint occupation, moreover, must not be limited to Turkish territory, but made to include Servia and the other dis- turbed districts. There may be objections raised against proposals so comprehensive, but there will be objections in some quarters to any proposals, and the more permanently satisfactory the scheme the mere numerous will bo the objections.

I LATE GEJNEKAL ISEWS.

PIRACY AND MURDER.

INDIAN BURGLARS.

JUDICIAL STATISTICS IN 1875.

ITHE EMPLOYMENT DODGE.

PROFESSOR HUXLEY ON BIOLOGY.

[No title]

ITEMS OF GENERAL NEW.

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