As we have explained elsewhere, it is this necessity for
Russian success in Bulgaria which constitutes the immediate danger in Eastern Europe. The Czar may be compelled to use force ; and if he is, Austria will be almost unable to keep the peace. The Emperor Francis Joseph would be pressed to intervene by the Germans, the Magyars, the Poles, and the Army, and may be unable to resist. He has, it is affirmed, already intimated his strong personal feeling by toasting the Emaeror of Russia on his fête day as "the Emperor" only, instea I o! "my august friend the Emperor," which is the proper formula. It is said that Prince Bismarck has therefore counselled the Czar to be moderate, and the Czar has promised ; but his notion of modera- tion may nat be the same as Prince Bismarck's. According to the latest intelligence, all the Bourses of Europe are more con- fident of peace; but the Bourses never include feeling, in their calculations. If there is a popular explosion in Sofia, the prospect will become very warlike indeed; and such an explosion is on the cards. The coldly arrogant replies of the Czar to con- ciliatory telegrams from Bulgaria show that he wholly distrusts the submissiveness of the Sobranje ; and M. Stambouloff tells a German interviewer that any one elected Prince, "were it Katkoff himself," would soon be anti-Russian.
