While the protest of Redschid Pasha on behalf of the
Turkish Government, against the Russian occupation of the Principalities, shows that Turkey maintains her position with unflinching firm- ness, though with all moderation, Russia pursues her aggression. Redsehid declares that Turkey leas satisfied the original claims of Russia, has secured the privileges of her Christian subjects, and is still prepared to make all due concessions in courtesy to the self-love of the Emperor, but it is not in her power to make any further concession of a substantial kind ; and the Emperor is re- minded how little his acts are in accord with his professions of friendliness and peace. If report may be trusted, the practical reply of Russia, in anticipation of the protest, is to assemble a
great additional army in Bessarabia; while the Servian Govern- ment, called to furnish its contingent to the, Turkish army, pro- claims "neutrality." Meanwhile, the proceedings of the Allied Courts are veiled in dubious obscurity.
Great would have been the responsibility of any English Mi- nister, who should have hurried his country into war ; but not less the responsibility of the Minister who, after Russia has levied war, should weakly leave that power to reap the advan- tages of aggression without its pains and penalties. He would owe a deep responsibility to Turkey, who has been restrained by England and her allies from repelling war in the legitimate way ; the restraint helping the designs of Russia by exposing the Porte to the misconstructions and the indignation of its fanatical Mus- sulman subjects. The Minister of an English policy of subser- viency would also incur a grave responsibility towards Europe, in neglecting the duty of defending the outposts of the Continent against that power which is now making its unceasing advances, by intrigue in Denmark, by open war in Turkey, and by the force of procrastination all round. The difficulties of war may be staved off for the hour ; but the consequences are already upon us. It is this which must be brought to a stop ; for it is not Tur- key alone which loses by the dilatory policy which Russia is suf- fered to pursue, and every week of which is to her the gain of a campaign without waste of men or money. The more obvious difficulties of war might be staved off for Western Europe, but every year would render our position worse ; and we should prac- tically be allowing the arch enemy to choose his own position and time,—proverbially the very worst mistake of generalship.
