§4 RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND BULGARIA. 



Surely Russia, who only reluctantly consented to the separation of 

 Bulgaria from Roumelia at the Congress of Berhn, should have hailed 

 with delight its fusion with Eastern Roumelia, for if we may credit 

 ofificial declarations, Russia had never been opposed, in principle, 

 to the Union of these two States, and her evident aim therefore 

 seems to have been, in deposing Prince Alexander, to secure a 

 Successor to the Bulgarian Throne, better disposed to further Russian 

 designs in the East. 



What the final issue of this Imperiahsm will be in the future no one 

 can foretell, but of this we may be certain, that a greaUr outrage on the 

 rights of a free people, a greater violation of the Sovereignty of States, 

 and of international obligations, has never, in the history of nations, 

 been committed, at any rate since Napoleon I. seized, and assassinated 

 the Duke of Enghien. 



This ambition of Russia to establish peace and order, justice and 

 freedom in Bulgaria by force of arms, may be compared to turning 

 out the Devil by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils ; for it would have 

 made a sabre for the Government of the Nation. The sabre destroys, 

 but not governs ; for government by the sword cannot but bring 

 violence, iniquity, and wrong ; but justice and freedom are the work, 

 and that only, of reason and of peace. War cannot but bring war, as 

 an ancient poet has said, 



" For what does war, but. endless wars produce ! " 



Russia may struggle over Freedom's shrine, but she fights for con- 

 quest, for, depend upon it, wars in these days are undertaken for the 

 sake of victory, and for that which victory will bring. War brings de- 

 feat or victory ; victory brings confidence, and confidence is the parent 

 of bold claims. An armed intervention by Russia, for the osten- 

 sible purpose of restoring peace and order in Bulgaria, even if suc- 

 cessful, must inevitably and fatally change into conquest. Conquest 

 of Bulgaria, or of any province in Turkey, however much we may 

 disguise it, will be a war unchained upon Europe, 



' ' With its deep, long rivers of blood, 

 And its sad, silent rivers of tears. " 



England, apparently, has shown an indifference to the integrity 

 and sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire, the maintenance of 

 which was once included in the programme of her foreign policy, but 

 will England continue to abjure for ever this ancient rkgime, when 

 invasion of Turkey becomes annexation of its provinces, or dis- 



