Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1877 — The Dismemberment of Turkey. [ARTICLE]

The Dismemberment of Turkey.

If we ar* told that th* interrate of jostle* and humanity loudly oall upon this sountry to enter into a glom* cordial, and disinterrated alliance with Russia for th* settlement or tbe affair* of th* East, our answer shortly is that we have tried it. That is precisely what Mr. Canning and tbe duke of WEllington attempted to do by tbe Protocol of April, 1826. The consequence was a series of wars, destruction of the military power of Turkey in Asia as well a* in Europe, and the prostration of Turkey herself under the protection of a Russian fleet and army in the Bosphorus. Yet the liberation of Greece was a far easier teak than tbe devulsion from Turkey of her northern provinces. The Mussulman population of Greece waa insignificant and could be brought out. Th* Greeks had waged war, not unsuccessfully, for six year*. The Greek nation waa unanimous. Tbe los* of Greece waa not fatal to the Ottoman Empire. On tbe other band, Russia succeeded in securing for herself great territorial and political advantages from these transactions, and at last held Turkey and Constantinople itself almost entirely in her grasp. If we are not misinformed, General Ignatieff, whose influence over the late Sultan was ’paramount and who bad a large share in the most improvident and oppressive acts of bis reign, had brought matters to a point very nearly resembling the alliance of of Unkiar-Skelessi. The terror of tbe half insane and incapable sovereign had been excited to the highest pitch by the dread of an outbreak in Constantinople. Russia was again to protect him; a corps of troops was ready to sail for the Bosphorus, and tbe demand ior their intervention was either signed or on tbe point of being signed by tbe Sultan when the manifestation of the Sofia*, speedily followed by the deposition of Abdul Axis, cut short tbe intrigue. This is a matter of secret history, and we are certain that there are cirmunstances connected with the schemes of General Ignatieff and the deposition of the Sultan which have not yet been made public. The tall of that unhappy and misguided sovereign was the death-blow to a whole system of policy based upon his subserviency to th* Russian Ambassador, and nothing remains but for General Ignatieff to quit for * time the scene of bis discomfiture. ildinbiirg (SrHand) Jtorieie.