Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1877 — War Declared. [ARTICLE]

War Declared.

At last the Casar has promulgated h« declaration of war, and ordered his armies to cross the Turkish frontier, and they have crossed. He has kept his word. In his Moscow speech, he declared that if the Porte continued to refuse the demands for reform, and the other Powers declined to act, the time would come when Russia would act independently. That time has come, and, the blessing of God upon our valiant armies, ' he now draws the sword. The manifesto contains nothing new. The object of the war is chiefly defined to be the amelioration of the condition of the oppressed Christian population in Turkey. The

cause of the war is the refusal offthoPtorie to listen to the demands of Europe by refusing to sign the protocol. The necessity of the war is to vindicate the dignity and honor of Russia. It is now morally certain hat the war cannot be localized as between Russia and Turkey. Already several smaller Powers are involved, and it is only a question of time how soon some of the larger Powers will be, Itoumania is already dragged into it, and must speedily take sides. On her eastern boundary is the immense. Russian army—the advanced guard of which is already approaching her Capital—and on her western boundaif a large Turkish army preparing to dispute the Russian progress, and the Great Powers have notified her to remain neutral or she will lose their protection. Meanwhile the Porte has called the attention of Prince Charles to the provisions of his treaty with Turkey, and invites him to arrange with the Turkish commander to prevent the passage of the Russians through his territory. In his quandary, the Prince is preparing to consult the Powers, but the Russians are already In his territory. Their cavalry are in his Capital. The Roumanian people have welcomed them. The Prefects of their villages have even crossed into Russian territory to congratulate the Czar, and a delegation of the Government recently waited upon him at Kischeneff. The sympathies of the people are with the Russians, and, when once the war breaks out upon their soil, the very instinct of self-preservation must compel them to gravitate to the stronger side. Already the Roumanian forces along the north bank of the Danube are between the Turks nnd the Russians, falling back as the latter advance, and, although acting as a corps of observation, they are really of great service to the Russians in enabling them to mass their forces and get in readiness for their movement as soon as the roads are in condition. Servia, also, is already drawn into a critical position. Although she has but just finished her campaign and concluded a treaty of peace with Turkey, the Porte has intimated to her that she must take up arms again, this time upon the side of Turkey, and that the Turkish forces will occupy Gladova, on the Servian bank of the Danube, and directly opposite the terminus of a railroad running east and west through Roumania—a step, by the way, that shows the Turks expect the Russians to cross at that point, notwithstanding their demonstration near the mouth of the Danube. Meanwhile, the Russian Pan-Sclavist emissaries are already laboring with the Prince Milan to secure his co-operation Whether Bervia will throw off her newlyrestored allegiance to Turkey or will ally herself with Turkey against Russia remains to be seen, but, whatever course she may pursue, she is not likely to prove a very dangerous foe to anyone. Montenegro has resumed her hostilities against the Turks, and these invincible mountaineers tyill prove a serious thorn in their side. Crete is rising in insurrection against Turkish authority. Egypt, of course, has espoused the cause of Turkey, and furnished her contingent of troops, and Persia is reported to here a secret understanding with Russia. Of the Great Powers, Austria is the most likely to be involved. The slightest tendency to insurrection in Bervia, or the first intimation of territorial acquisition on the part of Russia, will compel Austria.to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina, and thus array herself against the Turks. England can cnly be involved in the remote contingency that Russia manifests designs against Constantinople, and Germany in a still more remote contingency. The onlv Powers that are certain not to be drawn into the war are Italy and France. —Chicago Tribune , April 25.