Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 9th July 1853, Edition 1 of 1, Page 663, Untitled Article

Page 663
Page 15
15 of 24

On this page

  • Text (2)

      Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      Let us hear the evidence of Mr . Horace Greeley , before > aCommittee of the House of Commons , upon this point : — " The prices for advertising vwith us are from Is . upwards , advertisements of puhlie interest being inserted at the lowest rate . Now , an advertisement duty would destroy new papers . Its operation is this your duty is the same on an advertisement in a journal where it is worth ten times as much—for instance , in a journal with 50 , 000 , as in a journal with 2000 , although the value of the article is twenty time % as much in the one case as in the other : the duty operates

      precisely as though you were to lay a tax of Is . a day on every day ' s labour that a man were to do , — -on a man ' s labour which is worth , say , 2 s ., it would be destructive , while by that man who earns 20 * . it would be very lightly felt . It would entirely destroy new papers . * * * The advertising duty is an enormous help to any paper which has the most circulation : it tends to throw the advertising always on the greatest concern ; and the persons who take ( as I know men in this town do take ) one journal mainly for its advertisements , must take the Times , because everything is advertised there , and advertisers must advertise in it for the same

      reason . If we had a dut y on advertisements now , I will Bay , not only that it would be impossible to build a new concern up in jNTew York against the competition of the older ones , but it would be impossible to preserve the weaker papers from being swallowed up by the stronger ones . " Such is the evidence of Mr . Horace Greeley , the architect of his own fortune , the principal proprietor of the best and cheapest newspaper in

      the world , the New York Tribune . Its editorial staff comprises the brightest intellects in America— Greeley , Bayard Taylor , and gentlemen of that calibre ; and for one penny it is delivered to the subscribers in New York every morning- between five and seven o'clock . If the people of this country desire to possess such a paper—if advertisers wish their announcements to appear at Is . and upwards—if the young and struggling newspapers expect " a fair field and no favour " —now is the time to strike a blow at monopoly

      protected by taxation . We do not anticipate that this could be accomplished during the present session ; but by a vigorous and united effort , the advertisement duty , twice condemned by the House of Commons , could be at once swept away ; and " young and struggling journals" would receive an " approach to justice , while the free-supplement bribe would form an excellent argument for the total abolition of the stamp duty and the substitution of a graduated postal rate .

      Untitled Article

      RUSSIA ' S PRESENT POLITICAL POSITIONIN RESPECT TO TURKEY . Letteb VI . ( To the Editor of tho Loader . ) gIK ) The position which Russia has gained in the European provinces of Turkey is tho fruit of loner years darkened by tergiversation and deceit , and rendered shameful by unprecedented trickery , and by the praiseworthy fraud of simulated friendship Under the disreputable cloak of amicable representation , the Czars have meanly hidden thoir grasping and inordinate ambition : their honeyed words have turned to gall , and their kindly interest unfailingly led to destruction Tho treaty of Jassi , in which Russia stipulated that the flospodars of Moldavia and Wallachia were not removable unless with her consent , paved tho way for future iniquitous demands Egion . that JTortilo seed of discord brought forth additional troubles , and was constituted the exhaustloss reservoir whonoo were drawn ^ tlic causes of Russian indignation and the motives ot L « ian svmnathy . TJub indignation and tins and

      sympathy , both , for tho Sultan Jus rcoomou * K its , and that too whom tho subjects and tho " S were in diroot opposition to each other , haTnovo been wanting / It ha » como u , so r ^^^^^^^ FFi SteK i ^^ i ^^ M SSon , or-itflolf to create tho crisis which should

      C ^ nis i ^ 'SSting the Hospodars of Moleminently W ^ ' J m ° 2 jnted a pro-8 ll ° , T . 3 bo sonX for at our own doors , t 0 ° \ ° Z « bo IJouKht home more familiarly to our

      faith which separated Moldavia and Wallachia from Turkey , separate Ireland from England ; and this protectorate finds its aptest illustration in the guarantee given to JBranee by Great Britain that the Viceroy of Ireland shall not be removable unless with the consent of Louis Napoleon , Emperor of the French ! How monstrous , how utterly irreconcilable with all our preconceived notions of justice and international

      law does this protectorate appear , when viewed under the new light that this comparison affords us ; and yet this protectorate is only one indication of that moderation which the Emperor Nicholas desires to persuade us he pursues towards the Porte , and this is only the first leaf of the great catalogue of Russia ' s professions of " interest in the maintenance of the independence and integrity of the Ottoman Empire . "

      The first rescript of the Sultan addressed to the Patriarchs of the Servians , and wherein the Porte recognises the independence of Servia , subject only to the payment of the yearly tribute , calls upon the Russian court to witness " how worthy " the rebellious Servians are of the Sultan ' s imperial graciousness . That imperial rescript goes on to state , that before " the free and perfectly independent internal administration ; the uncontrolled exercise of its religion ; the election of its own judges ; the limitation of the taxes to a single tribute ; the free erection of schools , presses , and hospitals , " * accorded by the Porte to the Servian nation in the treaty of Bucharest , and which were sanctioned in conjunction with

      Russia , " could be carried into actual effect , war broke out again between the two countries , but that now peace being once more restored , the sixth article of the treaty of Adrianople confirms all the privileges and assurances then intended to be granted . And one clause of these privileges proclaimed that , with the exception of the garrisons of the fortresses , no Turk should be permitted to reside ^ or to remain within the limits of the Servian frontier ; and this too was also resolved upon , and witnessed by that friend to the integrity of Turkey the Emperor of all the Russias . Thus , sir , whatever may be said to the contrary , the test of treaties demonstrates the right of Russian interference , and the joint protectorate of Russia in Moldavia , Wallachia , and

      Servia . Established upon dishonourable precedent , wrung from a bosom friend exhausted by rebellions , created and maintained by their honest ally , Russia has always her references ready and her stipulations in her hands . But this de facto protectorate has been obtained by chicanery and oppression , and is endeavoured to bo extended by the same means . Won at the point of the sword , the same weapon is called upon to support , to justify , and to enlarge it . According , sir , to the principles of British law , we should unhesitaobtained

      tingly reject the terms of an agreement by coercion . It is only Avhen nations aro wronged , and when multitudes are sufferers , instead of units , that the requirements of justice are defeated . Opprossion , supported on a gigantic scale by hundreds of thousands of bayonets , is much more respoctablo and muck less punishable than tho solitary crime of a solitary individual . If wo intend to recognise this principle of tho strongest , and aro prepared to sanction it , lot us at once voto Montesquieu a humbug , and Vattel an enlightened cheat !

      And now , sir , Russia , blushing oven that circumstances should compel her to demand " such a small trifle , " modestly requests tho Sultan , by an imperial rescript specially addressed to tho Czar Nicholas , to affirm and extend certain other privileges to tho Greeks . This rescript tho Sultan docs issuo , but ho docs not address it specially to tho wily Czar . For tho Grook church in Turkoy has its patriarch at Constantinople , and tho Grook church in Russia recognises tho Emporor Nicholas both as its spiritual and temporal ruler ! A rescript , therefore , addressed tho liberties and immu

      to tho Czar guaranteeing - nities of tho , religion of tho Turko-Grooks , singularly resembles recognising him as do facto ct do jure spiritual ohiof of the Turko-Grook church And although tho expressed intention of Nicholas was only to assure incroased tolerance of tho Greek faith , and although this has been assured by tho Turkish rescript , Prince Mensclnlcoff has left Constantinople , and tho Russian army stands proparod to cross tho Pruth to enforce tho modorato and just claims " of tho Russian Emperor . " " But tho treat y of Bulta Liman contains no clause which could justify this invasion . "

      Did anybody say it didP Has any treaty ever contained clauses justifyingthe series of Russian invasions for years past ? No , it is jiow as it always has been , and as it always will be , unless a powerful arm js stretched forth to forbid it . Russia desire ' s yet greater influence amongst the Greek population of Turkey . This rescript , if addressed specially to the Czar , would confer that influence upon her ; it is refused to be so specially addressed , but the prayer of toleration is granted , and a firman is forwarded to the metropolitan and dignitaries of the Greek church

      Russia is not only dissatisfied , but defeated ; therefore , the Greeks are shamefully oppressed —• therefore , some power must interfere for their protection—therefore , Russia must' ^ interfere ; and as the only effective manner of bringing the Porte to reason , the Danubian provinces must be invaded , and therefore Russia must invade , and prepares to invade them , a nd in all probability will invade them , treaties or no treaties to the contrary , notwithstanding . And still more in the circular addressed by the Cabinet of St . Petersburg to its representatives at foreign Courts , M . Nesselrode has favoured us with the following unsolicited

      declaration : —• "I think it superfluous to tell you that there is not one word of truth in the pretensions attributed to us by some journals , of claiming either an addition of territory or a more advantageous regulation of our Asiatic frontier , or the right of nomination and rev ocacation of the Patriarchs of Constantinople , or any other religious protectorate , tending to exceed that which we exercise traditionally , practically , and legally in Turkey , in virtue of our anterior treaties . You are sufficiently well acquainted with the policy of the Emperor to know that his Majesty does not wish the ruin and destruction of the Ottoman Empire twice saved by it ; that , on the contrary , it has always regarded , and still regards , the actual statu quo as the best possible

      combination to interpose between the European interests , which would not fail to come in violent contact with each other in the East if a vacuum was made ; and that , as regards the protection of the Russo-Greek worship in Turkey , we do not need to watch over its interests any other rights than those assured to us by our treaties , our position , tho influence resulting from the religious sympathy which exists between fifty millions of Russians of the Greek faith and the great maj ority of the Christian subjects of the Sultan : a secular influence and inevitable , because it is in facts , and not in words—an influence which the Emperor found ready made when he ascended tho throne , and which he could not renounce , from deference to the unjust suspicions it arouses , without relinquishing tho glorious inheritance of his august predecessors . "

      What a pity it is , sir , in presence of this manifestation of fraternal regard , that wo are forced to remember tho annexation of Bessarabia ; the seizure of the only navigablo mouth of tho Danube ; the very " regulation" of tho Russian frontier in Asia , hero so unequivocally denied , achieved by tho annexation of Georgia and the ports on tho Black Soa , the stimulated rebellion of Servia , Bosnia , and tho other provinces of Turkey , and tho demand of a bond for 13 , 000 , 000 francs for the expenses attendant upon occupying Moldavia and Wallachia , and and

      more lately , tho decided protection support accorded to the rebellious Montenegrins ! And then M . Nesselrodo politely assures tho Porto of the " secular influence inevitable" rostingupon foundation of i oligioua sympathy , &c , which tho Russian Emperor onjoyn . Of this influence in my noxt concluding letter . But I wish to exhibit this friendly feeling entertained by Russia towards tho Porto onco and for all in its true light . Certain it is , that after Prince Daniel of Montonogro had boon to Russia to complete his education , which purpose ho effoctod in tho unpreccdontodly short period of

      two months , he had studiod afc democratic St . Petersburg to such marvellous effect ; ho had become so thoroughly imbued with that daring spirit of liberality which prevails thore , that immediately on his return to Montenegro ho proposed liberal reforms , diminutions of taxes , and Hot the whole country mad . Tho result in known ; Turkey invaded tho province , and Russia politely requested Omor Pasha to march his troops back again into Turkoy . Prince MonschikofF shortly attorwards stated , " that lie was very desirous to assure tho Porto of tho friendly disposition which , tho Emporor of Russia evinced towards Mah ,-moud , his august pjrodocossor . " It is true , sir ; that Russia ' s testimonials of friendship have ;

      Untitled Article

      July 9 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 663

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 9, 1853, page 663, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1994/page/15/