The New War Cloud in Eastern Europe.
WHILE the final solution of the German question has been adjourned by the peace of Prague, the Eastern question has suddenly assumed a threatening aspect. The Christian subjects of the Turkish Government, who in European Turkey number more than 12,000,000 against only 4,000,000 of Mohammedans, again begin to raise the standard of revolt. The island of Candia, which in a total population of more than 150,000 inhabitants numbers less than 50,000 Turks, while the others are Greek Christians, has risen against Turkish rule and transferred its allegiance from Turkey to the Kingdom of Greece. The Greeks in the old province of Epirus, which constitutes the northern frontier of Greece, have also attempted an insurrection with the same object in view. The new Hospodar of the Danubian Principalities, Prince Charles of Hohenzollern, has compelled the Turkish Government to recognize him, and barely conceals the preparations he is making for severing the last tie that unites the Principalities with the Turks. It is better understood than ever, among all the semi-dependent and the subjected Christian tribes of the Porte, that the weakness of the Government of Constantinople is constantly increasing, and all look forward with hope to the seasonable moment when one powerful blow will end the Turkish dominion in Europe, and restrict the rule of the Moslems to Western Asia. The Christian element in European Turkey is constantly increasing in numbers and power; while the Mohammedan element is decreasing at a corresponding rate. If Turkey were left alone by her powerful neighbors, the moment would soon arrive when the Christian races would conquer that ascendency in European Turkey which belongs to their superiority in numbers and civilization. But, unfortunately, these races widely differ from each other. There are in Turkey about 4,000,000 Roumanians, 3,000,000 Servians, 3,000,000 Bulgarians, 2,000,000 Greeks, about equally divided between Europe and Asia, 1,000,000 Albanians, all of whom are not enough homogeneous to establish, on the ruins of the Turkish rule, a harmonious Christian Empire. This want of harmony and of strength naturally invites the Great Powers of Europe, especially Russia, to interest themselves in the impending ruin of the Turkish Empire, in order to turn it to their own advantage. The facilities of Russia, in this respect, are so much superior to those of any other European Power that the efforts of the others have been mostly confined to combination for counteracting the schemes of Russia. Twelve years ago this opposition of the Western Powers to the Russian policy in the East, led to the Crimean war. Now Russia is again charged with the design of planning an aggressive policy in the East, and so great is the excitement which these reports have produced in Austria and France, that for a time, even the German question is pushed into the background by the Eastern. The press of both Paris and Vienna confidently assert that Prussia and Russia have come to a full understanding about the situation of those two great complications. Prussia is not to be interfered with by Russia in the re-organization of Central Europe, and Russia is to have the sympathy of Prussia in her settlement of the Eastern question. However much or little truth there may be in these reports, it is certain that Germany no longer monopolizes the attention of the European Governments, but that the looks of all are turned to the East, there awaiting some startling developments. The formation of new anti-Russian alliances is eagerly canvassed. Some speak of France and Austria united to this end with England and Italy. Others are of opinion that Louis Napoleon, accepting the leadership of Prussia in Germany as an accomplished fact, would rather try to gain Prussia as an ally, in union with England and Italy. At all events, it seems that one of the most probable results of the recent movements will be a closer connection between the German and the Eastern questions. Austria and Turkey are the two most decayed Empires of Europe. Misgovernment on the one hand, and the divergent tendencies of conflicting nationalities on the other, have undermined the existence of both. The collapse of either would at any time hasten the collapse of the other; but according to present appearances they may yet be buried in a common ruin.—Tribune.