Proposed Remodeling of the Map of Europe.
By M. E. Cornell
EVERY few days we see fresh accounts of new movements in the eastern world; and that preparations are making for important changes, there can be no doubt. The frequent consultations of heads of the leading powers of Europe and the East, mean something. It is generally conceded that a great war is inevitable. The powers stand in fear, and each seems anxious to provide against surprise. All confidence in treaties is gone or going, and all seem anxious to confederate for safety. The sure word of prophecy alone can tell us what is coming. The last link in the prophetic chain is rapidly filling up, and the closing events of the world’s history are close at hand. The world is filled with violence, the wicked do wickedly, and iniquity abounds. The time has come and the alarm has been sounded to make all ready. It is well known to our readers that we have long regarded Turkey as an important object of prophecy, that she is to be “dried up to prepare the way of the kings of the east.” And how is our faith confirmed of late by the movements of the great powers. It seems to be the common sentiment of all nations that the Sick Man of Turkey is near his death. What a time is this for faith in fulfilling prophecy. It is a sure word, and never has failed, and never can fail. The following extract is only one of many which will serve to show that there is earnest talk at least. It is from the Vienna correspondent of the New York Tribune:— “Strange rumors are afloat about an agreement between the emperors of Russia, Germany, and Austria to put an end to the political existence of the Sick Man of Turkey, and administer upon his estates. The last report is that an entire remodeling of the map of Eastern Europe has already been decided upon; that the outlines of the plan were sketched at the meeting of the three emperors last year, and that the arrangement of the details was the object of the recent journey of the Emperor of Germany to St. Petersburg, and of the Czar to Vienna. The programme, so the story goes, is as follows:— “The Austrian Empire is to be dismembered, Bohemia, Moravia, and Austrian Silesia to go to Prussia; Gallicia to Russia; the Provinces of Upper and Lower Austria, Styria, the Tyrol, Carinthia and Carniola to compose a new kingdom or Grand Duchy, under the sovereignty of the Archduke Carl Ludwig, the Emperor Francis Joseph to abdicate and to assume the sovereignty of a grand eastern empire, made up of Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, together with all European Turkey, and the semi-independent Turkish dependencies of Roumania (Wallachia and Moldavia), and Montenegro. The Province of Gallicia would, of course, be less than Russia’s fair share in this division, so she is to get, besides all of Asiatic Turkey, unlimited opportunity to push her frontiers in the direction of India as far as she wishes. “The magnificent dimensions of this scheme of national reconstruction surpass belief, and it seems incredible that vast countries, with millions of inhabitants, are to be traded off and divided up by three sovereigns, as coolly as robbers share their spoils. There are elements of probability in the story, however, which must not be overlooked. The provinces which are assigned to Prussia are entirely German in language and characteristics, except Bohemia, which is part German and part Czech. Galicia fell to Austria as her share in the partition of Poland. Its language is Slavonic, and its affinities are with Russia. The Hungarians speak a language kindred to that of the Turks, and the Danube, flowing through both countries, forms a great artery of commerce and inter-communication between the two, and makes a geographical propriety in their union. The new Austrian kingdom would be a make-weight in European politics, the strong German tendencies of the people being neutralized by the family ties of the Hapsburger ruler. I ask no one to believe this rumor, which may be taken only as one of many indications that something is brewing that bodes no good to the Ottoman Empire.” M. E. Cornell.