The European Broil by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 26, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 45.

The European Broil.

By Editor

A WAR in Europe is usually a most incomprehensible affair, and the present one is no exception to the rule. The slightest thing will cause the various petty nations to fly at one another's throats, and no one can ever form a reasonable conjecture as to what the result will be. The present one between Servia and Bulgaria has been so far carried on vigorously; but why these two countries should fight each other, instead of making common cause against Turkey, is what puzzles people on this side of the water. There is one contingency, however, that is always expected, and that is that whatever the results to the parties engaged in any war in Eastern Europe, the Sultan will be the loser. We copy a few telegraphic dispatches, and a few statements from various papers, to show how any war in the vicinity of Turkey is regarded. The London Standard, commenting on the outbreak of hostilities between Servia and Bulgaria, says:—

"War has been kindled in the Balkans. We see the beginning; but no human intelligence can pretend to set limits to the area or the intensity of the fire."

A newspaper correspondent in St. Petersburg writes:—

"Russian newspapers, both official and unofficial, unite in condemning fratricidal Servo-Bulgarian wars, and declare that Russia will be unable to sit quietly by while Bulgaria and Servia tear each other to pieces."

A dispatch of November 15, from Constantinople, says:—

"Believing that the final struggle of the Turkish Empire for existence is approaching, Lord Salisbury has telegraphed to Mr. White, the British representative at Constantinople, instructions to assure the Porte that England will do her utmost to preserve the integrity of Turkey."

The Berlin Post says:—

"If Turkey interferes, Mr. Gladstone will raise the cry of Turkish atrocities, and upset the Conservative Government, and thus the confusion of Europe will be complete."

The Frankfort Gazette says:—

"It will be a miracle if Austria and Russia are not drawn into the struggle."

The Cologne Gazette says that it is convinced that the Turk will be driven from Europe.

The Christian Union, in an editorial on this subject, says that it presents "a complication such as diplomats probably never had to deal with before in the history of the world."

In an editorial in the Youth's Companion, which presents a wonderfully clear statement of the present trouble, we find the following:—

"In the rivalries and unrest of these three races [Greeks, Servians, and Bulgarians], taken in connection with the interests and ambitions of the great European powers, there is constant peril of a warlike conflagration in Europe; a peril which will not disappear until the whole question as to the destiny of the Turkish Empire in Europe is finally settled."

Truly here is distress of nations, "with perplexity." Contrary to expectation, however, as expressed in the last quotation, the decision of the question as to the existence of the Turkish Empire in Europe, instead of allaying the peril, will be but the prelude to a "warlike conflagration," beside which all previous wars will seem insignificant. The present difficulty may be temporarily adjusted; but from the "sure word of prophecy," the Bible student knows, what the student of Statecraft alone can never foresee,—that these warlike demonstrations are only the precursors of "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," which will soon overwhelm the world.