DARK CLOUDS OVER EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 486, 20 June 1867, Page 3

DARK CLOUDS OVER EUROPE.

(From tho Examiner.)

However disposed to regard sinister rumors and predictions of approaching calamities aud “last woes” in the light in which alone they should generally be regarded—as the idle dreams of diseased imaginations—there are oc casionally precursors of portentous events which no amount of phlegma tism or scepticism can wholly ignore. . . . It is notorious that for some years past the political ties, whether of sympathy or interest, which bound the Governments of Europe in something like a federal system have been relaxed ; and, as a consequence, that events of the greatest importance and significance have been left very much to be decided by chance aud the cur rent of events. That such a condition of the States of Europe mav have postponed a general war up to the present period may be true; but that it couui nave any omcr effect than to lead to ultimate confusion, no one who believes that reflection and foresight were given for the avoidance of danger and ruin can for a moment doubt.

As the result of this lc* isscz - l-aissez-passer system, what do we see? That no man would buy the peace oi Europe at six months’ purchase. The opinion is becoming universal that the general tranquility cannot be preserved beyond that time. The same language is heard in the Ministerial Globe ot London and the official journals ol at. Petersburg aud Moscow. It must

be a chaotic state of the world when a Grand Duke of Russia drinks a toast to the revolutionists of Crete, and Garibaldi has left his island home to preach up and organise an expedition in their favor. It had been almost sworn, says the organ of Sir Stafford Northcote, that we were to remain at peace this year, but we cow doubt whether it will be possible to prevent Irom DfeuKiog out uoiore tlua Vtsir expires. A great war, it adds, is but a question of time. The Moscow Gazette is more nrecise in its utterances! “ fhe solution of the Eastern question” it declares to be “ a matter of necessity. The critical day approaches rapidly. The events which are preparing in the Peninsula of the Balkan are our cause.” Not less emphatic is the language of the Journal de St. Petersburg, It directs attention to the “immediate” evils which may be the the effect of Turkey continuing the oppression of the Christian people of the East. The Russian official journal also contains some despatches of Prince Gortschakoff to the Russian Minister in London, which break off with a recommendation feat Crete should be made independent under the suzerainty of the Porte ; and this comes accompanied with a report that the Russian soldiers on furlough have received orders to join their regiments, and that, a Russian force is to be moved towards the Turkish frontiers iu the course ol next mouth.

Again, we learn from the Memorial Diplomatique, that an expeditou is | preparing against Turkey, from the j Italian shores of the Adriatic, to be lied by Garibaldians, if not by Garibaldi himself; and, from another quarter, it is stated that the electoral agitation in Italy, which has produced an uuusua! degree of excitement, is nut foreign to the Eastern question—having been got up for the purpose of driving the Ricasoli Ministry from power, and detach lag Italy from her Prussian connection. In Berlin, Herr von Bisraark has made an urgent appeal to the members of the North German Parliament, to agree to the Constitution before tin I3lh of next August, within which period by the Convention of Berlin cl the 13th of August, 18ii5, the more enlarged confcderaton with the States 1 of South Germany may bo effected; whilst at Vienna there is unbounded| joy at the renewed attachment of Hungary to the monarchy, and the vigorous steps taken by the Diet of Pesth iu carrying out the Imperial wishes. We may mention, as among the signs oi the times, a report, to which an excited imagination only could give origin, that Queen Victoria recommended the Ring of the Belgians to become a member of the German Confederation, with a view of securing Belgium against the supposed designs of the Emperor of the French. When we find at our own doors under a Constitutional system where men undoubtedly possess a large amount ot freedom the torch of civil w T ar spattering aud smoking, although it will not take light we may well bring together the signs of the ominous times which appear to be impenidng over Europe. In all probability the thunder will burst in the East, but who can contemplate the mixtures of races, nationalities, and creeds, which overspreads the whole of that part of Europe with the hope that if once heard there, its roll will not be echoed far off?

We give up as perfectly hopeless the attempt to unravel the policy of any of the great powers in respect to the Eastern question, except, perhaps, that of Russia, which seems to contemplate the possesion of Constautipole with a persistency and firmness of hope that in itself does so much for its own realisation. The common sayiug is not now a pres moi le deluge, but an res I exposition vous verrez. Never since 1615 was the general peace of Europe in so critical a position.