The Lyttelton Times

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 301, 19 September 1855, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times

Wednesday, Sept. 19. The last accounts which we have received from Europe gives hopes that the British Government is at last determined to prosecute the war with that energy and resolution which alone can insure success. Still the levies of men and the preparations made do not seem to be equal to the emergencies of the war, or to the capabilities of the Empire. Notwithstanding all that has been said and written about England's little expeditions, thosedemonstrations made in the hope of terrifying the enemy, —the Aberdeen ministry saw'fit tocommencethe momentous campaign of 1854 by attacking one ofthe strongest positions in Europe, with a force numerically sufficient only for a demonstration against it. That our army has upheld the credit of our, arms, is due to their extraordinary self devotion, not to any good management at home. For the present fortunately, our rulers have given up the project so dear to English statesmen, that of giving up, in the course of diplomacy, all that they have wasted the blood and treasure of the country to obtain. Long after all Europe knew what game Russia was playing in carrying on the Vienna negociations, but much sooner than could, naturally have been expected from diplomatists, our plenipotentiaries discovered that the Court of Russia was trying to throw dust in the eyes of the Western powers. There is now nothing for it but war pushed to extremities ; and the greater the efforts made to prosecute the war vigorously, the sooner may we hope for peace. This is the tone of the English press. It is re-echoed at every gathering of the people ; and it is no wonder that disgust and dissatisfaction should have spread to an almost dangerous extent, when the people of England find that notwithstanding every sacrifice of life and money wrhich they are ready to make, their rulers are endangering the public honor and destroying our noble army from a want of resolution and courage. If these rulers were ready to give way to men more energetic and more capable, the outcry against them would cease; but we find that we are in reality governed by a clique, whose members shuffle power from one to another when public indignation requires some change in the administration. The present energy of Government is due to the example of our French allies more than to any forethought of their own. In the mean time, how is Russia prosecuting the war, and what proposals of accommodation have we to expect from her ? We know how she has defended Sebasto-p<-L—what levies of men she has at the same time sent to defend the shores of the Baltic and the frontier on the side of Austria. We have seen everything sacrificed to the prosecution of the war, and we might have expected that Russia was near the end of her resources. But this is far from being the case. The Muscovite party under the Grand Duke Constantine have got complete possession of the ear of the new Emperor ; indeed, it is said that Alexander is handing over his powers one by one to his more energetic and warlike brother. Nesselrode has resigned office; all places around the Emperor and even Empress E.re filled by zealous partisans of the Muscovite faction ; and the cry of all these possessors of power is " war to the knife. " Not a war such as civilised nations calculate upon, the duration of which must depend upon money and credit, but one carried on by means of plunder and devastation like the wars undertaken by the Huns under Attila, or by the fierce tributaries that followed the staudard of Zingls Khan, allured from the wastes of

Asia by the reputed wealth and luxury of Europe. The Muscovite journals boast that " the Emperor has only to nod in order to let loose whole hordes to be discharged against Europe." Already the valleys around the Altai, the eld cradle of the barbarian races which have from time to time overrun Europe, are beginning to pour forth their warriors at the call of Russia. Asiatics are defending the Baltic Towns and the shores of Finland. The Western Powers must see that the last struggle between the principles of civilization and barbarism is fast approaching. Civilized Europe cannot be successful without large armies and a large expenditure. The danger from the barbarian forces brought into the field by Russia is immediate, although if met with vigour at the first, it. cannot last long. Indeed it is very probable that the spirit evoked by the Muscovite Government of Russia may prove unmanageable, and may end by tearing the provinces asunder. We cannot speculate upon the effects which might be produced by the junction of hordes fresh from the Tartar steppes with the Tartars who migrated to Southern Russia at au earlier period, and who have been obliged to succumb to the Muscovite Power. One of the great changes that periodically affect the state of European society is at hand. Whether it shall only tend to modify the condition of semi-barbarous Russia, or whether it shall extend its influence to Western Europe, which can gain little from any movement from the East; will depend upon the attitude of England and France during the next few years.