The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 9, 23 November 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1878.

Thb gloom which for some time has oVerspread the political horison of Europe still lowers, and although there are. Occasionally rifts m the darkness, arid a gleam of sunshine is seen at intervals, the prevailing opinion would appear to he that matters will be worse before . they are better. Nothwithstanding the hearty congratulations which were showered upon Earl Beaconsfib-..), and .the extravagant laudations of his consummate skill m diplomacy at the Congress, there were not a few. who had their doubts of the final and settlement of affairs at that . meeting. The news to hand by mail arid telegram would appear to strengthen that impression, and at present Europe is- nothing better than one large Jmttte-field, -the: opposing; forces being m a state of temporary quiescence, which the torch Of war is liable 'to be setablaze at aiiy moment. ; The wily and insidious Muscovite ruler, : acceded to the tortus oi the Ber^ treaty m »q

willing manner, and his subsequent action leads conclusively to the impress sion that his acquiescence was by no means genuine, and merely rendered as a cover to hide his ulterior designs. By secret machinations and underhand intrigues his emissaries have striven to weaken the power of the allies and vassals of England m the Indian Empire, and now that matters are rife for throwing off the garb which has hitherto cloaked his designs, the Czar seems prepared to come to an open rupture by a fiat point repudiation of the terms by which he hitherto bound himself. That such will be the result, there can be little doubt, hut the latest news to hand leads to the supposition that the train, laid by the Czar is not sufficiently matured to ho yet fired, and the Royal plotter is only biding his time for the work. Procrastination and secret treachery have been the programme carried out; excuse has followed excuse, for the non compliance with the provisions of the treaty ; while, m the face of the lately Sublished statement of the Czar, that c wished faithfully to fulfil the conditions of the Berlin compact, troops are being inarched southward, armies are being raised, forts strengthened, towns placed m a state of defence, and other steps of a warlike nature taken. Russian hordes are being poured into Roumelia, and that power has arrogated to itself tho position of a pacificator, and this act of aggression is sought to, be perpetrated m the interests of law and order. Fortunately, however, such a con-, tingency was not only foreseen at the Congress, but likewise provided for, as England and Austria bound themselves to prevent Russia arrogating to herself functions assigned by the Treaty to the Government of Roumelia, and the consequence was, as we learn from the mail news, when the Russian armies entered the territory of Roumelia both England and her Austrian ally entered an earnest protest againstthe proceeding. Remonstrances having no weight with the Muscovite ruler, both Powers then made known to him the entente cordiale which had been entered into. Like a wise man,, the Emperor Alexander has given way to circumstances, and for the time, at least, has relinquished his designs upon his prey. The serpent has, however, been only scotched, not killed, and when the time arrives for tho complete evacuation of Bulgaria by Russian troops, which does not take place for two years, it is hard to- say what the continental changes m Europe may develop. The London Times, m referring to the political situation, says : ; — "• Russia venturea to stand m tbe way of the execution of the Berlin Treaty, because she trusts to the forbearance of others. A word spoken m earnest by England or Austria would bring her to her senses, m a moment. It is preposterous to- assert that our hands can be tied by the Affghan difficulty. We must force ourselves upon Afghanistan 'to the exclusion of others who have no : right there. Our course is clear. When we shall' enter upon it is another ques* . tion. It is certain, however, that the decisive campaign will not commence before spring." Meanwhile affairs m Afghanistan have by no means improved,, and reports from all sources confirm the statement that Shebe. Aw is determined to fight to the bitter end. He appears to have weighed the consequences, and replied to overtures from the Viceroy by threats of defiance, saying, " You may do your worst, and the issue is m God's hand?/' while a despatch from St. Peterburg says that if the Ameer he beaten, and his territory annexed, Russia will occupy Merr and Ebalkh m Southern Turkistan, near the : African borders..