THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1878.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 29, 20 April 1878, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1878.

Thk news which has just arrived of tho proceedings in the East, although not Ijcariug as peaceful an aspect as one would wish, still it is more peace-like and re-nssuriug than any information that has hitherto reached us, since the iiusso-Tnrkish war broke out. So far as Russia and Turkey aiv concerned the war lias the Ujpemnca of being conchidciL A preliminary treaty of peace has been signed, and (lonoral Ignatioff takes the Peace Treaty to St. Petersburg for ratification. Tho purport of the Treaty as published shows that Itussia Ihis made some slight concessions to Turkey. Under these circumstances we cannot doubt but that so far as the Mligornnt powers am concerned, that Turkey, looking at her crippled dab) *ill

lie only too gkd to pay the idemnity and consider herself beaten, whilst Ectasia will Ik- content to rest upon the victories won, and having shown the Turks that tlnv cannot treat Christians at they like, will retire from the bloody strife slightly adding to her territory anil clipping the wings of Turkey. Though this may for the present bo very satisfactory to Eussia and Turkey, it does not appear to bo so to the rest of the Eurojteau Powers. They intend to have a say in the matter and make the settlemeut of the Eastern Question so binding that no one of the countries of Europe can make war with Turkey on the Eastern Question without having to face the whole of the other European Powers. For this purpose a Conference is to he held in Berlin, and whether they will be able to settle this vexed question at once and for ever remains yet to bo seen. It is to bo sincerely hoped that a perfect Understanding will be come to, and that in the interests of humanity an amicable and binding resolution will be arrived at. There is no doubt but that each country will have their own little interests to place before the Congress, so as to prevent one nation getting the better of the other'in the balance of Power. We sincerely hope, however, the next news will inform us that a lasting peace has been the result of the Eastern Conference. From the items before us wc see no reason to doubt but that such will be the case. For the great nations of the earth are too much civilised now-a-days to go to war for the mere love of the sport. The fearful sacrifice of life in modem warfare is such that no recompense can counterbalance, and is enough to make any responsible Minister pause before letting loose the dogs of war.