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Leader (1850-1860), 15th March 1856, Edition 1 of 2, Page 255, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      protectioa guaranteed by the other , under a liberal constitution , with free outlets for its trade , and unlimited rights of self development , there is no reason why the Moldo-Wallachian people , united under one Government , should not become an . important element in . the political organisation of Eastern Europe , and maintain a militia force of a hundred thousand men . It is the interest of Austria to prevent this amalgamation , because the disunion of the States perpetuates their

      imdestroy their independence , and to divide their forces . Boumaman history commences at the point when Trajan ' s legions descended into the valley of the Danube , and founded a pastoral society . The next scene discloses the national flight from Transylvania , the erections of cities and fortresses along the line of the great river of Europe , and the dispersion

      of a brave and cultivated people . It seemed not enough that their ancient plans should disappear , that they should no longer hope to establish a free dominion , with its citadel on the Carpathian raaige , and its territories in the vast and fertile plains around . Disjointed by the shocks of the barbarian war , one half of the JRoumaman race was left at the foot of

      the Transylvanian hills ; one half was thrown on the borders of the Danube ; and this , again , was broken into the Moldavian and Wallachian nations . Temporarily divided , they were not easily conquered . They produced great statesmen and military leaders ; they contended with , the audacity of the Hungarians and the ambition of the Poles , and the Red . Forest , near the Dniester , is one memorial of the coxirage with which this newly-planted population -maintained its

      independence . From that epoch to the present , though their territories have been overrun- — though the Poles and tbe Hungarians have claimed them as subjects— -though , the Ottoman empire has obtained privileges of supremacy , in which Russia and Austria have sought to partake , the Danubian Principalities have always enjoyed , in one sense , a separate jpolitieal constitution which cannot be annulled by the Conference of Paris without a violation of right and law . It is common to speak of

      them as appendages of the Turkish empire , and it has been flippantly suggested to dispose of them by a commission as a minor '* jjateiest" not worthy to engage the solicitude of a Plenipotential Council . But if a decision be forced upon the Moldo-Wallachian nation contrary to the spirit of their history , and to theu ? own hopes and tendencies , "the act will be a political crime , which will recoil upon its authors , for a peace , founded } n . such a spoliation , may be the source of half a century of war .

      M . Edgar Quinefc , in an elaborate study * on the history of the Roumanian race , based on the Chronica Itomanilor , published in three quarto volumes at Jassy , admits that it is impossible , in the actual condition of Europe , to propose the foundation of a complete Roumanian State . Such an act would fuse into one dominion the territories of Wallachia , Moldavia , Bessarabia , the Bukovitla , Transylvania , and a part of the Banat of Hungary . It creates frontiers on the Theiss ,

      the Carpathians , tlie Dniester , the Euxine , and the Danube . But , of . the six provinces indicated , two fell away from the Roumanians , so long ago that their influence is forgotten ; two others have been crushed by conquest —two only , the Danubian Principalities , remain ; and it is l ) y consolidating them into a separate State , connected by political ties with the Porte , and by diplomatic guarantees with the rest of Europe , that the honest objects of the "waT may be obtained .

      Much rabid sentimentality has been diffused on this subject . A little faction of lecturers in England , ¦ which seems possessed by a Maliommedan fatuity , declares through the columns of its dying organ , against the spoliation of Turkey , by the esta blishment of a soparato Government in the Principalities . But tho relations between the Porte and the Moldavian and Wallachian states never amounted to more than a nominal subsidy qpaorded by the one , in return for Imperial

      potenee , their poverty , and the facihti . es of intrigue and aggression . The interest of Russia is the same , and for identical reasons . The interest of a faction in Turkey harmonises with that of her jealous neighbours , because it is served by whatever promotes embezzlement and corruption ; but really to secure the Ottoman emp ire it would only be necessary to raise up a solid , living nationality on the Danube , which would not merely create an impassable fortification on the frontier , but

      keep the river open to the trade of Europe . It is no discouragement to this idea to point to the helpless prostration of the Principalities under their tributary princes , under the Phauariote viceroyalty , and under the Russian protectorate . It is enough to remember that they have for centuries been abandoned by the other powers of Europe , that they have never abdicated their national rights , and that , with scarcely an exception , the Moldavians and Wallachians desire to found a federative

      Government . It is true that the treaties which guarantee their independence of the Porte , in all matters relating to their personal and political rights , are no longer in existence ; but the facts that prove conquest are absent . What proved the conquest of Spain , Attica , the Morea , the Grfeek Archipelago , ' Asia Minor , Servia and Bulgaria by tbe Turks ? Their original laws , even their manners , were suppressed ; their religion was proscribed ; the mosques of Islam were insolently erected in every town .

      Nothing of the kind ever took place in the Principalities . The Mahommedans were forbidden even to build a mosque , and never ventured to infringe this peremptory law . They never marked the country with the brand of conquest ; they never arrogated the initiative in changes of government . The Moldo-Wallachians preserved , throughout all vicissitudes , their ancient customs , their arts , their schools ; they have national traditions ; they have a language , a history , and a religion ; and , if they have suffered from

      natural and accidental misfortunes , from , the original disintegration of the Roumanian race , from the former hatred of * the Poles , Hungarians , and German nations , from their peculiar tenets which isolate them among the Latin communities of the East , they have claims which cannot be denied ; and whatever be the influences exerted by Austria and Russia , they have a right to be established as a nation , under European guarantees . Under those conditions they may fortify the Peace ; xmder any others they will form the objects of selfish contentions , which may revive the War .

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      hospitality as they did ; but it was not ailquite right . We can generally reconcile ourselves to a little theoretical wrong , when it is accompanied by a blazing fire , a handsome hearthrug , pleasant furniture , a generous table , cheerful &iends , and much moral approbation . The fellows are good fellows—nobody wishes them ill * but everybody wishes that a little more should be done with , the charity . It ha& become quite the custom in modern times for the trustee of a charity to adopt the maxim

      that charity begins at home , and to expend upon his own worthy person something which he ought to give to so many poor men or poor boys ; the boys getting the mediaeval pence , the trustees the modern sovereigns . And certainly they did not carry the abuse so far at Dulwich as they did Elsewhere . The present men are not to be disturbed , but others are to be admitted piospectively , and we do not think that the fellows will object to their future company .

      Still less if the actors are admitted . The schools growing up will be a pleasant sight j the pensioners provided for in comfort will be an object of satisfaction—but how agreeable to think that the foundation of an actor in William Shakspeake's time will become the home of the poor actor in Bejfjamin Webster ' s time ! Mr . Charles Dickens has exorcised the phantom conjured up to frighten us away from the reform . We need not scruple to admit the actors into the " Ajcletne Chabitt ! " on the

      score that Alleyne founded it in abhorrence of a profession in which v he had played the devil , and had encountered the real Satan on the stage . It is not true that Alletne played the devil at all , so that the story of his penitence is dissipated . He might not specially designate actors , since his view was no doubt to restore to Society some of the benefits for which he , as a successful man , felt grateful . Actors made fortunes in those days and lived jovially : in the present day they lose fortunes , and live anxiously . It is

      in their very nature that they should not be provident , and live by rule ; but that they should cultivate the impulses , the utterance ? , so that they commonly make very pleasant company , but do not often make provision for old age . Society owes a debt to Alleyne , having received . from him more than he bargained for ; and it is only handsome to repay it to his fellow actors . The charity , then , will make a provision for poor actors and actresses and their children ; and the actors and actresses will , as usual , make very pleasant companions .

      WEBSTEB TO ALLEYNE . If the very just proposal supported by Mr . Webster ' s public meeting at the Adelphi Theatre on . Thursday be adopted , the crowning grace will be added to the reform of the Allkyne charity at Dulwich . It is a . good incident of a reform when it "benefits many and hurts none . The inmates of Dnlwioh ought to feel more comfortable than they had ever felt in their life of the present generation . Something was impending over them . They had a comfortable provision , » nice homo , a handsome income , and they could dispense

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      March 15 , 1856 . ] THE LEADER , 255 -- ¦ ¦ - .- ¦ - —¦——— ¦ '' - —————^——^—i——i——^—w^——— - ^^—vmmmmmm ^ i ^^^ " ^™

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      * Revue doa Doux Mondos , March , J 800 ,

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      A Stoemy War and Peaojs Meeting . —A meeting to discuss the propriety of tho ¦ present war , which was lately held at Holuafirth , terminated in . a downright pitched tattle between the disputants , which waa in itself terminated by tbe extinguishing of the lights . Strahan , Paul , and Bates . —Another examination into the affairs of these bankrupts took place in the Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday , when the three partners were brought up in custody , but permitted to remain in an adjoining court until Sir J . D- Paul waa called upon to give evidence regarding the

      marriage settlement of his relative , Mrs . Fitzgerald . The bankrupt -was neatly dressed , but had a very careworn and heartbroken look- A- proof was tendered on behalf of the trustees of Mrs . Fitzgerald for a sum of £ 17 , 000 . Tho pi-oof had been admitted against the joint estate , and xt waa now sought to bo made on the noparato estate of Mr . Strahan . Mr . Strahan became trustee of the marriage settlement on , the death of Lprd Alvanley , Since tho last meeting the separate balance-sheets have been filed . Theee were read iu court . The bankrupts then passed their final examination .

      FjtBjj at Mbbshs . Soora IUjssem / s . —Another ftre brpko out on the promises of Messrs . Scott Russell and Co ,, tho shipbuilders of Millwall , Poplar , on Wednesday afternoon . Tho fixe was not extinguished , until the mills , tho maohinwy , the joiners' houses , and planing chops wore destroyed , oad the contents , with tho exception of a small portion , ooneurood . Tho loss is necessarily very heavy ; the machinery will alone ooat Bojae thousand pounds to repair .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 15, 1856, page 255, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2132/page/15/