The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-28 00:00:00

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE THRONE
OF AFGHANISTAN.

The Times of Monday, in noticing the telegrams sent by
;s Correspondent, remarks :

The telegrams of our Correspondents this morning
give prospect of stirring news from Afghanistan. The
time is said to be approaching at which the new Ameer
of the country will be called upon to give decisive
proof of the stuff of which he is made. He has asserted
himself up to this point with seeming vigour, but he
has yet to face what has been long foreseen as the
chief difficulty of his position. The report now reaches
us that the trial is near at hand. His rival, Ayoob
Khan, is said to be preparing to take the field with a
wo
fi taht
ti na e
andA mme eure' sh
iwt ni s ttehrortiltgohr
ty, .wei
lal ndde
pa he
na rd is
pt
oh
lel
considerable force, and with promises of further support
pointfr
the rapidity and success with which the first blow can
be struck by either side. If Ayoob Khan is suffered
to advance without opposition, he will gather strength
as he goes, and will try conclusions with vastly im-
proved chances in his favour. . . . Our Correspondents
agree as to the probable issue of the struggle, if
struggle there is to be, between the two claimants for
the uneasy throne of Afghanistan. If Abdurrahman
is prompt in his movements, the chances are asserted
to be in his favour. But if he holds back and
allows his rival the time of which he is in much
need and the prestige of an unopposed advance, the
balance may be turned, and the prize of victory may
fall, not to Abdurrahman, but to Ayoob. We learn
certainly that Abdurrahman has started for Candahar,
and that he may not improbably proceed at once to
an invasion of the Herat territory. If this intention
is carried out, and there seems no reason why it should
not be, the result looked for is that-Ayoob will be
driven across the Persian frontier, and that the war
will speedily be at an end. But what is more certain
still is that the throne of Afghanistan will be no quiet
seat for anybody. Its occupant, whoever it may prove
to be, will hold his place subject to perpetual chal-
lenge. As one rival is defeated, another and another
will start up and renew the stiuggle. Such has been
the course of events with former rulers of the country,
and Abdurrahman must not expect to fare better than
they have fared. Where the question is one, not of
hereditary right, not of policy, not of class interests,
but of personal prowess, the claim of every ruler
can never cease to be for ever open to dispute, The
Afghan Sovereign must fight his way to the top in
the first instance, and keep at the top by the
incessant practice of the arts by which he has risen.
In a country like Afghanistan there will be no lack of
competitors. Every successful General, every local
Governor, every tribal chief is an actual or potential
rival to the Sovereign for the time being. Just now
we are calculating the chances between Abdtirrahman
and Ayoob. Whatever the result, the problem will
be a recurring one. The only doubt can be as to the
names which may be destined to figure in it.
We Oen wait without impatience for the issne of
the impending struggle. If `Abdurrahman, alter all
that has been done for him, proves wanting in energy
and capacity to govern, he must fall, and by his own
fault. It is on himself, and not on this country, that
he must depend. England is in no sense committed
to him or to hip calms, though some share of English
sympathy he may plait* if isq pleases hjm. . , .