The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-16

mense expense; avery large force was moved across
the Indus, and Cabul and Candahar were occupied.
The pretence set up was that Russia extending
her boundaries, and approaching Hindoostan; and
hence TO anticipate that power, and gain promi-
just us England has lately been making seizures in
Nicaragua and Honduras TO embarrass ourselves.
The consequences were, that in an unguarded mo-
ment the Afghans rose ON the British forces over
powered and slaughtered thousands; and most
miserable remnant, the heroic lady Sale among the
number, succeeded in recrossing the Indus. Dost
Mahomed triumphed, and what did il signify, that
a new British army sent and re-took Cabul;
and after march of devastation and plumber again
retired TO Hndoostan! They did II as a demonstra-
ton of their power; but they never returned the
natives understood the foray very truly
hbton of theirinabty to sustain their dear bought
conquest. And now, forsooth, through this very
country, from which in 1912 they retired in much
disaster, they talk of running railroad.
If we turn to western Persia, and reflect ON the
attitude of the court Of Teheran, cannot but
similar political barriers. Just Turkey is up
held by the jealousies of the great European pow
ers, and is an apple OF discord among them all SO
Persia stands in the same relation to Russia and
England, and il will require great changes in the
political conditions of both Turkey and Persia, and
much more stability and security before capitalists
will venture to construct through either SO long
road, the whole of which might be rendered use
less by some political mishap on any particular
portion of the route By such contrast
the happy fruits Of our own Union, where society
has fair and wide field for its freest and most
shacked developments. The full value of this
Union no finite mind has yet been able to compre-
bend,
But there is broad zone on the eastern continent
where such political barriers exist, and which,
from the Baltic to the Pacific, is level plain: we
refer TO the empire OF Russia, that mysterious pow
err, stretching from ocean to ocean, and even
tending far upon the American continent, TO
own famous parallel of ffty-four degrees forty
| minutes. The Ural mountains are broad, low ell
ovation full of passes for easy roads. Already
railroad is in the process of construction from St.
PETERSBURG. on
the other to Moscow, and still farther eastwardly
| to Kazan. Doubtless it is part of the imperial
counsels, though not yet published, to extend the
| line through the entire length of the empires
Kazan, its present proposed ter mination, is a in
caculaby better point Of departure for the Pacific
than Vienna. II is 80 degrees of longitude further
| east-as far to the east the Caspian sea- or the
mouth of the Euphratcs, and like Vienna, to be
soon connected on the west with the whole Euro
pean system. 1t has before it, through the entire
distance, level plain rapidly filling up with
most active and enterprising population. The whole
| line would be under single intelligent govern
ment, able and willing to prosecute the work to the
| uttermost-and more interested, indeed, in its
prosecution than we are to have one to California
Eastern Siberia is in truth another California TO
Russia, yielding from twenty to thirty millions of
gold annually.
Through the whole length of Siberia the line of
trade is immense. With China and Tartary it
amounts to some $4,000, 900 year. The inter
changes in domestic way between Russia and ST.
IBERIA are far greater. Every year caravan of the
|
| Okotsk, port south of Kamstchatka the Pa
cihc. This astonishing caravan is of the ter
limitations OF the great central route running east
and west through the whole empire. At present
the silks and of China are three years on their
passa ge from Kiata to st. Petersburgh And, as a
means Of cementing together this reaching enl-
pire, we can conceive nothing that could be done
more effectually than such road. The cabinet of
| St. Petersburgh perceives all these advantages
more clearly than it is possible for a foreigner and
it has shown its penetration and far reaching views
| by engaging in the mighty task American engi-
neers and machnsts, not only to build the road,
| but even the engines and the cars.
The London Times seems to feel the force of SINH
lar views in Boosting that they cqualling the
Americans in their project for a road through Tur-
key and the Persias owe have at last, I" says that
journal, +" fairly beaten the Americans in compre-
| hensive surveys and audacious speculation" :" II
after this cannot snap fingers at the Yankees
] il will be a pity" Beating US indeed in auda-
cious speculation" so far flying in the face of
political difficulties and impossibities is concerned
but not in our success In the former part of the
| same disquisition 1t appeals to our example and
says, [" distance of 2,400 miles, long stage
tainly but not longer than will be in actual opera
ton in the United States before five years out"
This vast subject awakens many startling refiec-
tons We are plainly approaching new in
| the worlds history; and the energy and example
| OF our own country is fastening il on. Think of
two railroads, each crossing one of the two great
continents, and their ends Joined together by swift
| lines of steam navigation What facility for
| flying around the globe In our ordinary summer
| excursions how soon do six or eight weeks pass
| away. But yet such students vacation-such an
| excursion of pleasure-will be abundantly long
enough for making the tour of the whole earth
Such line would travel over the territories of
| only two nations. This is an additional fact 10
| show the part which these two great races of men
are to act in future history-thc Anglo Saxon and
| the Russian. Already each of their languages is
spoken by larger number of people than any
others and the day is visibly breaking in the hor
| lion Of future time, when they viii be spoken by
| full three fourths Of the human family IL is a
| great boon Of Providence for a man TO be born an
| American; TO be placed in the front rank OF inn
| provement, speaking the language most widely
dffused, and in the atmosphere OF the freest, most
| active, and most extensive intelligence.
|
4 Posf Omee Ons ru fiaus.