The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-06-17
THE PROGRESS OF RUSSIA IN ASIA;
SHALL THE WORLD BECOME COS

SACK!
A game of chess is now being played on
which the eyes of thinking men are anxious
ly fixed. The combatants are the two grea-
test powers Of Europe, the board the conti-
nent of Asia, and the stake the sovereignty
OF some four or five hundred millions Of
souls. 1t was commenced long since, but
thus far fortune has hardly shown any de-
cided preference to either side. On both,
unimportant successes have been followed by
trivial cheeks, and the shrewdest observer
could not have fOrescen few months ago to
which victory would lean. Neither had VEN
tured on direct attack. The shock of war
was vet to come, and the skill of both was
absorbed in preparing for its advent.
England had ciltctually crushed the native
tribes on the northeastern frontier Of her Eas-
Tern possessions. Her troops had .overrun
Cabul, and u picked force occupied the neigh
bcrhood Of Peshawcr. An occasional rem
contrc with the mountaineers on the north
terminated to her advantage, and served both
70 whct the ardor and revive the discipline OF
her soldiers. On the west, an suspicious pre-
text enabled her to push forward into Bur-
nah. Despite the blundcrs of her generals,
.uc lHc lItNuuuN Z,
-ni while the artillery battered Rangoon, and
inenaccd Ava, the Governor-Gcncral had
calmly traced out on the map new frontier,
comprising within the British dominions near
~ the whole of Burmah and the literal as
far as Penang. Reforms substantial and prac-
teal, had been introduced into the colonial
government. A fresh stimulus had been giv-
rn to trade and agriculture, and the enrolment
of scpoys and native militia had proceeded
with yigor. No symptoms of relaxation in
the British grasp Of India could be discerncd'
On the contrary, in every movement the firm
resolution to advance instead of rcccding was
conspicuous. Nor did events prcsagc dis
appointment for her hopes. Ailiighan ierocity
had succombcd to European discipline, and it
WAS obvious that, if the Queens deputy
chose, Atfghanistan and Beloochistan would
soon follow the Pun lamb, and the red cross
wave on the very borders of Peasia. The
tremendous IIimaIayas might interfere n tenn
porary barrier; but the Burmese pcninsular
once under the yoke, the road to China was
disorganizcd, disalieccd, and distrustiul of
their own government, offered an easy prey to
The invader.
Meanwhile, with less show but not less
actual activity Russia had cvinced mastery
skill in the arrangement of her plans. While
England was Strengthening her position on
the south, Russia rcsolvcdstO cncroach upon
Central Asia on the north Three points
were chosen as vulnerable. One vas on the
frontier separating Siberia from China near
longitude no degrees. The second was on
the borders of the Sea of Aral. The third
was port in the northern waters of the Cas-
plan. 10 these three points expeditions,
which set forth with the ostcnsblc purpose
of exploring, but which were really small ar
mics, had been dispatched. The first was
ready at moments warning to pour down
on Mongolia and the northern Chinese pro-
vinccs. The second had vessels and boats
fully equipped to ascend the rivers flowing
into the sea of Aral, and would march through
Bokhara to Tibet and the Chinese border
on the west: while the third was ready to
operate diversion by arrcsting the progress
OF England in the Panjaub. independently
of these expeditions, II larger military and
naval force had been assembled on the home
frontier than Russia had been able to muster
in 1912. Difficult as it is to ascertain the
, real movements and intentions of the gov
eminent of the Gar these matters were well
known to politicians, and their net results
were anXiously looked for.
AS we said, the skirInshes which have htll-
erto taken place between the rivals have been
unimportant, and success evenly divided. If
Pulmerston defeated Russian intrigue at Ca
buI, the Gar hoodwinked the English in
1urhestan. If British influence has been
paramount at Pekin, the Russians have been
the most popular among the mountain tribes
in Bokhara. Russia has frightened her hold
of Turkey until eXtrication has become al
most hopeless; but Sir Stratiord Canning has
opposed n bold front to her designs, and sue
ceeded in infusing sort Of manly courage
even into the Divan.
Such were, until few weeks ago, the state
and prospects of the antagonists. The Chi
ncse rebellion has changed the face of affairs.
With the rapidity which usually characteri-
yes the Russian government, IN envoy, WIN
extraordinary powers, was dispatched to Pc
kin, as soon as the news reached st. Peters
burg At our last accounts he was ut kiacf.
ia, on the borders of the empire, where one
of the "exploring parties" we have mentioned
are mustered. Meanwhile, the Emperor OF
China had acknowledged his inability to cope
with the insurgents, and appealed to this
country, Great Britain, and Russia, for sue
cor So far as we are concerned, the appeal
was of course futile. England will take so
long to make up her mind and dispatch troops
to the scene of action that the conflict will
probably be over before she has come to n
determination. Russia is already on the bor-
dcrs, asks for nothing better than an oppor-
tunity to interfere, and could qucl the insur-
rection in few weeks. Opposed to such
miserable foes as the Chinese, the wcll-train-
ed bands of Cossacks would be invinciblc,
and the kingdom, tapped ut Kiachta, would
hc ovorrup nv tbo men of the north in n few