Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-07-13
Who Is Dost NIohammed .

can. unoerAf'Y CIRCUMSTANCES, be admitted.
Who Is Dost Mohammed.
Inc intelligence which came from India some
months ago that Russia had formed an alliance with
post Mahammed, has brought into notice name
aouS enough ten years ago, but lately almost for
gosten There are doubtless thousands of our read
Gs f.s especially the younger ones, wondering who
LOST Mohammed is. We will tell them, for It is
name that viii probably live in history
Inc country OF the Affghans, lying on the north
west OF BRUSH india, is mountainous region in
hablted by bold and hardy tribes, whose blue ewes,
lgnt halr, and marked countenances show them to
De OF the best Caucasian race. Some years ago. the
monarch OF Atfghanistan dying the ancient king
oom spht into fragments, and among those who pro-
hted by the occurrence was Dost Mohammed a
younger brother of former vizier. The British,
however, taking the part of Shah Shula, former
occupant OF the throne who had been deposed march
ed ed an army into Aghanistan seized cabu the capi
sent him across the Indus to their own terr;tores
where they retained him in a sort of honorable cap
uVlGy' At the same time Shah Shuja was replaced
on nd the throne of Cabul These events happened in
1889 and 1s40
For TINS interference in the affairs of Afghanstan,
tne BRITISH had no excuse whatever It is true that
the tersians were at war with Herat and that the
BRUSH feared II Herat FELL that the Persans nsti-
gated by Russia would assal British India next It
is true also that Dost Mohammed was believed TO
favor the Persians designs on Herat But that Dost
ism has never been proved. Dearly, however, did
the British pay for their interference In November
lo4!, an nsurrecton broke out at Cabu against the
British In the tumult Sir Alexander Barnes and
several other distinguished officers lost their lives
This partial rising was followed by an insurrection
over the whole kingdom. The British for the first
time in India since Lord Give began to lay the foun-
datlons OF their power, quailed before the storm
Sir William McNaghten, the British envoy at CabuI
agreed with Akber Khan, the favorite son of Dcst
WOlammod. fho hl,bo
ting to escort the British army to The frontiers and
Sir William pledsng that Shah Shuja should abdi-
cate IN order to make room for Dost Mohammed's
return AT second meeting between Sir William
ana Akoer dlssention arising, probably provoked
on purpose by the latter, Sir William was shot dead
by the afghan chief. Akber, however, agreed sub
sequently to carry out the terms of the treaty
Now began retreat, the horrors of which only
that OF Moscow has equalled in modern times Ak
Der professed to the British army but secretly
lnsgated, 1t IS believed the mountain tribes to as
sail them and consequently the march of the fugi-
tIveS was daily scene of massacre. The season
was cold, the detiles were blocked up with snow the
troops were encountered with a large number of wo-
men and children, besides vast body Of campbell
lowers Some died from exposure, and some were
lett to perish from sickness on the waY-sde but the
greater quantity fell by the swords of the merciless
mountaineers. Never but once in modern times has
more signal vengeance been visited on invaders
Fhe passes filed along the whole line of retreat
the only persons who escaped were officers and
their wives who had placed themselves under Akbers
care few marches from Cabul and who after months
OF captivity after terrible prvatons, and after long
Weeks OF suspense more agoniZng than the worst
prlvatIons, succeeded by brbes in making their es
cape and reaching the nearest British force having
rldden several days in hourly peril of their lives
Inc British, meantime bad advanced in force from
ther own side OF the Indus, and had penetrated
TO Caoul but the prisoners having thus been recov-
ered, anu Shah Shua having been assassnated it was
resolved to leave the fghans to themselves Accord
lngly Dost Mohammed, who had been retained in
captivity all this time, and whose participation in the
late events, though suspected, could not be proved
was set at liberty. He took possession at once of
the throne of Cabul. The British simultaneously
abandoned that capital, but not until they had de-
stroyed lis famous bazaar 1t was in November,
lo42 that the last division rccrossed the Indus and
the AHgan Prince was restored to freedom and es-
corted 10 the frontiers of his kingdom Just twelve
months had elapsed since the insurrecton in Cabul;
but IN that single year a more fatal blow had been
struck at the British power by destroying the idea of
British nvincblity than the whole ninety preceding
years had witnessed since the British arms first be-
gan to make headwaY in the East.
Dost Mohammed has no love for the English
There is little doubt that he secretly caused the
massacre at Cabu, and that he will at the first chance
seek still further vengeance. In releasing him the
British acted from policy more than any other
tive for they found they could not hold Affghanis-
tan, and they thought it would conciliate Dost Mo-
hammed to set him at liberty. They have been mis-
taken, they will find, if not now then at the first
really favorable opportunity ity-PhiladelphiG Ledger.
MAssACHUsErTs.-The Old Bay State begins TO
exhibit signs of vigorous reactiOnary movement
The reasonable proscrptve, intolerant, factions and
ridiculous course pursued by her late bigoted Legs
lature has aroused all the heter class of her citizens
TO earnest work for the furtherance of right for the
maintenance of the paramount law. and for uphold
ing the sacred union. The Democrats of Massachu-
setts-a noble fraternity--are constantly receiving
accessions to their numbers from those who have
been deceived by the lying promises, the specious
pretensions and the false alarms of Know Nothing
ism. cry of Indignation and disgust is raised by
all the patriots of the State their honest hearts and
their determined wills give assurance that Massa-
chusetts shall be redeemed.
We copy the following from the columns OF the
Boston Post indicative of the spirit beginning
| to be reawakened:
"In the general tendency of the times there can
be no doubt that the present generation have begun
10 place lower estimate upon the value OF the Fed
eral Union than any that has preceded it, and it may
be stated as fact lamentable indeed, that the far
ther we recede from the days of the revolution the
less we preserve of it's spirit. Every man who has
arrived at middle life, eyen must have marked this
difference. Love for the Union is becoming rare
sentiment daily and is fast giving way 10 an esumate
/ of its value founded upon slmpie anu supernclaI
views of self; Interest. Hitherto our countrymen
have been wont 10 regard with reverence the char-
cters and the deeds of the fathers of the Republic,
and as they have received from the lips of their
Grated sres the story of their wrongs, their resist
anee their struggles and their trumphs and have thus
learned what it cost to establish the noble cOnfeder
Acy of these States they have been accustomed look