The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-05

backed by the presence OF our troops at Bushirc,
and by our public declaration in his favor, there is
every probability that he would be placed on the
throne by bIoodess revolution, and would remain
forever our firm and faithful friend; If, having
obtained full justice from the present Shah, we de-
sired at any stage of the proceedings to stop short Of
the extreme step Of replacing him by his brother,
then pension for life to the latter prince would
compensate him for the throne that was within his
grasp, without entaling on US any further inconve-
nience
The other mode of pressure is one TO which, In
greater less degree, we must necessarily have re.
course when we are once committed 10 hostilities
with Persia for the preservation OF the independence
Of Herat 1t refers to arrangements In Ahghanisan.
Whether the Shah was justified in assuming that
Dost Mahomed had been instigated by the British
TO occupy Candahar, on the death OF kohendil Khan
cannot at present be determined. 1t is on the one
side certain that Lord Dalhousie, in his famous
the Indian government on Dost Mahomed's conquest
OF Candahar, speaking of 1t as a consequence 0fthe
recent alliance between Cab0ol and British India;
whilst on the other hand it is stated that when the
old Chief found himself IN difficulties at Candahar;.
owing to the threatened advance Of the Persians,
and applied to the Governor General for assistance,
ne was informed that, although he had bound him.
self to be "a friend Of the friends and an enemy Of
the enemies of the British" the obligation was not
reciprocal, and he must not count, therefor ON
armed British support in any struggle he might en-
gage in with the Shah. Now, if Dost Mahomed was
ealy urged forward in the first instance by our sug-
gestions, this desertionof his cause was dshOnora
BILE when difficulties thickened round him. I'm
der any circumstances the policy which dictated
such an answer was short sighted, and will as
suredly have to be reversed as the drama is played
further out. 1t is now quite clear that, the
Shah were to take Herat, and, according TO his
original programme were to prosecute his march on
from Scinde to uphold Dost Mahomed's authority
and engage the Persians on the old battle fields
where we have SO often routed the Dooranees. To
permit the Shah, or even his vassal, MahOmed Sedk
han % ra, ran Iaha hn o<,x -
the measures which we are taking to preserve
Herat.
A more doubtful question regards the method Of
dealing with Herat itself, We might at once-and
ultimately, perhaps, we shall be obliged to-employ
our afghan allies in expeng the Persians from that
city II the pressure in the Gulf prove Inadequate
to the end in view, other measures must Of course
be adopted to clear the Herat territory Of the
invaders; and in that case it will have to be con-
sidered whether, instead of marching own troops
upon Shiraz or Ispahan, it may not be better to
throw Dost Mahomed Khan boldly and directly into
the conflict. The objections to this latter course
are, that if the Cab0ol chief were merely assisted
with money and officers, he would hardly be
match for the Persians, who are also assisted with
European officers, and who would be already mas
tiers of the strong position OF Herat: while in re-
gard to the other alternative of supporting him
with troops, and thus insuring his military snpe-
riorty il may be doubted ii the bitterness OF the
GENTLY relented to render the presence Of an auxi
liary British force amongst them agreeable,
safe, and it is moreover certain that public OPT
nioQ in England would look on the resumption Of
OpeAtons above the passes with the greatest pos
sible apprehension and dislike. But, in whatever
manner Herat is to be saved, we cannot avoid
adopting some Interior measures for the mainte-
nance Of the position which will again bring Jig
into active relations with the Affghans. There are
as it would seem, but two courses open to u.s. The
one is to leave the Heratees free to elect their
Governor, be he Suddezye, or Baruckzye, or Ale
kozye; and then; on the invitation Of the chief
w b0Y have lima ad IN ako thn priu
cipality under our avowed protec,orate appointing
minister or political agent to reside permanently
at the court, granting moderate subsidy for
the maintenance OF the government, and impos-
ing equally on the Pers,ans and on the Afg-
hans Of Cabool and Candahar' an obligation to
abstain absolutely from all interference with
the place, on the pain of being. immedi-
tion-and II necessary TO effect the annexation Of
Herat to Caboo directing all efforts to the esta
blishment Of consolidated afghan government,
such as existed under Ahmed Shah, and suisse
quently fencing that government round with such
safeguards as circumstances may seem 70 require.
There are practical difficulties in both of these pro-
posed courses, but they would seem TO predominant
IN the latter; the advanced age OF Dost Mlhomed
Khan, and the notorious Incompetency OF all his
sons being fatal to the permanence Of any arrange
ment, however sound and promising at present;
while the future prospect is further couded by the
the Alekozyes Of Herst and the Baruckzyes, o. an-
iagonstic members Of the heptarchy OF the Doc
rance tribes but even between the two branches Of
the family of Paindek Khan and Baruckzye, who
ave respectively ruled at Cabool aud Can.
dahar. Some doubts, also, may be expressed
as to the policy OF establishing powerful and
united Afghan government In immediate contact
with India. Such State would be most valuable
a. friend, but II would be equally dangerous an
enemy.
II the Persian war actually ensues, and acquires
any considerable proportions there win probably be
q strong clamor raised against t. both In India and
m vii bo min NJ
taken on the ground Of the enormous outlay II will
entail on the government, and because, the rela
tons with Persia are in the hands OF the crown, IL
is held to be unfair TO India to saddle It's finances
with an expenditure which belongs to European
diplomacy. In cases Of this sort, however, no dis.
tinction ought to be admitted between colonial and
imperial rsspGnsisility The safety Of India Is the
revenues Of the crown. The independence Of Heat,
moreover, Is essentially an Indian question: and the
convention Of 1858. although executed by servant
OF the crown, and under instructions from the For
eign Office, was planned exclusively In the interests
Of India.
In England IL may be expected that the opposition
to the war will rest on broader grounds The para
mount importance Of Herat, on which the whole
question turns, will not be accepted unless support
ed by stronger arguments than any that have been
yet advanced In discussing the natter In fact, the
advocates Of the war must show that not only the
right exists, but the necessity also, 70 resent tb
Shahs infiaction of the convention Of 1853, an en-
gagement, il must be remembered, which has mot
the form OF treaty, aud departure from which
does not accordingly Of itself necessarily constitute
q casus bfHf. This point may be left for future ex
animation, and In the meantime the public will dc
well to suspend its Judgment Government has Ger.
tainly not acted unadvsedly, nor without due re.
gard to consequences In all its preliminary proceed
ings- IL Is only TO be hoped that the same prudence
and the same forbearancc will he exercised In the
further conduct OF Affairs the alternative of peace
or war not being left 10 the mere discretion Of the
commander Of the expeditonary force, whose mill
tary ardor would not unnaturally lead him 70 pre-
cpitate hostities.
TThe National Coinage OF Great Britain.
From the London Post, Oct ~
The daily operations at the Royal Mint prove how
effective and necessary Is the application Of steam
power TO the coinage OF the realm. Time has shown
that by the happy union OF the two great minds O.
James Watt and Matthew Boulton, who so perfect
carried out their wondrous discoveries In engineer
ing and mechanical science, the steam engine o.
Watt, amongst its multiplied appliances, seemed
TO have been made for the express purpose OF com
pleting the design Of bis future partner, Mr.
Boulton, when he sketched out his celebrated coin