Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-16
Nuion aud 1ispatth.
sATURpAY. nay 10. Ises.
argest Circulation in City and State
Lid RUssIANs IN AsIA.

Nhile England is maneuyering to pro
teet her East Indian possessions from the
influence of French diplomacy, or more
open attacks, Russia is slowly creeping
down from the North in the direction Of
the territory held by subjects Of the
English Crown. Dispatches from Lon
don state that va Koof Khan has OBJ
tanned an important victory over the
troops Of the Gar, and expelled them
from Kandahar This is fortified city,
and the capital Of Central Afghanistan.
The British held it from 1889 to 1912,
when it was evacuated Subsequently
IL fell into the hands of the Russians, and
has now been retaken by the native
forces.
The contest at Kandahar shows how
far in a seaward direction the Russians
have advanced Although defeated and
compelled to withdraw from
single city, it is not probable, says
the Philadelphia Age, that the Gar viii
release his hold upon other portions Of
the country or abandon this field Of
operations. This is not the habit Of the
Russians They have not so acted in the
past For years Asia has been theater
for Russian diplomacy and military ac-
ton From the advanced posts Of the
Russian possessions in Europe they have
carried the flag Of the empire to the
North Pacific, and effected important
Judgments on the shores Of that body of
water Postal and other communica-
tions are now kept up with great regulari-
ty from st Petersburg to ports in the ex.
sreme eastern portion Of Asia. While
Russian influence was being thus cons
solidated and strengthened in this direc.
ton, ambitious military men, eager to
win notice and star, have led pioneer
parties Of Russian troops under the
shadows OF the great wall of China, and
annexed all the territory adjacent to
that line, and stretching leagues upon
leagues northward to the Russian En-
pire Civil rulers have followed the
CLEAN of the sabre and the spear, and
at this time new division of Russia is
organized in the heart Of Asia. As a
part Of the grand scheme for advancing
Russian interests in Asia, and centining
Great Britain to a narrow strip of terrig
tory along the coast, an attack was made
upon such provinces as surround the
British East India possessions. How
that movement succeeded can be judged
from the fact just stated, that even the
capital of Aighanistan has been under
Russian rule, and will be again, for the
people Of that country are unable to beat |
back the vast armies that the Gar will |
pour in upon them. In Koordistan ennis
saries are at work building up party |
favorable to a transfer Of authority there |
to agents of the Gar, and that the end |
will be favorable cannot be doubted, |
when the power of gold and promises of |
position are estimated at their proper
value.
Asia is a vast and tempting field for |
imperial ambition 1t has been the
theater of mighty events, and may be so
again. Europe is too circumscribed for
the action of minds pregnant with
thoughts of empires by the side of which
France, Prussia and Austria dwindle in
10 utter insignifcance. As the great |
powers master and appropriate the
smaller States of Europe, they will pant
for new fields on which to win fresh |
laurels with which to deck their crowns
When that day comes, Asia will again
rcsound with the shouts of millions of |
armed Europeans, and her plains drink
the blood of a second band of crusaders,
as fierce and fanatical as their earlier
bretheron England is on the ground |
bow and must maintain her position.
Russia is slowly drawing a Gordon Of
military possessions around the disputed
territory and France has made a
in Cochin China, doubtless in
flew of possible events in the future
For the past century history has been
made upon the soil of Europe The
aext may find the current of war, di-
plomacy and empire flowing over that Of
A sio