The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-02
The Routes to Asia.

The Routes to Asia. :.,
l The trade of the Asiatic Pacific, which
to the minds of Europeans first, and sub
sequently to the ambition and hopes of thu
people of,this country, has ever beentinged
with gold illuminated by the rays of thu
sun, is now more than ever the object O.
the gigantic enterprises Of nations. The
Panama railroad, and the now rapidly-pro
crossing Pacific railway across this CONT
nent, seem only to have stirred up Europe
to renewed exertions to, draw that trade
along the lines westward from Asia to- the
Mediterranean. France projected the Sue'
canal; and there is the railway from the
Mediterranean to the Red Sea, under the
government Of Egypt. But these do mo-
answer the object. Neither isquick enough
and the railroad in Egypt is under too pre-
carious a political control to satisfy the
ambition of England and the western
Powers Of Europe and their great CONNER.
cial emporiums. - :,;s-
A meeting was held in London on the
9Th of May at the Royal United Service
Institution, at which Sir. HENRY RAwL1N-
SON presided, to consider the;importance Of
another route Of continuous railway from
the European Atlantic, coast to India Mr.
HYDE CLARKE read a paper on the adyan-
tages of daily mail route to India through
Turkey and Persia. The European rail
way systems, reaching to Basiash, on the
! Danube, is the first and existing portion Of
this route. The second lies in European
Turkey between Basiash and Constantine
pie. The third is the line from CONSTANT
nople across Asia Minor to Aleppo, and
thence by the valley Of. the Euphrates to
Bagdad and Bussorah. The fourth is now
in active operation by steamers between
Bagdad, sBussorah, and Bombay.ssB But this
steam line it is proposed to substitute by a
railway connecting Bussorah and Kurra-
chez, thus joining the European and Indian
systems Of railway. -
+ This vast project accomplished, the
speaker estimated that the route from Lon
don to Kurrachee could be- accomplished in
eight days ), to- Bombay IN ten, and to Ma
dras and Calcutta in ten or eleue,u. e I.
Il This line would have o powerful effect
on trade and travel, since it would place
the traveller from London on the Asiatic
Pacific coast as soon as it is possible for the
ocean steamers to land him in New York.
The gigantic interests and means which
must favor and sustain this line will no
doubt insure its construction at o day not
very remote. - =
The most important light in which it ap-
zpeared to the speaker Mr.. CLARKE) and no
doubt to the English politicians, was the
military advantages Of this line and its
bearing upon European politics. 1t was
considered Of inestimable Importance in
checking the ambition of the Gear of Rus
STA, and preserving the integrity Of Austria
and the Turkish dominions in Europe !
The speaker considered that Austria would
be strengthened and enabled to give mill
'tary assistance to the Sultan, her ally,
while an allied army Of English, French,
and Austrians could be promptly brought
into action in European Turkey, and COM
pei servia to obey her engagements. \
The Inference is that, in British opinion,
Russia and Prussia are in alliance for en-
croachments upon the territory and peace
of Eastern Europe to the dangeraof the.
balance OF power and the peace Of the con-
.tinent. This railway line to the Pacific
was looked upon as an agent to restrain
them. II was further considered as the
best means Of reyiying Persia and Turkey
by reyolutioniaing their social and moral
economy, and developing their physical
strength and resources. The accomplish
ment of this grand. scheme, it Was con-
tended, would be highl j advantageous, COM
.mercially, to England. France, and Aus
tria, and the best guarantee for the peace
OF Europe. ts ta5S7flt,s 80 Ess.s .Fa.s.sFr1s
~ FsUNDAM Entail COED1TIoNs.-Jpdge
TRuNBUIL on Saturday, speaking Of that
provision Of the Arkansas bill:which de-,
ciares that the Constitution shall not be