The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-24
FROM LONDON.
England and Russia, ana their ReIa
lions TO India ana the East.
lcOrrlpondenoe Iof tle 1ntenlgeneer.J
LoNDoN, January, Z, 1868.

l
LONDON, January, z, 1858.
The Government of Great Britain is
gradually becoming conscious of the
danger which threatens its East India
possessions, il Russia continues to adj
vance in Central Asia as fast as it has
done for the last few years. The policy
of the 81. Petersburg cabinet is suf-
fciently known abroad not to require
many words Of explanation; 1t Is that
of aggrandizement towards all sides,
but more especially in those directions,
where its advance will be less noticed,
and comparatively dificult to prevent
without a costly war in savage coun-
try. Those Russian conquests, howev-
ger, which might be called annexations,
are much more etticient, because
they are gradual, and time ia given to
the half-barbarous inhabitants to ANAL
gamate themselves, their tastes and
sympathies with their Northern con-
querors, whoit must be acknowledged, ,
are themselves only half civilized with
the exception of the few immigrants
from the European part of the Russian
empire. 1t is consequently an
easier matter for Russia to become
popular with the Central iAsiatic
ment of Great Britain. which
though on terms of friendship with the
Northwestern neighbors of it's Indian
Empire, the Afghans, and beyonCl them
the Persians, is nevertheless a compar.
alive stranger to all these nations. Sir
John Lawrence, the present Viceroy of
tIn9aia, does his best to keep on amica-
bic terms with the Afghans; but unfor-
itpnately their country Is ruled by SO
many Princes that the securing of a
treaty with one would appear to Be the
almost inevitable signal for difficulties
with another. Persia has even been
1onglng 20 sw11low up the Afghan
powerful to insure success to his ann
bilious designs, and thus AfShanistan
Is left open to the attacks of any power
which might happen to find its occupa-
ton proftable. The Indian Govern
ment pretends to be alive to the state
OF affairs and the necessity of pursuing
well-defined course. II believes ia
the consolidation of its own power by
good governments and in the expedi.
ENJOY of becoming popular with its
neighbors. Nevertheless the Home
Government cannot dissimulate a
tee!tng OF uneasiness, and in a recent
article the Times gives expression to
the feeling by saying: "Whatever des-
TIMES the New Year may have In store
for us. we still devohtly trust that it
may not see US committed to the em-
barrassments of an Africanwar. five
say, as we may say with truth, that the
Government of India deprecates the
very idea Of such an expedition, and
that the Afghan Government, SO far as
such a thing exists, ts not inithe least
likely to provoke IT., we may seem to
have disposed Of the question altogeth-
er, but that is by no means the case.
Public opinion in India, that is the
opinion of the Indian armies, Is strongly
In favor of Intervention, and there Is
just enough substance in the proposal
to give It dangerous vitality. An
officer ofhigh rank, who has served In
India for number of years, writes
about the same subject as follows: AS
regards neutrality under such cir
plausible as it appears
In theory, and sincerely anxious
as we may be to maintain Ii, I fear that
a rich and powerful government like
our. own in close contact with a brave
and needy set of fanatical mountains
eers, VIII always find it extremelyld diff.
cult If not impossible in practice.
Again, looking back at past history, we |
must remem Der that this very country, |
on whose confines we now stand, u hasl
for centuries been the one from which |
all former tnvasions of India have ori- |
gtnated Consequently, the inhabit-
steady advance, view all our acts with
suspicion, and, remembering also the |
Cabral expedition of 80 years back,
they not only disbelfeve our now pro-.
tessed policy of non-intervention and
peace but are persuaded that their
present safety is more. due to their own |
bravery than to our forbearance. Thus.
even were no other powerful governs
ment near them, we should find itdifh- |
cult to pursue successfnl policy of
inactivity; but with Russia coming |
down from the north and already
mixing herself up with the internal at
fairs of the Afghans, it may follow that
before long, the strong ground in our
front may pass into the virtual posses.
sion of Others"
Hewinds up by advising the Govern.
ment to lend to Afghan its moral sup
port, and to associate with the legiti.
mate sovereign of the country, instead
of protesting indifference, which would
soon induce them to seek alliances else
where.
that question becoming gradually the
topic OF discussion in political circles.
1t gradually assumes serious charac-
terS and the final result ofthe present
AbySsinnian expedition is likely
to have more or less direct influence
on the Afghan question and the con-
duct by which this Government will
then be guided.