Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-27
FROM CALCUTTA.
Correspondence of the Ohio Statesman

question about the ultimate fate of that inn |
mense tract of land situated between the |
Indo-British Empire and Persia, forms the
topic of conversation and discussions in the
newspapers both of this country and of
Europe. The Abyssinian war and the fact
of large amount of Indian corn and Brit
ish troops from Indian garrisons having
been sent to that unexplored region to in
wade kingdom inhabited by half-savages,
has raised the question of Central-Asiatic
conquests to more than usual Importance,
for it is not wrongfully inferred that on the
result of the said military enterprise will
depend, to a great extent, the prestige OF
Great Britain, as military power, among
the Mohamedan nations of the East. Par
amount peace and tranquility can only be
maintained in Asiatic States by the exer.
else ofa paramount power to whom the peo-
pie and rulers can alike appeal, and as the
power of Ham, the religious hierarchy, is
fast passing away, European civilization
must take its place. These remarks apply
to the whole of the Asiatic continent, but
in no instance is a speedy reform and the
introduction of civilized system of gov
ernment of more urgent necessity than in
Afghanistan, an empire which is, in fact,
not compact empire, for there have been
Independent rulers in all the principal
cities, such as Cabul, Herat, Candahar and
Balkh, only at long intervals, a man like
the present ruler, Mahomet Azim Khan,
will be found to have sufficient energy or
to be favored with lucky combination
of -, l.
preme power into his hands. After the
death of such man a number of princes
generally take possession of that part of
the country where their influence will Sc
cure a number of followers, and a relapse
into a state of anarchy is the inevitable
consequence. The existence of a perma-
nent empire over all Afghanistan is there
fore very desirable and to the interest of
the civilized world, not only in political
but more particularly in commercial
point of view. For some time the question
has been agitated of establishing railroad
connecting Europe with the Indian EN-
pire and China. 1t has been proved that
the road can be built with considerable less
expense and delay through the very coun-
try just mentioned than in more northern
latitude. The usefulness of that gigantic
work would be felt, in its consequences,
not only in England or the European con-
tinent, but in America, and, in fact, in the
most distant parts of the globe.
For its effectual execution however, it
will be necessary that a close alliance be
formed between the present ruler of Af-
ghanistan and that power, which has thus
far shown the greatest interest in the de-
velopment of the East and which possesses
large empire from the Indus to the bor-
der of China. Russia claims we'll estab-
lished influence over the tribes of Central
Asia, and the fact of the Government of
st. Petersburg making every eXertion for
consolidating their power in Asia, can not
be denied, but as far as actual civilization
goes, Great Britain has for centuries done
more in Asia than the Moscowite or any
other European power. Russia is working
for supremacy in Asia, and so is Great
Britain; and Afghanistan will, at some fu-
ture period. be compelled to place herself
under the protection of either of these
two powers. Experience and the study of
Eastern history shows that, in coming
generation, the capitals of British India,
and Russia in Asia, will become the re-
spective centers of paramount powers based
upon Western civilization, and then per-
chance the Afghan question may be solved.
In the meantime it is the duty of the Brit
ish inhabitants of Asia, for their superior
degree OF refinement, to adopt the Mahom-
medans among whom they live, to the pro-
gress OF civilization. Notwithstanding
what may be said by the press of India
and China against the progress of Ameri-
can influence in the celestial Empire, the
liberal view taken in that respect by large
proporti on of the press in Great Britain
appears to be the only correct one.
There is no reason why we should
quarrel with the great Republic any more
than with Russia, so long as British terri
tory is not invaded by force of arms. In
every part of the globe it has become evil
dent that the arts of peace do more towards
uniting the common interest of nations
than secret defensive and offensive treaties.
The rebellion of '56 would not have assum-
ed the dimensions it afterwards did. and
hundreds of lives would have been saved,
If the railroad, now in operation between
Calcutta and Bombay had been in exist
ence at that time. This wonderful work is
well worth transient notice in this let
ter and shows what energy and persever-
ance can accomplish. 1t eXcites the atten-
ton of the public at large to a less degree
than the Pacific railroad across the Amer
lean continent, on account Of the total dis
tance from Bombay to Calcutta being only
about 1900 miles, but it is nevertheless as
gigantic work as the former, when it is |
taken into consideration that almost every |
inch of iron and building material had to
be imported from abroad at great expense.
The journey can be made in four or five
days and takes the traveller through Cen
trail India and some of the most romantic
sceneries which the Asiatic continent can
boast of. The four and half days which
separate Bombay from Calcutta must con-
tinue for three years at least, owing to
distance of 165 miles which has to be made
by stage. When the line has BEEN opened
an express train will run in sixty