The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-28
The Contest Between England and
Russia for Dominion In Asia.

/ mJmpniyu5 question has been brought
prominently before our notice by recent
events Up TO the last few yean the
country known as Chinese TaftAry was
entirely subject 10 the Chinese Empire.
a violent religious policy was, by some
cause or other, excited among the Mussul.
man subjects d the Celestial Empire. A
very brave and able chieitAin, named
iakOob Bey-One Of those extraordinary
men made 10 lead great moYemenl-pul
himself at the head OF the rebels,
and the result Is that new, indie.
pendent kingdom has been formed, with
YakO0b BeY Ss King, Yakoob Bey has
shown that he Possesses the abilities Of
the statesman no less than those Of the
warrior. The Chinese rule Is not very
benehceHt one, and the effect Of the eT.
change in Chinese TSrtary from govern
menl by China ogoyernmenthy YRkOob
Bey is described As very remarkable.
Now, Kashgsr the Kingdom Of va
knOb Bey, Is the extreme western point Of
the Chinese Empire, and almost touches
the northern part OF India. Between
the confines oil Russia, at the Southern
point where 1t leaves Europe and Rash.
gar, are u number Of feeble governments
called KhanRtCs. 1t needs but glance Ut
the map OF Asia TO see the immense i'm.
por,ance Of the tract Of land lying be-
tween Russia and KaShgar A line drawn
through this tract would almost biseci
Asia And the importance Of this tract
OF country Is as great In commercial as
in a military aspect. The people are
very anxious 10 obtain European goods,
and 10 these districts, where humanity
sWarms, and where the most valuable re
sources can he obtained at a small price
from people ignorant Of their value, the
European dealer would BE- able not only
to sell q large quantity Of his goods, but
also TO sell them at good price.
So much being said about this tract, let
Us now see the different lines OF policy
adopted by the two European rivals for
tho domination Of Asia. Russia began
with the Khanates. or these Khanales
thc.c are lhree-Bokhara, Khokand, and
Khiya. Russia asked Khokand and 30.
khara that It's merchants and their goods
should be allowed TO pass into and 10
pass through the KhanalCs FREQ Of duty.
The KhRnRtcs refused. Russia promptly
sent troops against the unwise sOvcreignS,
and in short time halt the KhanAtes had
been added to the territory Of Russia, and
the other half was allowed to DO retained
on the humiliating condition that the SOW.
creigns should be subject 10 tho Gar.
Khiva now remained. And here It would
be thought was the moment, II ever, Tor
the intervention of England. Russia was
slowly approaching TO the northern Dor
ders Of the Indian Empire. Of tho three
KhsnAtcs tina! lay prominently In her way
two had already gone. Was the third,
tho last, to be also allowed TO ialll Act.
ing upon this natural train Of reasoning
the Khan Of KhiYa went on Journey 10
the VicCrOy Of India, imploring his assist.
ancO against tho Russian Empire. The
petition OF the Khan was rejected in an
OslCnlaiiously public manner. And so
Austria is lett TO pursue her course. II Is
not us yet known whether Russia has
subdued KhivA, as the reports vary on the
question.
so much for the conduct Of the two
governments with regard TO the Khan.
ates. Now for their conduct with regard
to the new kingdom OF Kashgar. When
YakOob Bey had established himself
firmly upon the throne, ono of his first
acts was to make some advances toward
| forming political and commercial ALI.
anCG between his territory and the British
Government in India. With these views
no dispatched an embassy TO Calcutta,
asking the British Government for Its
friendship and for tho favor OF a visit
from British officer. In reply to these
offers the British Government sent Mr..
Forsyth, a distinguished member Of the
| Civil Service, 10 the court Of NGkOOb
/ Bcy. But, unfortunately, when Mr.. For.
sylh arrived he found that HakoOb Bey
was absent, having gone to Iubdue some
troublesome neighbOrs on the eastern
I frontier OF his territory. Mr.. Forsyth's
instructions were to stay certain length
OF time in Kashgar, and that period had
elapsed before the return Of YskoOh Bey.
The minister OF YskOob, who had treat.
cd Mr.. Forsyth with the greatest respect
and hospitality, entreated him to stay
until YakOObs return; but Mr.. Forsyth
refused, and went back TO India without
having seen the sovereign Of Kashgar
This first defeat did not abatc the Va.
koOb's desire for an alliance with Eng.
land, for, Immediately after his return, he
sent a second ambassador to India
man OF royal blood and Of very high
character among his people. And so the
matter rested for some time.
Meanwhile Russia had preceived what
an immense advantage It would be to
have Tree entrance for her merchants into
Kashgar, and through Kasbgar into
China. Russia accordingly treated Va
koOb hey in q very different manner
from that adopted toward him by Eng
land. Instead Of waiting for an embassy
they sent one to him, and the result Is
thar commercial treaty has been con.
cludcd between Yakoob Bey and tho
Car OF Russia, and thus in the line from
, the Caspian Sea to the frontier Of the
Chinese Empire, Russia meets with moth.
, lug but States which are subject or friend.
! ly to her. And what Is the consequence
to England.
On the one hand, her merchants are
put out Of highly important market by
I the sagacity Of the Russian Government.
!, This is the direct effect Of recent events;
: but are not the indirect effects much
a more important Russia Is now on the
1 threshold Of China. Now, whatever their
: difference in other respects, China and
0 Russia are united on the one point Of
9 hatred TO England. Under these circum.
S stances, do not future events point TO a
future danger to tho supremacy of Eng.
i lish trade in Gilman And, then, the loss
: OF prestige-and In continent where
/ prestige may be said TO DO literally eyery.
thing! For what but prestige can en-
/. able the zoo, 900 English In India to keen
!, in subsection population Of 100000 OOC
= Of peoplcI
So far as one can see, tho party thai
wishes for active opposition 10 Russia 10
= Central Asia is becoming daily smaller