The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-02-13
THE EASTERN QUESTION.

+ ' Jenna reports vi " 'eiy
press the opinion which prevails in the Aus
trian capital with regard to the Russian
march in Central Asia, and its consequences
in the following words:
Russia is pursuing her grand aim in Asl:
at once in a diplomatic, military, eccleslastl
cal. commercial ard civiizing point of view
4 Russian proyerb says: "Where date trees
thrive not neither thfivcs Mahomedanism.
There may be some truth in this adage. Bf
this as it may, kussia's advances towards
Asia and towards India excites the liveiles
interest in Viennese military and scientific
circles. An unintermmittent an3 earnest
study is being made of the subject. 1t IL
here held that Russia is at present advan-
cling toward Central Asia and India with
the same unhinching perseverance and con
sistency with which, during a twenty years
war, she not only subjugated but absolutely
annihilated Or dispersed the Independent
peoples Of the Caucasus, whose asslnila
ton was found to be impracticable.
Russias Unsuitable love of conquest, hel
far sightedness and perseverance, are doubt
less Of nature to inspire alarm, while on
the other hand these characteristics are not
the less entitled to a certain degree of adml
ration. In the same way that the miners
explore country in the hope Of discovering
veins cf ore, the Russians scientifically ex'
anime and explore those countries which
they intend to occupy, and long before the
occupation takes place these examinations
and explorations are set on foot and contin'
ued without ceasing The country round
about. and especially in the southern part OF
the Caspian sea, and between the latter and
the sea of Aral, has not only been carefully
surveyed, but also lcveled. The river val
ley along the lower Sir-Daria (Jaxartes) is
already entirely under Russian dominion,
and as the coal veins which are supposed to
be there are discovered, steamboat comnu-
nication with Khiva will forthwith be estab,
lished and also on the sea of Aral. 1t is
we'll known that steamers can ascend far up
the ANU -Daria (Oxur.) One thing is ap-
parently certain, namely, that no known pow
er can stop the progress of Russia's domiu-
ion and her gradual but steady advance in
Asia as far as the rivers extend which flow
into her inland seas
These streams touch very nearly to the
Hindu-koosh mountains, and here there are
neither geographical or natural boundaries
adapted to the formation of independent
States. There is no possibility of establish
ing any sort of commodious intercourse be-
tween these vast plains and India, while with
tine aid Of the new lines OF Communication
which are now completed, these immense
territories will naturally fall into the hands
of Russia The semi-nomadic Mohamme-
dan inland States in three distinct parts ow-
ed their existence chiefly to the simple fact
that no one interlered with or menaccd
them. But nowadays in the estimation of
these peoples the Russians are being regar-
ded as rcpres antatives not only OF All im-
mensely superior military, but also of ci-
vilizing power TO this circumstance may
be attributed a great portion Of the irresistl-
bility of her presage among them.