The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-30

Germany, uneasy under the weight Of her recently
acquired glories, now thrusts herself into every
place and insists upon proclaiming herself as a
very first class Power indeed Persia, however.
Is not worth the attention OF any German Gnancier
but Baron Reuter- and her trade Is scarcely worth
the thoughts OF score OF pedlers in any country.
Among English politicians 1t has been always held
a tradition to keep on good terms with Persia, and
at odd times the British COVE nment has spent
mint of money this very useless purpose. But,
in sober earnest, the Persian government neither
could nor would help or harm England at pinch
Persia has no army beyond rabbe rOut OF
ragamufiins She has no feet, resources, no
means of transport, no provisions to spare or
within reach Of British India. Besides before the
first shot was fired IN the 1na. struggle between
England and Russia the Russians would have occu-
pied the whole country, and the Shah, II he became
troublesome, would have his ears cufTed by some
rude Russian General. The Russians are now
within two days march OF the Persian frontier, and
could seize Tabreez In less than week They
command the Caspian Sea, too. Persia has no for
tilted places no engineers no artillery worth
dollar and her tumbledo cavalry would hopblc
or like a herd OF scared cows before a squadron
or TWO OF Tartar spearsmen. Persia could not
offer single days effective opposition 10
the Russian advance and II she
In alliance with England at the outbreak OF hostil-
tiles she would be only serious cause Of dan
ger and almost certain defeat The English have
quite enough and too much territory to guard in
India without having to protect the Persian frontier
as WELL Persia could do nothing to protect herself
couple OF Russian regiments ami one major gen.
eral would give satisfactory account If her; and
the Persian army bag and baggage, If it ever came
into the field at oil would be either bought up or
annihilated, as served the Russian purpose. Eng
N n ia nd N
Candabar where her money bags could purchase
some very warke allies; but the light and frivo
| LOUIS Persians are worth nothing to her either
| friends or foes. The mission which England keeps
up at Teheran Is pretty piece OF Foreign Office
| patronage, as already pointed out but 1t really
| serves no other use. If Great Britain wanted fine
| words and fine promises from the Shah she might
| have us many OF them she chose to purchase at
| any time; but the Shah has neither fear nor
respect for England knowing that 1t will not suit
her purpose afIiict him. AS for his promises. it
| Is certain that, whatever promises he might give
or sell-and he would certainly sell good many Of
them-he could not keep one of them, nor would
| he attempt or desire to keep one. Russia would
have no scrupes At all either about dethr0ning
HIM or anneXing his country; and the shah,
though not generally well informed, knows very
! well what happened in the Caucasus.
At present, however, nothing can possibly be
| more utterly absurd than the talk about quarrel
between England anu Russia 1t is kept up by
Anglo-Indian people, who seldom know much
abolt Russia, and BY officers In the army and navy,
who are tired of quiet and ill-paid li!e and who
mistake their hopes Tor facts and reasons News
papers find their account in keeping up the delu-
ton. ana the Pau MAJ Gasette even, the only Eng
! fish newspaper which rises above cant and non
sense, and which is not more or less obbed to some
| company OF stock jobbers, appears to have been
| now and then deluded into publishing false esti-
mate OF Russian power and Russian designs. In
truth, Russia is a giant with only the strength Of
| baby. Her army IS numerous enough Oh paper,
bat 1t is commanded by otr1cers surprisingly gno-
rant and inefficient. To talk of the power of Russia
to anyone who has lived In Russia. and knows any
thing of Russian affairs, is absurd Russia has no
| generals no money. Her troops are ill-fed, ILL.,
clothed, ill-dscplincd. They merely food for
! powder, and would be, as they always have been,
| slaughtered like sheep by any properly organized
sodiery; and, whatever disaiected people may
, think or say, the English army just now Is in q
| better state than ever 1t was before. England
could not attack Russia so as to do Russia much
HARM She could, as she did, knock the houses OF the
German and Greek merchants at Odessa about
their ears. she could blockade the Black
Sea and the Sea of AzOf She could set all the dis
solute and impoverished landlords of the Polish
provinces abbering curses, for want Of money, and
| deprive them of market for their corn long as
the United States kept clear OF the squabb and
willing to sell her Dreadstufrs She could even make
! herself troublesome in the Baltic under an enter
! prisng admiral but she could not do any serious
damage to the heart OF the Russian Empire. Russia
is STILL Napoleon !. found 1t, almost impregnaDe
to attack. Her climate, her SHOWS, her poverty
her protection. She can neither attack nor
be attacked with effect. She could no more march
| an army down to the frontiers oil British India,
| with her present means Of transport than she
| could send all army to the moon in balloons 1t Is
only fair to add that she has belncose Intentions
| towards England and those that attributed to
! her are merely the aughable fancles OF silly
| people or the interested tricks of persons who
desire to keep up panic for their objects.
! 1t is Of course quite possible that an unnedged
attache to q Russian Embassy, or here and there
| an elderly Crimean Colonel may talk and think
| good deal about the Russian conquest of British
India but the Cabinet of st. Petersburg nourishes
no such designs, and the Car, who is very easy
going person, only desires to end his life in peace.
| 1t has been now and then limited that the Crown
| Prince of Russia has some warlike notions and
| that when he ascends the throne he may set his
troops in motion. One need never be surprised at
anything, and PERHAPS he may go in search OF
beating twenty years hence. when his father is
dead. He Will not, however attack England, for
he will have great deal too much to do at home.
The present Gear has encouraged, or tolerated,
liberal principles till they have assumed rather a
menacing aspect, and among the very likely things
OF the future is the probability of civil war in
Russia
There is an awkward revolutionary spirit abroad
in many places formidable middle class is rising
up in the towns, and in the next genera
ton Russia will have a most sturdy and
impracticable peasantry, very jealous Of their
rights and very prompt to resent any encroachment
on them. She will also have should her present
land laws still exist, the weathiest aristocracy in
the world; and history has seldom shown that
rich landlords and sulky pumpkins could long live
in harmony together. Then, again, Russia Is men,
aced by Prussia. Her Baltic provinces, not less