The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-01-25
COLUMBIA IS, G..
Saturday ;hS{nigf ,ysbaHs5}eS 1878.
. W. ~ 80 ~ rs s,S - ~
A Cloud In tho ERatt


The world moves elsewhere as well as
here. Humanity ia active oil over the
globe. and its struggles and cares, its
achievements and failures are every
where instructive. For us it may be
some consolation that other peoples havo
their trials. and. at any rate. it may be
relief for time to got away in idea, if
not in fact. from the miseries and
troubles fif;our beloved State" While
eur paternal Government 6f the United
States. the dominant power on this con-
tinens,. ,.is looking with interested eyes to
Cuba, Mexico, and, the Sandwich Islands,
and to any other ''s7ck" government
who're aterritoEk and effects invite ythe
Offices sof san administrator,: Russia, on
ths Eastufn e, continent, wisil = similar
power and ambition, md urged by the
same love OF aggression. is making rapid
marches towards securing strong foot
hold in Central Asia, aud threatens
British interests in the East Indies. A
sort Of chronic disagreement has Tor
many, years existed. between ithe Czar
and the tribeaof Turkistan, and particu-
larly with the Khan OF KhiYs. which is
one of = its political divisions. In this
country the predominant race is the,
Turk. The Turkish CLANS, possessed of
political power in Khiva. Bokhara, Kun
duz and Roland, are called Uzbeks.
They are said to resemble the Kirghiz,
who live further North, in their Mongo-
1ian countenances, low stature and pro-
pensity -for thieying. They differmainly
froth ~themF iii the peoulisrities which
distinguish people long civilized from
one whiah; has. scarcely emerged from
savage life. A number OF tribes Of alien
language and literature live intermin-
sled with these Turkish clans. The
Afghans, Jews, Hindoos and other colo
nists present no uncommon feature in
ARiatio society. The territory. OF Khiva,
~hose ioapihl will probably: he soon
reached and seized by Russia, extends
South to station on the Murgab, and on
the West as far as the Caspian Sea. To
the North and East, it does not go be-
yond the delta Of the Anu. The Uzbeks
are the dominant tribe. The popula-
tion has been placed at 300,0 ZOO, but is
probably more. Their religion, Is No
hammedan, but traces of fire-worship,
the remains OF Parthian occupation, are
frequently found.
Russia has advanced upon this coun.
try with the intention of subjugating it..
1t has been long meditated, and when it
shall have baen copsummaied, 1t will be
but the SUCCESS OF policy which has
been pursued for years. It can hardly
be anything else than as means to an
end. The journals of st. Petersburg
and Moscow have lately announced that
commercial treaty has been concluded
between Russia and the Khan OF Kash-
gar, to the East of Khiva. This had
been long refused, but at last was yielded
to the presence of large Russian force
on the frontier. One of its stipnlationn
provides Tor free transit through his
country. not only of Russian merchants
and caravans, but also OF Russian troops.
The Khan Yakoob told tho Russian
envoy on the occasion. that he preferred
the friendship of "the great Ozar to that
of England, and. that he had, therefore,
refused all the offers Of the Queens
Indian Government" The Russian Co
vernon General disavowed any purpose
of cohquests.+ They came, he said, only
to lay down secure basis for civiIiza-
tion. commerce and freedom. We all
know what these words mean when pro-
cseding from the agents iof powerful 60
vernnents.
The Government of the Queen of
England has demonstrated against this
too Lear approach to her Indian terrific
ries. The Russian Court having been
made conscious that it Is closely trench
ing on British interests, and has alarmed
English susceptibility, has lately sent q
special envoy, Count Sohonvaloff, to the
Cours,of st. James. :; The object is now
revealed to have been to obtain the CO.
operation Of the British Government in