The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-12
The Two Advancing Powers.

The Two Advancing Powers.
To THE EDITOR or THE suN-Sr Il startled
NE TO reid IA AK sun to-dev that two Governments,
hall Of The caru sgr ace " and 20 md how steadily
que aud annex ition IN differ nj parts OF The world
can hlrdly oelicve that Their territories iiclud so
se but " It he So 1t seems to me that Their Is caue
nsnnjnssied portions ~ mansnd TO form league for
mutual defence sgans, british and Huseal aggression
NEW YORK Oct. 3, 1870.
We don't think there s much danger to
civilization or human progress from the
vast extent and increasing extension of
British and Russian power over the earths
surface. Our correspondent need not re-
main In doubt rs to the relative proper
ton of the territory of the globe under the
sway of these two Governments. Let him
take map of the world mark upon
il the dominlons of Russia in Europe and
Asia, and the possessions of England In
ASIA, Africa, America, and Australasia,
and he Will see "how the land lies" lie can
settle the question for himself still easier,
by procuring one of those maps of the
world upon winch all British territory
everywhere IL marked with one color and
Russian with another In either way he viii
secure for himself an excellent lesson in
geography.
IL must be remarked, while dealing with
the question he suggests, that both Eng
| land and Russia introduce to the regions
which they annex far higher civiliza-
| ton than that which they find in them.
For example, that portion of western
Africa in which the British flag wac re-
Gently planted has been inhabited from
time immemorial by savage tribes who
spent their lives in fighting each other,
and seemed to have no capacity for raising
themselves to better conditions of exist
ence. But now, through British power,
peace Will be maintained among them;
the institutions by which public order and
| justice are upheld will he established; the
| arts OF European civilization viii be intro
| duccd the slave trade, and slavery itself
VIII be suppressed ana the whole region
will he advanced in all ways, as there Is
no reason to believe II ever would have
been under native rule. The British had
previously done much for other portions
OF the west African coast, and still more
for that region Of southern Africa where
their fourishing colonies are constantly
increasing in prosperity. so again with
the Feeiee Islands, which have lust been
| ulllltAtu W lut AllNlItIiSllIl POSSESSIONS OF
Great Britain. These fertile and charming
isles have been held by race belonging to
the lowest order Of savages, who kept up
their fighting all the year round and de
| vourcd each other to the music of fe-h-fo-
| fun. Their cannibal jambOrees will be
peromptorily stopped by Queen VIcro-
RIA's authority; British laws, so far ms ap-
| plicable, will be extended over them aud
enterprising British cOlonists will develop
those resources which the natives have
proved themselves pOwerless even to find
ont II we pass 10 southern Asia, where
British power is constantly extending
and annexation movements are always in
progress, we cannot help seeing the i'm
| provements that are effected through
the modern civilization which England
there represents. The countries of British
India, which have been successfully sub
jugatcd, were neither savage nor bnrbar-
Gus, but were in possession of an ancient
| Oriental system OF civilization which Sc
cured them many advantages At the
same time they suffered greatly through
the wars. exactions, and despotism of their
| native princes rs well ms through laws
and customs enforced without regard 10
| JUSTICE OF lHt DuDllc Ntllnlt. Under 81 IT.
ish rule, an almost unbroken state of
peace has been established; the modern
system of law is enforced; popular ednca-
ton is making its way; newspapers in the
English ana native languages are multi
piled; abominnble customs, like the sittec,
have been abolished; and Christianity can
spread without obstruction.
In short,as we glance nj Queen VIcToRIA's
domnlons scattered all over the globe, we
see that under British authority, n higher
and nobleT order of civilization is every-
where appearing, supplanting savagery,
barbarism or Orientalsm. Surely this is
something that need not be regretted by
any friend of mankind.
We might speak in the same way Of the
extension of Russian dominion which is
constantly in progress. There can he no
doubt, for example, that excellent results
have accrued, and will yet accrue, TO Tur-
kestan, from the recent annexation to
Russia of Khiva, Khokand, and other
khanates The annexed population, wild
| ana unruly since the dawn of history, will
have the benefit of peace and order; they
will enjoy system of laws superior TO any
they have ever had; their commerce will
| beextended railroads will be run TIN ough
their country; steamers put upon their
rivers; and the stupendous enginery of
modern times set to work in their pres
ence. The influence of all this will speedi-
~ be felt in Persia and Afghanistan, in