The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-12


assistance will come too late for that.
And once in possession OF those strong
holds, the Russians would hold them
against all comers. The whole force OF
the Russian Empire would be poured
into Armenia, If necessary, to meet the
armies Of England, to which their fleets
could be OF no avail beyond serving as
transports for men and munitions
through the long and circuitous route
by the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
| Such war would be the most exhaust
ing war that England ever waged.
Meanwhile, with Persia as her friend
possibly her ally, what would the Gear
be doing in British India? To excite a
revolt in the Northwestern provinces OF
that Empire would not be b difficult
thing TO do. Their hatred of British
rule is deep and intense. The presence
OF such Power as that of Russia to
give them aid and comfort would be a
strong inducement to throw off their
present forced allegiance to the "En-
press OF India" whose regal palace is in
London. The result would be that
England would have precipitated upon
herse # the very mischief she IS most
anxious to avoid. 1t is more by her
military presence, than by her concil-
iating policy, that England has been
able to hold her northern provinces OF
India; indeed, of India at all. Speaking
OF the British Government of India, LORD
Macaulay said: 'The misgovernment
was carried to point such as seemed
hardly compatible with the existence of
Society. That government, op.
pressive as the most oppressive form of
barbarian despotism, was strong with all
| the strength of civilization. 1t resem-
bled the government of evil genii, rather
| than the government of human tyrants."
Among people thus mlsgoverned and
oppressed is material for an immense
contiagration that may be lighted by
Russian incendiaries, should England
once more pitch battle with Russia on
the plains of Asia Minor. 1t would GER
tainly be the battle Of the giants; and it
ls by no means certain that England
could triumph in such a conflict. For 1t
must be considered that Russia OF the
present is not the Russia OF old. The
rapid progress and development Of Rus.
| sian ciyiiz ltion since the war of the
Crimea, only twenty-five years ago,
forms one of the most instructive chap
ters of history. Her railroads now ex-
ceed in extent all the railways OF France.
Formerly, as MIR. Golden told his coun-
trymen, the stoppage OF British looms
"would have doomed a large 70 tlon of
the Russian people to absolute naked
ness" Now Russia has more than three
hundred cotton factories at work, and is
sending her staple goods to India
and China to rival the British.
For the manufacture Of sugar
from beet-roog. Russia now exceeds
France, and possesses more establish
ments for this purpose than any other
country in the world. These are the in
dices OF her development nd consequent
increase of strength showing her capa-
bility to cope with any power that Turkey
and Z gland combined can bring to
bear against her.
1t is the long cherished colonial policy
OF England that seems now again drag
ging her into war that must deplete
her great commercial reserves to the
very bottom. For her India she will
struggle most powerfully. But that
struggle must needs be a most expen-
sive one; and this may compel change
in her domestic policy Of taxation that
may be fraught with governmental
changes at home OF most serious and
disturbing character. With all her
wealth England is not by any means i'm
pregnable. Her very colonial system.
which has been her strength, carries
with it also a dangerous weakness. It'll
is at that weak place in her national
armor that Russia will direct its most
deadly aim.