The New York herald., 1878-12-16
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY, DECEMBER M 18s-rRIPLE SHEET

tone she could command in discussing with us any
question of European policy"
Recent events give strong coloring of reality TO
the picture which thus drew nferentially Of Rus
sias designs in 1865. Without, indeed, adopting the
exaggerated and boastful tone of the ST. Petersburg
and MOSCOW press 1t cannot be denied that kussia
does derive considerable advantage in her present dis
cussions with rs on the Turkish question from her
position in Central Asia. and it is only. there
fore, as it seems to me, a fair deduction
that. as she has deliberately and with
definite object in view acquired that position, so
she Will seek to maintain it in the future, whatever
cost it may entail her. II this he admitted it be-
comes of special interest that should be able to
trace the channels through which danger is likely to
approach us. 'Forewarned is forearmed." The ex-
perience of the past year revealing plans which
Russia proposed to follow in the event of war ought
to show US our weak places, and enable MS. not only
to thwart her present designs but to foresta her i'll
the future.
THAT MISSION TO cABUL.
Sir Henry Rawlinson then traces the steps which
lead to the establishment of the Russian Mission at
Cabul pointing out the dupcity characteristic of the
Muscovite proceedings. aud exposing clearly the in
tenton of the Car and his advisers. An able sketch
of the military operations and strategic movements
is given. and pertinent remarks upon the
legal aspect of the Afghan question also
contained in this interesting article Sir
Henry further quotes '.the opinion of nda's
highest military authority, Lord Napier, OF
Magdala who, although approving of our hap
hazard frontier at tho base Of the hills so long
Jul ouiy were mas
changed his view since Russia mingled in the fray
and the prospect has thus arisen that may be
called upon to meet an Afghan army lod by Russian
officers. Lord Napier now says:-.A mountain chain
that can be pierced in many places is security il
you hide behind it. India has often been entered
through her mountain barrier. which never de-
fended India waited to fight the battle in her own
plains. and invariably lost it, The paper concludes
with postscript, in which the writer says
''MY LITTLE WAR. YOU KNOW
As these sheets are passing through the press the
die is cast, and we embarked in another Afghan
despatch from the Secretary Of State to the
viceroy. recapitulating the main features of our
quarrel with Shere Ali. has, in the meantime. APP
peared in the newspapers, and seems to have pretty
well satisfied public opinion that have not ap-
pealed to arms unadvisedly or without ample provo
cation. Although in the preceding essay my rapid
sketch OF Cabu affairs will not of course bear COM
parison with the grave and detailed explanations
of State paper. l believe that, so far the
Afghan portion Of the question is concerned.
sential difference of fact will be observed in the
accounts but am bound to note that in the Rus
sian portion OF the question d very marked dis
crepancy is apparent In the official account reserve
this point has been carried, and very properly
phobist have not thought it necessary to observe
any such discretion. In my view it is the
intermingling of the Russian element which
alone imparts gravity to quarrel with tho
Ameer. Had there been no Russian mission at
Cabul, no indication Of desire on the part of the
Turkestan authorities to interfere III Indian politics.
might have allowed the Ameer to be sulky and
grunDling. and even insolent, for the term of his
natural life, so averse must have always been to
renew our blood feuds with the Aghans; but when
Russia sends "a mission to Cabul. and maintains it
there in our despite and all Asia is watching this first
collision of the two great European Powers have
sat down meekly under such menace would have
been treason to the national interests. admire and
heartily approve the concluding sentence OF Lord
Lyttons proclamation, which declares that the Brit
ish government will not tolerate the interference OF
any foreign Power at cabul. and I honor him for
having had the courage to proclaim aloud this
standard principle Of our Indian policy.