Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-10

III IL Bctu CUIitCjlJ utScIiDol. 10 De sure.
gold made in this way would at first cost more
than that taken from the mines, and the price
OF the worlds great money-metaI would not be
affected but the same ingenuity which made
the process possible might, in time be expected
to 50 reduce the expense that gold would lose
lis peculiar value and become Itself a fat
money il retained as medium OF exchange
The debt OF Virginia, the reimbursement OF
which is now under consideration by the state
legislature, amounts to nearly thirty million
dollars. not including over four million dollars
OF unpaid interest. Each year the sum OF
$50. e52-the difference between the annual in
terest ard the revenue provided to meet it's
added TO the debt. To make up this deficit
large Increase in the already heavy rate OF state
taxation would be necessary. II is proposed to
meet the difficulty by funding most of the debt
and the overdue interest liz q fOur-per-cent
lOng-terIn bond. and by converting the rest of
the debt into lOng-term bond bearing three
and-a-h2h per cent. interest By this means
and by measures Of economy il is hoped that an
additional tax OF ten cents on the hundred dol
lars viii be all that is needed TO meet the inter-
est. The total state tax made necessary by the
debt will, according to this arrangement. be six
mills On the dollar. This is no incOnslderable
levy on the purses of Vlrginans. But the honor
that its obligations be met, and no way OF ac-
comprising this with less pressure upon the
state than the plan devised seems practicable.
The successes Of the British in Afghanistan.
though in military sense they amount TO no
more than the favorable opening of a struggle
whose conclusion is likely To be postponed for
season. have given to the invaders all the ad-
vantaSeS that the seeming victor obtains in
ASiAfip no
him as he sees the great border tribes. whom
he said he would roll against the British like
blasts OF FIRE. making their peace with the enc
my, and his own soldiers di5posSeSSed of weak
and strong positions alike, through the breech-
loading rifles and superior geneTalShip OF the
British. WhaS has been done is Chiefly import
ant as indicating what may be done, and the
Amer. doubtless. diSlikeS the outlook From
the Ameer one may turn TO the Car. He has
caused the Russian envoy TO return from At
ghaniStan-a significant action. In consider
ing RuSsia's part in ASiatic complications, her
relations with China must not be overlooked,
and ii has been suggested that war with that
nation is much more probable than one with
England. Russia holds rich province belong
ing TO China and viii not yield it up in spite of
previous promises; while China, in retaliation,
has collected an army at Kashgar in violation
Of treaty stipulatiOnS, and has baniShed Rus
sian merchants from and forbidden trade with
this reconquered territory. Russia would,
doubtless find stronger motives, drawn from
considerations of profit. for war with China
than for one with England. and the Chinese
emperor does not seem to avoid conflict. The
Russian papers repudiate the idea OF a war be-
tween Great Britain and Russia, while the
situation OF affairs In kaShgar is reported to be
strained and critical" In England the sue
cess OF the British advance has smoothed the
path of the ministry. The question whether
England or India is to bear the expenses OF the
war. is the question OF great interest with the
heavily taxed people