New-York tribune., 1878-10-01
SpEcrRES ON TVn SIDES.

England seems to have a morbid propen-
sity for seeing spectres. Not long ago, when
Denmark had been invaded by two European
Powers. in defiance of treaty law, when Austria
lost her supremacy in Germany, and France her
military prestige on the Continent, the spectre
wore Prussian uniform with spiked helmet.
The absorption of Holland and the partition
of Belgium were predicted, and in the
Battle of Dorling the invasion of England
was yiyidy portrayed Mr. Gladstone points
with an air Of triumph 10 the support given
by the Liberal Government to the Italian
movement in 1859, TO its vigorous action IN
the Trent affair, to the establishment OF a gov
ernment in the Lebanon and TO tho treaties
concluded for the defence of Belgium but the
fact remains that the sense of National
security in England had been increased
by the inactiOn of the Liberals in the Danish
and Franco-German wars, and their blunders
during the American civil conflict. The
policy of nOn-interyention had been pur-
sued so persistently that the reputation of
the nation for valOr was a tradition of
Waterloo and of the charge of the
Light Brigade. The Liberal statesmen
had solved many domestic and economic
questions, but the influence of the Govern
ment abroad had been seriously impaired by
a systematic policy of let-do and do-nothing.
When the people began to realize what
had happened, their nervousness and ir-
inability increased. Whenever a Russian
expedition set out In Central Asia, or an in
surrection was famed into blaze in Turkey,
or Bismarck asked for few more reg1-
ments, all England was in fdget. Now
..
field. by a foreign policy which began
with the purchase of the Khedive's
shares, and eliminated in the cession OF
Cyprus and the Aslatlc Protectorate, has re-
stored the nation to its rightiul place in
European councils. But there seems to be IL
suspicion that these Diplomatic triumphs may
have been iusOry rather than substantial. The
sense of insecurity remains. The Sultan is
to garrison the Balkan Passes, and India
is to be defended, if need be, on the noun
tain bridle-paths of Armenia, and yet uneasi-
ness is not alayed. There is a movement of
troops in Turkestan. and Russian officer il
entertained at Cabul, and lOl the old spectre of
Russian aggression rises in a new place.
1t may be taken for granted that Shere Ali
has right to entertain visitors whom he
likes, anu 10 ClOac HIS hOOIo upon uHluNlLeu
guests who talk of forcing their way into his
court yard and remaining there against his
will. 1t will also be readily conceded
that whatever may be the ultimate
purposes of the Russian Government there is
no immediate danger of its concluding an
offensive and defensive alliance with the
Ameer. The object of the mission to Cabul
has never been satisfactorily explained. There
have been vague rumOrs of certain grandiose
railway projects. The Car is said to have
resolved to build a railway through TurkestaU,
and to have asked Shere Ais permission to
extend the line as far as Cabul, with a
branch through Herat TO the Caspian. 1t is not
probable that Russia can furnish either the engi-
neers or the capital for such enormous under
takings. There is no reason to suppose
that the mission aimed to do more
than form a basis for commercial in
tereourse between Afghanistan and the
Khanates of Turkestan. In the distant
future the Afghan tribes may become Russian
mercenaries, but Cabul cannot be made base
of intrigue against India until the conquest of
Bokbara is completed aud Balkh and the ad-
jacent kbanstes are forced to the wall. The