The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-12-10
The clond IL tie East.

InG Ol0tlu AL bnO Edots
Scarcely have the echoes Of the terri
BILE war between Rnssia and Turkey died
away and has peace resumed Its sway in
Europe, when suddenly war cloud has
arisen in the far East England has
hostiliiies against the central
Asia,ic power Of Aighanistan, and
should she enter upon this, there is no |
foreseeing houAfal ihs>warS viii extend, |, /
or what great powers it will involve.
Afghanistan is that large country
which lies between British India on the
east and Persia on the west 1t reaches
southwark to the Persian Gulf, and
northward to the river Oxus and the
giant range of the Hindoo Khoosh, -
In order to understand the present
trouble, we must remember that Russia,
during the. past fifty years. has been
gradually extending her dominion in
Asia southwark from Siberia straight
towards Afghanistan that Russia and
England are rivals for the control of
Western and Central Asia, and for the
commerce of that region that Eugland
fears that Russia has designs upon her.
great Empire of India, and that Afghan
istan is the only remaining country that
lies between the territory already con
quered and held by Russia, and the In.
dian frontier. ~ i..'.'
! On one side of Afghanistan is the riv-
er Oxus, on whose banks the Russians
are posted; on the other India, coDtroll-
ed by England. HPse NV y,
For sume time, therefore, Russia and
England have been vying with each other
for the friendship of the ,Afghans,-
Thirty six years ago England engaged
in bitter war with Afghanistau, in the
course of which whole English army
was, on one occasion, cut to pieces by
the barbarous enemy, so that only one
solitary man escaped; but in the end
England completely conquered them.i /.
| Ever since then Russia has been try
ing to win the confidence of the rulers,
and England has been jealous fthel
aim, on the watch lest she should succeed
Some weeks ago a large and snowy
Russian Embassy, headed by Gen Alb.
ramor, arrived at Cabul, the capital Of
Afghanistan. He was received by the
Afghan sovereign, Shere Ali Whose IT,
tie is "Ameer" with cordial welcome
and every mark of favor and friendship
This event at once aroused the jeal
ousy of the English, and Lord Lytton
the Governor General Of India, lost nc
time in preparing another Embassy, tc
be sent on the part of England to th'
Ameer's court.
i This Embassy. at the head -of whicl
was Sir Neville Chamberlain, proceeded
! with large military escort to the front
ier dividing India from Afghanistan.--
Before, however. they reached the Ky
Der Pass, which leads from one countr.
+ to the other, they encountered q larg
, force of Afghans, the leader Of whicl
; declared that the Ameer refused to re
, ceive the English ENJOYS, and that il the
I proceed further, they would be attacked
by the Afghan army. Sir Neville, there
fore, returned to India, and the Englisf
, Government, seeing clearly the prefer
ence given by the Ameer to the Russians
j began at once, to make preparations 10
n war.
!. 1t will thus be seen that, while tn
English may make war directly upon th
. Afghans, their blow is indirectly aime
! at Russia. They are resolved that Rus
sia shall not get control Of a country y
: ing on the very borders of India, Will
. Russia seems determined to do So. 1t
4 by no means improbable, then, that th
present trouble may develop into q wa
4 between Russia and England. The Al
, ghans are fierce, barbarous, warliks
vindictive race. The country is so viii
anG mountainous, and so dangerous I
t strangers, that comparatively little
known of it. The population is prob
bly, between four and five millions. 4
!. is composed either of wandering tribe
!. that have mo- settled abode, or Of tillel
v Of the soil; but every Afghan know
a how to fight.
,e A war between the English and &
d fierce and brave race is certain to be
d terrible one, even II the Russians do NJ
If join in it, and the issue OF it must
n doubtful. .-