The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-18
THE IMPENDING WAR OF GIANTS.


moro bcwilderod than ever. We have Lord
Lawrence formerly Viceroy Of India. himself
saying one thing and Sir Bartle Frerc formerly
Governor OF Bombay and one Of the ablcst and
most experienced Indian civil servants. dia-
metrically opposing him, while as for Generals
and PunJaub Commissioners, Indian lawyers
and Afghan ENJOYS. they are OF ne many differ
ent opinions Ms a number OF physicians round
q complicated case. and between them all the
unfortunate patient is in bad way. One dis
unguishcd straicgist is Of opinion which he
elabora.es at much detail. that the true line Of
defence for England Is the western frontier OF
Afghanstan. where that country bounds with
the Turcoman stcppes and almost touches the
Russian advanced lines. Another holds that
the highest military tactics indicate the line Of
defence TO be whore it is now. and that it would
be the greatest mistake to advance it, Some
prominent ox-o1lcials, in possession Of exclu-
sive sources Of information. mystcriously as
sert that there is not single native State In In
da that can be depended upon. and that thoy
are only waiting for a favorable opportunity
to throw of the yoke Of the Feringhcc: while
other equally wcll-informed arrivals from those
very States tell us that they are loyal to a man.
and wing with each other in professions VI
military assistance and support.
The consequence IL that the Indian clubs cs-
pecially are hotbeds Of the most vehement ar
gument. and one gets so dinned and confused
with it all that took refuge last night in the
popular burlesquc OF ii. NJ. s. Pinaforc. which
has had run Of over 1870 nights. and is tho
most dismal piece OF entertainment which was
ever served up to enliven the spirits Of a de-
pressed public That the theatre was crowded
and amused illustrates forcby the nabby con-
dtion into which people seem to have sunk
under the political and financial pressure 10
which they are subjected.
Meantime the question which people ask
themselves II, Who governs India? Before the
days OF telegraphs 1t was governed by the Gov
ornor General in Council, and the Home Gov
ernment and India Council in London approved
his acts but now the India Council in London
is kept in profound ignorance Of the policy OF
the Government and is proportionately indg-
nant The Niceroy is evidently not allowed TO
have his way; and yet the uttcrances Of certain
Cabinet Ministers in their public speeches go 10
show that oven they don't exactly know what is
going on SO we are driven to the conclusion
that Lord Bcaconsneld is operating in some
mysterious manner. and that we shall all he en-
lightened on the evening OF the 9th. when he is
to make his great speech at the Mansion House.
and crafty public curiosity which has become
intense. The kilograms which have arrived
from Mr.. Archibald Forbes. who Is now at Simn
with the Vicorov. are evidently inspired 10y that
illustriOus parsonage and under any ordinary
circumstances would DO considered in the high
est degree insubordinate.
| No sooner docs his Lordship receive instruc-
tons to send another ultmatum TO Shore Ali.
than he causes 1t 10 be telegraphed TO tho whole
| world that he entirely disapproves Of the policy
which he Is instructed to carry out. that he has
vigorously protested against 1t, and that IL will
ruin our prestige in India. seriously affect our
military position on the frontier. and compro-
mise our final success II discipline il to be pre-
served he should be recalled for such conduct
at once. That he is leit whore he Is II account
ed for 10y the hypothesis that he is only follow
| ing the secret instructions II Lord Bcaconsfleld
who wants pressure TO be brought 10 bear upon
certain obstructive members Of his Cabinet for
1t il rumored they are not all docile. and that
| on or two occasionally give trouble. He really
| only fears the detection Of two. The rcsigna-
ton OF either Sir Stafford Northcotc or Mr..
| Cross would be blow he could not face. Any
OF the others might 20 without imperiAing the
existence OF the Government; but Sir Stafford
IL the conservative leader in the House 81 Com
mons and has the reputation Of possessing the
rare quality Of common sense. Mr.. Cross Il
useful ~ an accurate gauge Of the general re-
spectacle density Of the country. Lord Bea.
fhuNllHth hlANNH Aiitl a lNil'1 NAA'h 10 Ahh iilhE
NATIVE for Mr.. Cross may DO fairly supposed t.
be- beyond the capacity Of the rank and file d
the party and the conservative stupidity Of tn,
country generally he is a sort Of Toryometor
in fact. and necessary 10 Lord Beaconsleld as
party register.
There can be no doubt that the position Of tn
Nceroy OF India has been n good deal com
promised IN the eyes Of the natives, who Sc,
his policy thus openly snubbcd. and that th'
postponcmcnt of the operations against thu
Amecr. and the appearance Of hesitation which
it indicates. may turn the scale with some of th'
native tribes. who are doubtful which side il
the quarrel 10 espousc.
In India the whole British community ofIlcia
and unofficial are loud-tongued In their con
demnation Of the home Government but the
do not realize the imminence Of the Eastern
Roumelian question. and the fact that Russia Il
still at the gates Of Constantinople. and In a IA
better position TO enter that city than she wa
when she made the treaty Of san Stefano. i
now turns out that Lords Beaconsneld an,
Salisbury. among other egregious blunder
which they committed at Berlin, refused tn
Russian proposal to make 1t obligatory upon III
| powers Jointly To SEQ that II was enforced
Count schouvaloff had reason to dread an
such proposal more than any other. as il coul
not well be refused by tho powers: he therefor
proposed II. in the hope that the English pleni
potentiaries would suspect n trap. and deem
levelled against Turkey. This in fact. the
did. They fell into the snare. and, TO Coun
Schouyalofrs great delight. rejected his pro
posRl which would have operated fatally agains
the Russian policy.
Russia now has her hands full; the treaty G
Berlin is practically torn up; there is not
power In Europe except England interested 1
seeing its provisions carried out. and befor
long we shall have Servia. Montenegro an
Greece assisting an outbreak OF the Who'll
Christian population Of Turkey in those prov
inces which wero not dealt with In the treat,
In their midst. with an army Of 200 600 mer
will DO Russia, throwing oil on tho flame whic
is consuming the Turkish empire by supplyin
arms and volunteers to any extent 10 the enc
mics Of Turkey Should Russia be remor
strated with. her reply would be an attack o
Constantinople. Hence 1t is that Baker Pash
Is pushing forward the fortncations OF this
; city, and that an attempt has been made 10 post
, pone the Afghan war until spring before whic
time events in Europe will have developed 3
far as to have forced matters 10 u crisis betwee
England and Russia.