The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-10-18
THE ORIENTAL wAR-CLOUD.
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more menaclng with reference TO the
Anglo Russian rotations, 1t is true
that, at this moment, the difficulty
seems confined to the East Indian ele-
ment and the Afghanese. These, how
ever, can be no more than the skirmish
lines. Behind the Afghanese is Russia.
Behind the India Office il Great Britain.
Everything points to the conclusion
that the Viceroy of India and the Amer
of Afghanistan are mere pawns moved
by superior powers When the Indian
commission was rebuffed at the mount
ain pass leading from India to Afghan
istan, the rebuff certainly never came
from the Afghan ruler. He is man OF
too much sense to thus, on his own ac-
count and responsibility, mortally at
front one of the greatest fighting powers
in the world. He knew that his hand
full of soldiers could be swept away by
the armies of Great Britain as a hurri-
cane bears away a pinch of dust. 1t
was not he who spoke as speaking for
himself, but IA speaking for the great
northern power behind him. He was
the herald employed to throw down the
gage of battle intrusted to him by
Russia
There are scores of reasons why one
may conclude that Russia is the power
which stood at the pass, and through an
Afghan subordinate forbade the Indian
embassy to enter. The Russian Envoy
was already at Cabul, had already estab-
ished friendly relations with the Afghan
ruler Russian influence is known to be
inimical to an English occupation of
Afghanistan-even an occupation no
more than moral and represented only
by an English Envoy. Russia can have
but one object in thus stirring up strife
between India and Afghanistan, and
that is that she may secure an ally in
the latter and a base of operations
against the former. Unless one regards
Russias schemes as looking to Afghan
istan as an ally and n base of operations
against India, there is no explanation of
her present attitude.
In the war that is evidently about to
break out between India and the Ameer,
it is not probable that at first Russia
will show her hand. She will confine
herself to petite diplomatic denials and
negations, and will be honeyed in all
her communications with Great Britain.
At the same time Russian diplomat at
Cabul will direct the foreign affairs of
the Ameer; Russian staff officer will
manage the war office; Russian en-
gineers will oversee the erection of for
tifications, and Russian Captains will
direct the wild Afghan soldiery in their
attacks upon the English. There will
be the clink of abundant Russian gold
in the. vaults of the Afghan treasury,
while Russian agents, in every possible
guise, will be whispering seditious words
among the disaffected natives of India.
1t is difficult to foresee the outcome
of this Indo-Afghan difficulty. 1t is but
spark now; it may be blown, and soon,
into great and consuming confagra-
ton. The possibilities of the case defy
computation. They include Turko-
Russian alliance, and a great war be-
tween Russia and England. This is but
a small part of what is possible. There
always is slumbering i'll the background
of the situation another Indian outbreak.
1t has been shown by the utterances of
the Indian press that profound dissat-
isfaction exists among the native popula-
ton, and that only opportunity is needed
to increase this dissatisfaction to active
rebellion A revolt in India, at time
when England would be menaced by
war with Turkey and Russia, would be
an overwhelming disaster-a fire which
would only die out when there was no
longer any material upon which it could
feed. The suppression of the last mutiny
was gigantic labor; and yet it included
but few native regiments and people.
The next revolt will be one which will
include every province, every city, every
household.
Russia has several motives for urging
on the Afghan resistance while holding
herself ready to enter upon the scene at
the proper moment. All the fruit of
her bloody and costly efforts against
the Turks, during the late war, was lost
to her by the interference of England.
She has little to show for her tremen-
dous exertions except an empty treas
ury, increased taxation, additional in
debtedness, extended dissatisfaction,
and hundreds of thousands of vacancies
N the ranks of her armies-vacancies
once filled by magnificent fighting men.
She owes all this to England. Not only
this, but she owes to England the dis
grace of the Crimea. She has double
account to settle-Sebastopol and Ber
lin. She is now in condition to settle
this account and carry out favored
policy toward India by simply seating
herself in Afghanistan and guiding the
storm now gathering in the mountains.
Her present role is a simple one-to
stimulate the Afghanese, foment the dis
content in India, and await the develop
ment of events. She is in position to
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