The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-22
EngInnti.s Troubles.

THE cable news from the. far East
this morning looks as ifhostilities had at
last been commenced between England
and the Ameer Of Afshanistan. This
moyementmay turn out small affair, but
there are those who look forward to II as
the possible opening up OF an era of great
events.
The veteran Earl Grey, once aprimem min |
lister of England, recently wroteto the Lon
don Tunes long letter, in which he declared
that the invasion OF Afghanistan proposed
by the Beaconsfeld ministry would be the
most senseless as well rs the most wicked
enterprise in which Great Britain ever en-.
gagged. He shows thatin such war Eng.
land would have nothing to gain and
everything to lose. But it is not on
grounds of policy chiefly, that he bases his
eloquent and manly protest against the
coming war. by waging an unjust war
for any interest however important, ma
ton commits one of the greatest OF crimes
and incun an awful responsibility; and no
argument which l have seen advanced es-
tablishes the justice of the war into
which our Indian government is
about to advance" The indignant
statesman then goes on to show
that no war is regardedby the adj
yanced sentiment OF the age as iustitiable,
unless it is defensive war, or war waged
by a nation to obtain redress for some
wrong done it for which reparation has
been asked and refused. The Afghanistan
war certainly can not be called defensive
war, since the Ameer is neither able nor
DESTROYS Of making any attack upon the
British dominion in India. Nor can it be
called war Of the other nature, became
the only offense alleged against the Amer
is that he refused to accept the envoy IRON
England while he received one from Rus
sin; and it is one Of the acknowledged
rights Of an independent State to receive
or decline to receive the diplomatic agents
Of other nations as it may think best for its
own interests. tt
The only answer that those who defend
the government policy attempt to make to
these arguments, deserves notice from its
novelty. The London TTma has latterly
seemed to be the most subservient OF the
government organs, and We therefore take
the answer inits words: "Lord Grey errs,'
saws the former exponent Of public opinion,
sin guiding himself by rules which can
seldom be literally applied to the relations
OF civilized States, and'which it is impossi-
bic for great European power to recognize
in It's dealings with half.barbarous coun-
try. The independence OF Afghanistan is
bagatelle compared with the safety OF
India. "Itisimpossible to mistake the mean
ing OF this language. 1t means that the
English Government does not propose to
treat Aighanistan according to the.rules Of
civilized warfare, because the latter Is
hali-ciyilized nation-a nation which there
fore has no rights which England is bound
TO respect. 1t means that admitting that
Aishanistan has the same rights as an in
dependent nation which belongs to any
European nation, England proposes to
trample upon them,-because in her judg-
ment such course VIII conserve her own
selfish interests by adding TO the safety OF
her empire in India.
The views of Earl Grey have been ably
reinforced by public letters from the pen
Of Lord Lawrence, formerly connected
with the Indian administration. But We
do not imagine that they will have anyin-
fiuence in changing the purposes Of the
government. That government will be
guided by considerations entirely differ
ent from those suggested by these states
men, in marking out its course towards
Afsanistan. But, while they are power
less to affect the government these argu-
ments certainly can not be wasted upon
the English people. The latter are singu-
larly susceptible TO d plea for fair play;
and this is eminentIy such an appeal. So
powerful has been the effect Of their argu-
ments, as already indicated, that We be-
lieve il the government insists upon at
lacking the country Of the Ameer, it will
not only bring upon England an expen'
sive, long and uncertain war, the effect OF
which will be damaging to her entire In
dian empire, but will bring its own down
fall with it. b tHHS