The Republican journal., 1878-12-12

The conflict which has already opened
between the English and Atghans, pre-
SCENTS to the intelligent observer very
interesting problem. The forces of the
| Ameer. and the British army of India
| have been for some time face to face on
the frontier OF Atghanistan. The British
are moving in three columns against the
mountainous and fortified positions of the
| At1hans, carrying of course large bag
! cage and provision trains, while the latter
! are at home, and on the defensive The
| supply question is the one which will most
! trouble the asSailants, the demand for food
/ being constant and unavoidable 1t was
! the Duke Of Wellington, who when per
! picked 10y the same hindrance to prog
! rrSS, said that an army, like a serpent
4 immense resources, and the use of all mod
! cru Inventions, The sea, the Suel canal
I and nproyised railroads, from the coast t,
/ the mountains. viii give immense adyan-
ta-t~ To- the po~cr That commands them.
IN The unimpoftant conflicts thu. far,
4 the fortune OF war has declared for the
| invaders; but the results have not been
/ such Is t. giye any considerable adyan-
/ ta-e To them. The easy Victories and
/ the constant falling back of the Ameer's
/ forces have about them the suspicion OF
a trap. In 4 country of mountains and de
/ files, operations against a foe entirely IA
I nliiar with them. suggests unseen pcrils
\ An overwhelming force is Necessary in
| such ease, and that Of the English army
/ is far from being Of that kind Besides,
4 history Is full Of examples Of the most ter
4 rblc disasters to invading armies, result
4 M from unforeseen vicissitudeS Of wealth
er. The Very ground which the English
army trcads has been whitened bv the
bones of their soldiers, overcome by the
/ tredchcry OF both natives and the climate.
Napoleon's great army for the subuga-
| ton of Russia melted away before the
sudden trosts Of an early winter. Eng
.Ands safety from the threatened invasion
Of BOnaparte consisted in her sea girted
position. in which the British were as
much At home as are the Afghans in their
mountains
The population through which the in :
VadinL forces move to the assault are.
| like all -tSiatics, treacherous and liable
to sudden outbreaks like the Sepoy rebel
lion, and require to be menaccd every
where hy the presence of strong and rclI-
able forces. 1t is impossible to know what
PURPOSES and hopes may slumber in the
bosons Of the native soldiers, who have
acquired military skill through their adop-
tiou into the army Of India. When the
fact comes t. be understood by the swarns
q native troops that the war il one waged
for the suhjugation Of a native prince and
people by the far off white ruler of Eng
land; when the native Mussulmen of In
da realize that they are enlisted to cut
the Threats OF followers of MahOmet in the
Afghan mountains religious zeal and ha-
tired may be added to native cunning and
treachcry. And behind all may be found
the concealed hand Of Russia, secretly
and silently aiding and fomentn5 dis
content. All these are unknown quanti-
ties IN the problem which is being work
Ell ont in that far of country
There are also European matters which
reach across the continent, and interlock
with those Of Asia. The affairs of Tur-
key, the now very sick man of the Bos-
phuruS, are scanned with the interest of
expected heirship by the different powers
and most of all by Russia and England
who now with Jealous eyes watch each
other across the towering mountains Of
Atghanistan. II England shall get deep
y and disastroualy engaged in Indian
wars then there will he little occasion to
consult her regarding the carving Of Tur-
key. he treaty OF Berlin will be regard
ed as of small account, and the terms
which the continental powers may make
with each other, will be sufficient for the
occasion.
The result Of the situation is impossible
of prediction. All Europe and a large
portion OF Asia are filled with anxiety and
doubt regarding the future The gigan-
tic power Of Russia, which has been so
carefully guided in the direction indicated
by her great emperor Peter, and toward
which she has called to her aid the in
vcntlonS, appliances and the best minds
OF other countries particularly of the
nlted States may be suddenly brought
into action. Her finances are not in
condition SO good as those of England,
but she has an immense population, en-
thusastlc in her cause, and eager for any
conflict which may strengthen her posi-
ton or advance her interests Out Of
these complications and diversities of in
terests, what may not be expected
The coming message Of the coming
Governor of Maine now engages public
attention. The Lewiston Journal volun-
teers this bit of information at is said
Major Smith is writing a message Ito be
ready for an emergency which will be.
simply an enlargement of what he told
Journal reporter last month, with few
cuss words from the Bangor Commercial,
interpolated here and there"
The editor of the Progressive Age has
seen that "doubting Thomas Joseph l..
Smith, of Oldtown, and reports that che
said he stood squarely upon the Lewiston
platform" But the Lewiston Journal in
sists that he talked as it's reporter wrote.