The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-01
British Politics and the Origin of the AFT
CHAN War,


Blackwood's Magazine for February, re-
printed by the Leonard Scott Publishing
Co, Al Barclay street, New York, opens
with "The Electors Catechism, in which
the writer ridicules the principles of the
Liberal party and its claims to power.
The uniformed may gather from it a con.
siderable insight into British politics.
"The Afghan War aud its Authors is
an extended review of Afghan troubles
from 1873 to the present time, and points
out the mistakes of English diplomacy,
which alone caused the war. Lord North
brook is censured for not grasping the
many opportunities within reach for re-
tanning the favor of Shere Ali, Ameer Of
AGghanistan, and of allowing Russia to
reap the advantages, through intrigue,
which England and the Indian Government
should have obtained Afghan is neutral,
or Independent, territory between British
and Russian possessions ia the East, and
each government watches with jealous eye
any advances of the other toward securing
favor with the Ameer. England uudoubt-
edly had previous TO 1873 the confidence
Of the Ameer, and but for Lord North
brooks buugling diplomacy, claims the
author, would have retained it. To a dis
interested observer, Afghan occupies an
uncnviable position on the Asian map.
She occupies territory between two jeal-
Gus aud ambitious powers, the upper and
the neither millstoncs, and sooner or later
must become component part of one Of
them. She, virtually to-day, has no in
dependence, though nominally a separate
aud Independent kingdom, aud for fear of
invoking the hostility of either one of the
great powers, with whom her own borders
are contcrminal, she is a hampered aud
dependent kingdom. As above stated,
England prior to 1873 had the confidence
and esteem of the Cabul government. Dur
ing that year Russia though she had Off
cially proclaimed that Afghan was beyond
its sphere of political action, was advanc
ing under various pretcxts to the Ameer's
dominions. The Cabul Government then
desired to get more specific assurances of
England's assistance against foreign az
gressions, and the British replies were
vague and unsatisfactory, the British gov
eminent not desiring to cause a rupture Of
its peaceful relations with Russia. The
Ameers dispatches to English agents grew
from friendly communications to sarcastic
affrouts. During this correspondence the
Amer nominated his son Abdulla jan lis
successor In the family feud as TO the
successorship to the Afghan throne, Eng
land heretofore had espouscd the cause ef
another son, Yakoob Khan. Russia, how
ever, congratulated the Amer in his des.
ignation Of heir-apparent, and thus gained
his favor England seeing her influence
with the Cabul Government fast waning,
determined TO regain its favor, and made
advances to the Ameer for British resi-.
dent agents within her borders. This de-
sire was explained to be of friendly nten-
tions; that to form closer alliance and to
protect Afghan from external aggressions,
it was necessary that the British Govern
ment should have its own agents in Afghan
to watch events and report. highlands |
vascillating policy prior to that had caused |
the Ameer TO distrust her, and her over
lures were repulsod, which was the direct
cause of England's hostility. The Ameer
had so far committed himself to Russia
that he dared not admit British officers
into his country, for fear Of invoking Rus
sian hostility.
Among the other interesting articles in
the January number of BIackwood arc
Journalists aud Magazine Writer'S "The
Ilaven of Carmel, and "The Novels of |
Daudei."
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