The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-16

BEAOONsFIELD'S AND BRITAIN's
TROUBLES.
Uneasys.ies the heads OF Prime MINISTER'S,
even of go great power as Great Britain.
Few of Ter ministers have had more ssups and
DOWNS quicker transitions from great VIC
tories tc disastrous defeats, than thetbrilliaIt,
adventurous, shrewd old gentlemen who Nr-
tually swaps the sceptre and directs the
policy of the great and honorablp, though
frequently blundesfng and luckiess, Empire,
over which motherly old lady nominally
reigns.
She looking after her humorous progeny,
the care OF which may weH absorb the
thoughts and anxieties of a mother and
grandmother, RENTS the troubles and cares
OF the government Of her vast empire to q
feeble, worn and emaciated cid gentleman,
who began and passed his early manhood and
maturity In literary dallisnce, fashionable
trifling, and the inditing Of love stories and
sentimental novels. Wonderful luck, I'M
bounded pertness, and a large endowment OF
John Bull pluck. have carried Beaconsfield
through many storms, breakers and perils Of
the gravest-sort
May he hold out to the end OF his career
and give the world an example OF the most
spendid victory ever achieved by minister
who assumed such stupendous responsible
ties with such scant resources Of wisdom, ex-
perience and practical capacity to guide 80
great q nation through such tempests and
dangers as beset the British empire.
The .tdeer delightful author" of Vivian Grey,
OF Henrietta Temple, Contarina Fleming
of Venetia. the Wondrous Tale of Alroy, and
half dozen other charming novels, is Ger
tainly tho last man In the world who should
be called to the terrible task OF confronting
such nerve-shoeking calemities and embar-
easements as those perils which have recently
fallen to the lot of Great Britain through
events in South Africa and In Afghanistan.
The massacre inflicted by Cetewayo, the
shame and sorrow of which have not been
obliterased by the victory Of Ulundi; the re-
moteness of the capture of the African chief
and OF the termination OF most costly, ster-
lie and objectless war have been quickly fol-
lowed by the distressing events at Cabul, the
assassination of the British embassy, and Of
their ally and friend, the Ameer, and the i'm
minent peril OF a large British force, advanc-
ing preoipitately through The most dangerous
country In the world against willy and pow
erful enemy.
Such is the situation of British power and
arms ct these points OF danger, which the
Beaconfield strategy and policy must face,
and. by wisdom, skill and firmness, rescue
her prestige and re-establish 1t on the solid
base liz which it has hitherto rested. Ii this
be not done the star of Beaeonsfield must
sink In gloom and darkness. The powerful
liberal following OF Gladstone will sweep from
power the too boastful ministry whose exul-
tant shouts have SO suddely changed into
shrieks of despair and grief.
The Afghanistan calamity is a far more &C.
rious one than was at first apprehended. A
larger responsibility is thrown upon the min
istry for the recent and for the future disas-
ters and inducements resulting In the utter
failure of Beaconsfield's scientific boundary
and Wanted triumph over Russia's asptrings
and intrigues against the extension OF British
influence toward Russia's frontier. It Is pref
ty distinctly announced and understood that
strong column OF Russian troops is advanc-
ing toward Cabul. It Is charged that the up
rising Of the Afghans and the massacre of
the British embassy at Cabul were due to
Russian intrigues. The exultaRt and defiant
tones Of the Russian journals give color to
these suspicious.
tits well remembered that Gortschakoff was
greatly dissatisfied with the Berlin treaty,
and that Beaconsfield was correspondingly
elated. The recent manifestations OF discon-
tent, with the apparent concessions OF Bis
marck to England and Austria, to allay
which the Kaiser made his sudden visit to
st. Petersburg, Indicate the depth and
strength Of this hostile feeling of Russia. II
Is further proof thereof, as we'll as of the sa-
gacity OF that government, that it should
have sent forward a large army OF observation
to his eastern frontier to menace any British
advance from the south and encourage the
Afghans to rise against the British.
These facts give very serious aspect. to
the relations OF the two great EN- ires. The |
Afghan question threatens one of the gravest
crises and ENVIRONMENTS which have occurred
In the Old World for many years past.
The Berlin treaty Is in imminent peril of
suffering the same fate as that of Vienna In |
1914, and that OF Paris after the Crimean
war.
The capital question In Conneetieut has