Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-11-07
Afghan Revolt.

The British Government have GER
tAsnly one and possibly several Bosnias
in AfghAnis&an. Their treaty vas made
With the Prince whom they had set up
on lettering throne, and not With the
rebellious and miseoverned tribes So
restless and vArlike Q race could not be
converted by protocol and parchment
into . submissive and vell-disposed
horde Of mercenaries. The Afghan
regiments in the Ameer's capital have
risen IN revolt. and the populsce have
joined the soldiery in plundering the
arsenal and military stores. and 10 mas.
sscring the entire British Embassy
Unless the Amer feigns surprise. be
Vas taken unavares. and vas powerless
10 defend Major CAvsgnsri and his lit
tie band. Who fought calamity TO the
last man against overwhelming odds.
The British columns are already in mo-
ton toward Candahar, JehaiabAd and
Peiwsr Pass. An advance upon Cabul
has been ordered. A campaign OF
which England was weary before it had
fairly begun has opened anew.
Undoubtedly this uprising will be
attributed by portion 81 the London
press to Russian intrigue. but this will
be hasty judgment. Tue empty treas
ury is the basis OF more tenable theo-
~. The Afghan troops may have re-
sorted to characterization as the best
means OF collecting their arrears Of pay
The Amer may have connived ut the
mutiny for tue sake of intimidating the
Indian Government and replenisLing
his treasury. The populsce may have
been swayed by caprice, like every
Eastern mob, aud the movement may
have passed out OF the control of the
intriguers who planned it. The most
natural supposition, whatever reasons
may be assigned in the earliest dis
patches from Simla, points to the jeal.
ousy of rival chiefs and restless factions
as the exciting cause. The succession ia
the Afghan throne has always depend
ed upon the..caprice of the sovereign or Of
his favorite wife. When Shere All died
there were many claimants besides the
General who was favored by the British
commanders. 1brahim was the Oldest
son; Ayub was the third; Ahmed Ali
was favorite grandson; Abdul Rah.
AAA0A Wnc tA0 OtACoS 6On Va SAC OAuCcs
brother; and there were more wander.
ing heirs, some in exile, some in prison
and some in league with influential
chiefs. It would be strange. indeed, il
Yakoob. the second son, had been able
to strike bargain with all his rela.
tives. and put an end to intrigue, an
archy and revolt.
What was the outcome OF the in.
vasion OF Afxhanistan forty years
sgop The British forces made
rapid conquests. Candahar was cap
tured, the fortress of Ghiznee was car.
ried by storm, Cabul was occupied, and
q prince who had been faithful to Eng
land was kept upon the throne. Yet il
was not long after a treaty had beer
signed that there was great revolt In
Cabul. British officers were butchered
the garrison was forced to march out
of the capital, and AN army. attacked or
flank and in rear, was destroyed on the
march to Khyber. That outbreak wat
headed by Akbar Khan, son of the
Ameer who had made peace with the in
vaders. It is to be hoped that the his
toricsl parallel will be drawn no closer
than 1t IL as the lines now stand. An
other Khyber might be the prelude lte
another Indian rebellion. When, how
ever, u great nation plunges into un
necessary and unjustifiable wars, like
the campaigns in Zululand and among
the Afghan hills, retributive justice
may follow close. The Indian frontier
has been extended and scientifically
rectifed" not because England wanted
any portion OF Afghanistau, but be
cause the Government and people were
in fidget lest Russia should worl
some mischief in Cabul. The battle
ground OF the future is now more &C
cessible to Russia than it was before
the war, and England is finling on,
once more that the East is still the
changeful East.-Ne.D York Tribune.