The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-08

was mainly owing 10 this state Of things
that the other descendants of DOsr Mo-
HAMMED wero encouraged to dispute the
throne. In q short time AIM KHAN pos
sessed himself of one part Of tho country,
and Lord LAWRENCE, then Viccroy, chose
the singular course Of recognizing both
claimants and leaving them to fight it out
among themselves. There was justice,
therefore, in SHERE Ais remark when he
afterward met Lord MAYO at Umbala, and
was congratulated on having at length nut
down his enemies, that in all this he had
nothing for which to thank the British
! Government
II was distinctly understood on both sides,
at that conference, that neither then nor at
any future time should British resident DO
placed al Cabul, or any interference offered
in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. 1t
was reasonable, therefore, that tho Ameor
should regard as grievance the subse-
quent demand for the admission of English
officers ms permanent ENJOYS. Taught by
the experience of the Indian princes, he
could hardly fail TO regard the presence Of
political agent in his capital as synony-
nous with annexation. lie remembered,
doubtless. the message sent on his deathbed
| W ~ lpliilNi AhidiAJt W Alt ihAtl VI AdSll-
mere. on no prctext to admit resident
from tho British Government. 1t is true
that SnERE ALI had consented TO Offer
transient hospitality to IA Russian embassy,
but no Afghan chief would have tolerated
its continual presence in the country.
Other acts might be cited which the Afghan
prince would naturally consider grievances.
In the matter Of the Selstan boundary, tho
English arbtrators not only decided In favor
Of Persia, but actually refused 10 hear the
Afghan representatives. Again, the Viceroy
declined to recognize the Amecr's favorite
son, ABDULLA JAN, as tho heir to the throne,
and gave additional offence by Interference
| on the behalf of the rebellious YAKUB KHAN.
| Further bitterness was engcndercd by the
sending Of presents 10 the Mir Of Wakhan.
whom the Afghan ruler counts among his
vassals; and the jealousy Of an independent
prince was naturally awakened by the Brit
ish advance on Quettah, aud the gradual re-
duction of Beloochistan to IA sort Of province.
Moreover the Ameer's apprehensions ON the
side Of Russia, prompted by the fall of Khiva,
met with no sympathy at Calcutta, and he
was instructed that he must look TO his
own resources for the defence OF his north
ern boundary Ina word, so far as the Ameer
could judge by the conduct Of Lord LYT-
TONS predecessors, there was little 10 gain
and much to lose from British friend
ship.
On the other hand, the Russians were in n
position to Offer tempting concessions. and
at the same time TO exert grave pressure.
Their Government had never recognized his
title to that portion Of his territory lying
| hat ha HfplAn K,,ah "a La,
The former Governor OF that region, ABDUL
RAHMAN, had been received by Gen. KAUF-
MANN with high honors and at the time of
SCHUYLER's visit received an annual allow
ance Of $4,000 roubles most Of which, we are
told, was saved with a view to an invasion
| Of Afghanistan. Besides this nephew, who
has formally asserted his claims TO the
Afghan throne. another near relation Of the
Ameer was made welcome at fash
kend. We refer to Islander KHAN
the son OF SHERE ALI's brother, Sui
tan AHMED KHAS-of Herat. who is de-
scribed by Sir HENRY RAwLINsON as a
young man Of abilities and force OF
character, who may yet play no unimpor-
tant part in Afghan affairs. What Gen.
kAUFMASN had TO offer was the expulsion
Of these and all other refugees, and the
confirmation Of the Oxus frontier. These
were substantial Inducements, which,
coupled with the pledge Of aid in ease Of
war, determined the attitude Of hostility TO
the British in India. Unluckily, events
moved too swiftly in Europe for the welfare
OF the Afghan prince, and the explosion
contrved in Asia 10y Russian diplomacy, as
an offset to the despatch OF Indian troops to
the Levant. proved a complete fiasco. In
deed, it supplied the Indian Government
with tho precise pretext needed for a COW
eted rectiiication OF its northwest frontier,
and overwhelmed the Afghan ruler with
disaster and disgrace, from which he has
only escaped by death
How large share OF his fathers domln-
ions may fall In YAKUB KHAN, or whether
| he shall be even secured in the possession Of
Cabul, will depend upon the prompttude
and submission with which he comes to
terms As We have seen, ABDUL RAHMAN
| Is a claimant to the whole Of Afghan Turks
tan, while another Of YAKUB's cousins.
| ISLANDER KHAN, may assert his title TO the
Govcrnorship Of llerat rs a post belonging
TO him by hereditary and inalienable right
Nothing but the active and continued CO.
operation of his British ncighbors can as
sure a firm and unmutilated succession TO
SHERE Ais son and heir, He is therefore
in no position to oppose the permanent oc-
cupation Of the Soyman Passes ~ British
troops, or the continued residence Of British
ENJOYS on his north and east frontiers. In
a word, the Indian Government can hardly
fail to reap decisive advantages from the
Afghan imbroglo and there is a sort Of
righteous retrbuton in the fact that Rus
STA, whose Vaccinations ruined the Amccr
Of Cabul may thereby suffer an irrctrieya-
bic loss OF prestige in central Asia.
The Hon. Tom Murphy's Chance.
| Mr. uEpRuRN.s AssnmhlX CnmmiIinn INV