The sun., 1879-01-08
OUR LONDON LETTER.
The Distress In EngIand- Hevotutisuary Treu-
bles In Russia-Rus.ia Worsted IN AfHhan-
istan-The ZuIu War In south Arrtcn.

| gloom ana oppression as are unparalleled
probably In the experience OF the present gen
GRAFTON Tho elements soom to have com
bined TO intensity tho distress and suffering
OF the poorer chsscs throughout tho country
In all tho larRe cities relief committees are
being organized and the attempt is made tc
Rrapple with tho misery; but In splto OF the
most earnest efforts Of tho charitably disposed
IL is extremely improbable that any adequate
mitigation OF tho evil will be possible. aggra-
vated as Il is by tho necessity under which the
employers OF labor find themselves OF reducing
tho rate Of wages. II eoems peculiarly un-
| fortunate that the proprietors OF tho colllerles
should choose this moment for cutting down
the pay OF the miners but such II reported TO
he the case. and n strike OF n hundred thousand
hands in the northern counties will bo the in
ovitable result.
The laborlng people OF England are patient un-
der misery, but there can be no doubt that the
spectacle OF tho ense and luxury which surround
thom must DO especially CALLING. and we cannot
wonder that the rustic or the artisan whose wife
and childron are dying OF cold and starvation
In Rarret listen bitterly to tho sounds OF Christ
| mas revelry which issue from the mansions OF
the rich. or watches with disgust the merry
makers troopinR. skates in hand. to the broad
water in some park. where the very deer are far
moro carefully cared for than no is. SO tho Of
| feet OF this hard weather is to sharpen these
contrasts and drive men in their revolt against
the inequalities Of fate to acts OF desperation
and possibly bloodshed.
| This home pressure has for the moment di-
verted the attention. which has been concen-
| trated for 80 long upon the East on'internal af-
iaire. and special correspondents. who are dig
ninod with the names OF commissioners when
| they go to report upon local conditions. are be-
ing sent by tho papers TO investigate the state Of
the chief centres Of population. and therefore
| Of distress. and send such heart breaking pic
lures OF what they see that the Turk reading
them, and remembering that this IL the result
Of the civilization which wo assume to be so
much better than his own. may fairly ask us to
| point TO n parallel OF suffering in his ill-gov-
| erned dominions. 1t is a strange irony OF fate
which sees the year close in those countries
which have assumed to be the champions OF re-
form. under circumstances OF exceptional de-
preston and peril. Russia, which made war
ostensibly to teach tho Turk how to govern. is
practically placed under state Of siege. and tho
authorities live in terror OF an outbreak OF Mill
| ism which will sweep the country from end to
| end. Even tho all powerful and omnlscient
third estate" is at n loss. for they are face 10
| face with man y headed monster, and the rami-
ncatons Of the organization arc 30 extensive that
the police cannot follow them. The whole body
polite. from the highest TO the lowest is tainted
and nothing has occurred moro significant
than tho recent petitions OF the students. GOO
| OF whom have been exiled TO Siberia. Whom
the universities are permeated with the loaven
Of revolution when delicate ladies OF the high
est rank disappear and disguise themselves as
| peasant women In order to enter more thor
oughly into the revolutionary sentiments OF the
masses when all the efforts OF the Government
arc powerless to prevent the Wholesale distri-
button OF Nihilist pamphlets and periodicals: ::
when such men as Mr.. Katkofr dare openly
In their newspapers TO warn the Government
and the Car personally that unless reforms are
introduced they will be obtained by force when
all these things happen in Russia. 1t is time in
deed for that country to pause in the work Of
reforming her neighbors.
In Germany. Berlin is practically under mar
tial law. There are fourteen thousand police
in n town with smaller population than New
York city. and they have the right to dispose in
tho most arbitrary manner of any citizen
against whom they entertain or imagine sus-
pcion. England. Russia. and Germany, lnd-
ing the tables thus suddenly turned upon them
NJ home, are Tor the moment remarkably quiet
SO far as foreign politics are concerned. The
trap which Russia prepared for England in
Afghanstan she has fallen into herself This
was more by good luck than good management.
so far AZ England was concerned. Had the
SHOWS set in when they always do. the English
armies could never haVc reached Jealabad.
the Peiwar. or the KhoIuck passes this year.
In that case. the Ameer and the Russian mis-
sion would have remained at Cabul; tho winter
would have been spent In obtaining arms and
possibly. volunteers from Russia. and In organ
izinR defensive operations and there can be no
doubt that when spring opened. the task before
the British Army would have been very differ
ent from the one they have Just achieved.
Moreover. In spring the critical moment would
have arrived whom the treaty OF Berlin was to
be fulfilled and England would have had her
hands full In Eastern Roumelia, as well as in
Afghanstan. The exceptional season and the
Dromptitudo with which tho campaign was un-
dertaken. combined with the skill Of the officers
in command. nave completely upset the Russian
calculations. and the retreat OF the Ameer and
withdrawal OF their mission have been n moral
victory for England. to which the whole OF Cen
trial Asia will vibrate.
II Is difficult for us In western countries to
appreciate the manner In which events OF this
sort affect the Eastern imagination, and over
turn political combinations. The story is
passed from lip to lip, through the bazaars OF
the Asiatic towns, with all kinds OF exaggerated
distortions. and II will be told all through the
Cars Eastern dominions how he promised 10
support the Ameer against England, and how
he sent a mission there to prepare the way for
the conquest Of India. and how tho Amoer re-
ceived II and i6ted 1t and relied upon II. and
how It deserted him in tho hour Of his need
and how upon the first appearance OF the Brit
ish troops the Russians fed. followed by the
Ameer. and how the Empress OF India has
taken the country the Gar swore he would pro-
tect. and how possibly she may advance still
further. and enable those who are now under
the huscoylte yoke to regain their independ-
ence
1t will be almost absolutely necessary for Rus
sia to make some move in Asia to re cover what
sho has lost by this Afghan nasco II in the
mean time England does not find herself so
seriously embarrassed by her success that sho
too may lose prestige by laundering. Every
thing depends upon Yakoob Khan. and the au-
thority ho exercises in his own country. As yet
very little is known regarding him. II he turns
out we'll disposed toward England. has "A strong
following in tho country. and is a man Of abi-
ity the question may bo considered virtually at
an end. and he will be installed under British
protection and rs an ally. with British resi-
dent at his court II. however. us is reported.
he has been subjected during his long impris-