New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-03
do mischief ought TO bear their full share OIL
responsibility ard disgrace.
ENGLAyDS ANYEx1uoN SCHEMES.

ENGLAND'S ANNEX4TION SCHEMES.
The expediency of the immediate with
drawal of the British forces from Cabul Is
conceded by two of the foremost organs OF
public opinion in London. The Spectator is
convinced that it is well within the truth
when it says that the conquest OF Afgbanis-
tau will employ an army OF 45,OOO men III
subiugating the tribes, garlsoning the forl-
resses and maintaining communication through
a dangerous hill country. pierced by
few passes, and occupied by chefs
who can dispose of 100000 fighting
men. In directing public attention to the
magnitude of the military operations by
which so large an army will be locked up III
q ouarter where it can be of no practical service
in India, the Liberal review demands that the
needful additions shall be made to tire muster
rolls of effective troops and contends that II
that be not done and anything go wrong, the
country will see that the Ministers have been
gambling with its soldiers and its treasure.
The Economist at the same time, is emphatic
in its declaration that the policy OF the Gov
eminent should be clearly defined without de-
lay. 1t argues with great cogency that whatever
the occupation of certain strOngholds might DE
in the beginning, it would be annexation,
pure and simple, in the end; and that the
only conceivable reason for annexing Afghan
istan ia the military necessity for the defence
of India. On that score, however, 1t main
tains that Lord Beaconsfeld stands committed
to the policy of an immediate withdrawal
from Cabul, inasmuch as he boosted
year ago that the object OF British inter
ference in that quarter had been COM
pletely accomplished in the new iron
tier secured by the Treaty of Gundamuk.
What need, it asks, can there be of pushing
that frontier any further, if it renders the In
dian Empire nvulnerable. There is no need.
The Economist does not. perhaps, lay sur
ficient stress upon the fact that the treaty not
only established scientific frontier" for
India, but provided for a puppet-play in Ca
bul wherein the sovereign was easily worked
by wires stretching from the British Embassy
The puppet- play, however. has been played
out, and the argument affords the Ministry
way TO escape from an embarrassing situation.
But Afghanistan is not the only quarter OF
the globe where British interests are menaced
with the consequences of ill-advised annexa-
ton schemes. The resolutions adopted at the
recent representative assembly OF the Trans
vaal farmers indicate that the sympathies OF
an overwhelming majority OF the owners OF
the soil have been alienated by what Mr..
Froude characterizes as &" dark and discredit-
liable conquests." They solemnly affirm that
they have never been, and never will be, sub
iecs of the Queen. and that the time for me-
MORALS to the British Government has passed,
inasmuch as nobody in England replies TO them.
The CORES Dondence OF The Daily AeIrs from
Cape Town proves conclusyey that the an
nexation of the Tran>yaal has most utterly
and signay failed, that the mass of the pop
ulatlon are thoroughly Discontinued, utterly
disloyal and firmly determined to accept no
benefits from a Power that insists on doing
good to them by force of arms. and that the
safest thing for the Government to do will be
to renounce its claim to rule the country.
Mr.. Froude in his address at Edinburgh,
outlined in THE TRIBUNE of Wednes-
day, went even further. He advocated
the restoration of the Transvaal 10 the Dutch,
of Cetywayo to Zululand and of Kreli 20 KAT
fraria. and contended that compensation, as
well as an apology, was due to each of these
This may be an extreme view,
albeit one that is based on personal observa-
non and exhaustive examination of the blue
books; but there is no reason 10 question his
conclusion that, without receiving a single
qualifying advantage in return. England has
exasperated the whole Dutch population, has
entangled itself in fresh complications with
the natives, and has damaged its reputation
for good faith.
The way Of annexation is always hard
when II Is the way Of the transgTes-or. Brit !
ish valor cannot Justify unnecessary wars like |
those which have been waged in Afehanistan !
and South Africa. utterly without cause and |
almost without purpose. One campaign has |
been brought Y close and the other has |
barely opened, ~and in either quarter the |
fruits of victory are like apples OF Sodom. |
There is a satisfaction in knowing that Ma |
tional policy which has set at nauQht natural |
equity and sound morality has been so utterly |
barren of useful results. In England, |
the bearings of these foreign complications |
upon the prospects Of the political parties |
arc closely studied, but from remote dis |
lance the moral aspects Of these annexation !
schemes are sharply defined and clearly dis |
ccrned. These have been iniquitous wars, |
and the barassing perplexites of the Gov |
eminent have the full effect of retributyc