Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-22

The situation in Afghanistan is like
this There is only one road from Herat
to Candahar. Ayoob Khan, Governor OF
Herat, and claimant to the throne at Ca
bul, is maneuvering on that road, threat
ening the Ameer's forces at Girishk, about
seventy-five miles west of Candahar, or
near where the recent engagement took
place. This force must be defeated be-
fore Ayoob can reach Candahar. The
fact that he did not retreat to Herat after
his check at Girishk is regarded as evil
dence that he is strong enough to make a
fight for the possession Of Candahar. That
city in his power, he would virtually COM
mand Western and Southern Afghanistan.
The body of the Irish land bill has
passed through the house in committee,
and Mr.. Gladstone has announced the
commissioners a home ruler having
declined to serve, the commissioners will
be Sergeant O'Hagan. the Irish lord chan
cellor's son-in-law; Mr.. +. +. Litton
liberal NJ p. for Tyrone; and Mr.. j. +.
Vernon, Lord Pembroke's agent and an
intelligent advocate of peasant proprie-
torship. 1t will be noticed that the COM
missioners favor Irish interests. The
home rulers are nevertheless dissatisfied.
But what would satisfy Them No work.
no duties. unlimited rights, plenty of play,
and innumerable opportunities at worry
ing the English with impunity.
The manuscripts of Lord Beaconsfield.
which were disposed of at the sale of his
personal effects on the 18th. realized ex-
traordinary prices. They were nothing to
look at, however curious they may have
been in themselves, for they were written
mostly on folio paper. on both sides, in a
clear bold hand. and were simply wrapped
up in brown paper parcels. They were
probably the first drafts which were tran
scribed for the printer. The prices were
As follows The Young Duke, two hun
bred and thirty guineas; Contarina Flem-
ing. two hundred and twenty guineas !;
Venetia (the first volume and part of the
second) ninety guineas; Alroy, one hun
dred and forty guineas; The rise of Isk-
ander. ninety guineas; Ixion in Heaven,
ninety guineas. Altogether they brought
$50. Contarina Fleming was purchased
by Sir Theodore Martin. it is presumed.
for the Queen.
The retirement of Mr.. Conkling need
not disturb the harmony of the party in
The least. and will not. The republican
voters of this State know that great or
ganization for political ends such as that
to which they belong does not depend up
on the goodwill of any one man. what
ever his abilities are and whatever his
influence may have been. They know
that leaders have their day. and that Mr..
Conkling has had a long one. While his
downfall is more dramatic than is usually
the case when political chieftain is over
thrown. they see that it is substantially a
repetition of former incidents in our poll.
tics. the logic of which makes it unlikely
that he should ever regain his old place
The fact that he has shown strange lack
of fidelity to his party makes this still
more unlikely. Mr.. Conkling was mis-
taken when he said he had chosen murder
he chose suicide. and suicide is not fash.
ionable. The republicans of New York,
strong with all the vigor of sound princi
pies. are not going down into the grave
because Mr.. Conkling is there. The par
~ will close up its ranks, and move on
and neither he nor any one man will bt
missed. - Tribune.