The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-26
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA,

the government has often been charged with
many moves made simultaneously at widely
removed points on the map. The inconsider
able islands constituting the United King
dom of Great Britain are but the heart Of a
greater Britain, upon which it is a proud
boast that the sun never sets. For century
almost England has played her great game of
draughts alone so far as European countries
We're concerned, and her dismayed
opponents have been peoples great in
numbers only, and without that knowl-
edge of scientific warfare that has made their
formidable invader mistress of the world. But
now a new player approaches the board, and
is moving imam" toward one of the squares
long held by England. For nearly half cen
fury Russia has looked with covetous eyes
upon the British possessions in India, and
during the past eight years has been quietly
preparing for a descent in that direction.
Disrael, when at the head Of affairs, sought
to anticipate just such move by taking pos
session of Afghanistan, and making the
Hindoo Koosh mountains the political as well
as the natural northern boundary of India. The
enterprise failed, and left the people of that
country thoroughly alienated and friendly to
any power hostile to their assailants. The
government of Russia has witnessed all this,
and has profted by the hint
Entering into a treaty with Persia, and
agreeing upon the northern boundary of that
country, Russia, in 1873 began the no great
work of subiugating the nomadic tribes in
habiting the country east of the Caspian sea,
and, following subsection, has annexed their
territory. Military garrisons have been
established at the most impor-
tant points and communication has been
opened by means of a railway leading from
ing as far as Askabad with the evident pur-
pose in view of extending it as far as may be
necessary, the next objective point being the
city of Sarakhs, on the Tejend river. Merv
is now in the hands of Russia and the Merv
oasis has been formally annexed. This brings
the Cars forces within 200 miles of Helat
and almost as near Balkh
Thus far the country annexed is in itself of
no value to Russia, but as affording highway
to Afghanistan and the region of Delhi and
Lahore is indispensable. The movement is
opportune England is occupied by diverse
questions that call for men and means The
Irish question is still unsettled. The affairs
in Egypt call for military adjustment, and the
operations of the French in Tonquin must be
watched in order to protect British interests.
The purpose of the trans-Caspian campaign
cannot be disguised. There is nothing in the
territory already occupied worth the trouble of
accepting it as a gift General Kaufman ex-
presses the purpose when he says 'the cost
of absorbing the Khanate is to be recouped in
the spoil of Delhi and Lahore"
The two great powers are coming into i'm
minent collision. The territory of Afghanis-
tan, some 400 miles in width, alone intervenes
Dispatches indicate that British troops will
proceed at once to occupy Khandahar and
Herat, as commanding the important mountain
passes. What effect this will have upon the
inhabitants of Afghanistan remains to be SEEN
The policy of Mr.. Gladstone has been to
placate them, after having been alienated by
the jingo policy of his more aggressive pred
ecessor. At best, it is but choice of evils,
as there can be little doubt that that country
must soon lose its autonomy.
What will be the outcome of the inevitable
collision would be hard to predict. The grip
of the British army and navy is a thing to be
dreaded while the hug of the Russian bear is
not to be rushed into heedlessly. England
cannot hold all she has picked up in distant
parts of the world. Sooner or later a combi-
nation of adverse circumstances will arise that
will make her relinquish some of her posses
sions. A fight between the powers now facing
each other would be no childs play and it
looks as though fight must come, since
neither can well recede. The wheat-felds of
the Pun aub are rich prize, and worth
turn of the wheel in the lottery of war, while
a line of ports on the Arabian sea and Indian
ocean has been the dream of Russia for cen
turtles. The eruption from the great northern
volcano must find an outlet somewhere, and
the way through India seems most feasible.
-
Mr.. EDWIN LEE BROWN, of Chicago pres
ident of the American Humane Association,