Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-04-04
THE MISSION OF RUSSIA.
IFren the New York Herald

Will there be war between England
and Russia2 n is the great question now
agltating Europe. The Herald has
during the past few days published
from its correspondents in Paris and
London a series of noteworthy inter-
views, which, while not settling the
question definitely either one way or
the ether, have afforded interesting
side light ON the way European, and
especially British, public men have OF
looking upon the difficulties that have
arisen on the Afghan frontier. Unfor-
tunately for England, her statesmen
and public men see Russia only
through Indian spectacles. Every
Russian movement is looked upon by
them as q fresh step in the advance on
England's eastern empire. Tho report
of a Cossack spear see half q hundred
miles from Herat is enough to send
them quite off their usual balance, rem
dering them almost incapable of look
ing at facts as they are or discussing
the absolute necessities of the future.
1t is an unworthy fear for her Indian
possessions that. makes the statesmen
of England incapable of understanding
| Russia, makes her listen to the vapor-
ings Of the poet of the "Light Of ASIA"
and her conservative statesmen to cry
out in despair, ooh for an hour of
Beaconsfeldw and her liberals, Cor,
| rather, fifteen minutes Of Palmerst0n !"
These d~espairing cries for the ghosts
OF the dead statesmen are doubtless q
fair expression OF the general desire of
the English people. The spirit of
hatred Of everything Russian is unfor-
tunately the same now as in the days
| of Palmerston and the Crimean war,
when the attempt was made to stop
the growth of mighty people by hui
initiating stipulstions which were
broken and flung in the face of Europe
at the first favorable opportunity. 1t
is in the same spirit that under Bea-
| consfeld's regime developed into the
mockery of Jingoism and achieved a
hollow success in preventing the full
filment of Russia's dreams at q moment
when that Power, stood before the
gates of Constantinople exhausted,
after a long and bloody campaign.
Does England intend still to keep up
her opposition to Russia at every
point in Europe and Asia? It seems
so; though to impartial judges it ap-
pears that the wiser course would be
for her, instead of calling on the shades
of departed statesmen, to cast about for
a great guiding mind who, instead of
attempting to repeat the role of the old
lady who tried with her broom to stop
the waves Of the sea, should be able to
recognize the fact that Russia has In
doubted rights both in Asia and in
Europe, which some day or other she
Is certain to insist upon.
1t Is time for England to let the
ghosts of Palmerston and Beaconsfeld
rest. They did the work required of
them in their days, and they left the
unwhelesome legacy Of Russophobia
and Jingoism behind them. The Eng
land of to-day should face the problem
of Russia's demands in a different spirit
from that which prevailed in years
gone by. She has to recognize the fact
that any trouble about such an insig-
nificant affair as a few versts of Tur-
conan territory is caused, az Sir Rich
ard Temple says, to divert attention
from greater and grander aims. Our
special dispatches from Vienna and
other capitals have repeatedly limited
a. tuo udIuIS VI COluiu$ cVouLS. 1uoy
have shown hsw Austria and Russia,
supported by Germany, while Eng
lands hands were tied in the Soudan,
were preparing for q final settlement
OF the eastern question in Europe by
themselves. Even now it would only
need an outpost fight on the Afghan
frontier and England's support of the
Ameer to precipitate matters and bring
the campaign to the Bosphorus. Rus.
STA, some one once wrote, is a giant
with her head hedded in eternal snow.
and her feet resting among beautiful
spring flowers. She has long felt the
necessity of putting her head where
her feet have been, of opening up the
vast commerce of her Asiatic domin.
IONS, which she is developing, and O.
shaking off the humiliating conditions
hampering her entrance to and egresl
from her southern dominions, and
England will eventually have to sub.
NIT to these necessities being fulfilled
or be prepared to oppose them alone
Can she do so Z