The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-04-22
Tho impending Conflict.

II all the traditional rules of interna.
tional comfy be accepted as in full force
and effect, England has abundant cause for
n declaration Of war against Russia. Sir
Peter Lumsden's account Of tho attack on
PeDjdeh Is in direct conflict with the re-
port made by General Komaroff, ana amply
lustains the opinion first formed by tho
general public-that Komaroff provoked
and irritated the Afghans into conflict
and then slaughtered them. Lumsden goes
even farther than this and endeivors to
show that the Afghans acted upon the de-
ftnsive throughout and became the victims
Of Russian greed and Cossack aggression.
If this controversy only concerned the
possession Of that small strip of country be-
yond Merv, the nations of the earth might
afford to contemplate it as an unseemly
quarrel. But there is something more than
that. The downfall of Herat involves the
conquest of India. The loss of India would
work irreparable injury to English pres
tige and do great damage to English credit.
India, in short is Great Britain's gol1
mine, and she can afford bitter contest
over its possession. Thus far, according to
Sir Peter Lumsden's account, Russia has
been the aggressor and trespasser, and there
England must defend her possessions or
suffer the consequences.
Arbitration cannot settle the question in
dispute with any degree Of pormanency.
Russia is determined upon extending her
provinces. During forty years the Car
has knocked persistently at the gates of
Herat and marched the Cossack soldiery
within sight of the glttering mosques and
minarets of Constantinople. Time after
time has Russia retired from the Penjdeh
country by agreement, but only to rest on
its arms within sight of tho promised land,
waiting an opportune moment to strike
81 ain. To-day is the day of Russian power
sscendancy. That government feels equal
10 the emergency it has preciptated, and
its course throughout all the recent diplo-
matte amenities has been full of defiance
and determination.
After the attack upon the Afghans on
the Kushk River, England accepted Gem
eral Komaroffs account of the battle and
his explanation Of the hostilities on the one
condition that the English witnesses should
corroborate his statements. There was a
temporary suspension of intercourse, and
the whole question was referred to Sir
Peter Lumsden. 1t was for him to say
whether General KomarofT had reported
truthfully. Sir Peter occupied his own
time in q search for the facts. To-day he
frraigns General Komaroff on every ma
terial point, and places the responsibility
directly upon the Russian Government
That is the story.
What next2 Gladstone has asked and
received a credit of eleven million pounds.
The Soudanese campaign will be instantly
terminated, and the hot sands of Egypt de-
serted for greater contest in the Penj
deh. War cannot now be avoided with
out stain to England's honor and with
out eternal danger to her Indian posses
sions. Great Britain has gone to war for
less cause.
Affairs have now seemingly reached a
point where England can declare war
against Russia and enter the greatest con
flitt of modern times in the full conf
derce that its government would have the
sympathy of all civilized nations. War is
u cruel thing at any time and for any
cause, but IS long as governments are
maintained by standing armies, war is un-
avoidable when it comes to the defeuse oil
national integrity and national honor.
The present situation abroad, ther sfore
resolves itself into the one question: Is the
maintenance of English ascendancy in India
worth the price of an armed conflict with q
nation equal to England on land and sea 2
1t remains for the British Government to
answer.