Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-16
WHY RUSSIA WANTS INDIA.
Not For Its Own Sake. But to Humfli-
ate Great Britain.
AN UNDYING HATRED WHICH THE CRIMEAN
WAR AND THE RUSSO-TURKISH CAMPAIGN
INTENSIFIED-THE CARS AMBITIOUS PRO
GRAM OF CONQUEST.


INTENsIFIEp-rHE CARS AMBITIOUS PRO
GRAM OF CONQUEST.
From the New York Star.
That Queen Victoria's rich Indian empire has
long been a special allurement in the path of
Muscovite conquest is admitted in the councils
of the Old World, but that the grand coup is TO
be attempted by the armies of the Gar at the
present time is scarcely believed. One of the
beSt-nformed of American writers on Eastern
topics, Eugene Schuyler. declares:
"That Russia should wish India for it's own
sake seems too absurd to be worth considera-
ton, when we remember that the size of India
is equal to three-quarters of that of Russia in
Europe: that its population amounts to $685.
600, 900; that its debt which would have to
be assumed by Russia in case of annexation.
is over $3.50, 200. 900, about one-thrd Of that
Russia itself Although its commerce amounts
To- large sum-S26U.UOO,OOO of imports. SAT-
100000 OF exports-yet as most Of this is
with England il would probably continue in
the same route; ii could not at once be changed
and go into the hands of Russia by the ami
indeed could Russian factories supply the
needs of the Indian market. 1t is not the pos
session OF India which the Russians desire,
nor do they wish TO make any actual
attack upon English rule in India. They do
wish. however. to be in a position to threaten
in case England should again object to any aim
of Russian policy in the west One of those
aims must certainly be considered the opening
the Mediterranean. In this stage of civilization
the world at large should sympathize with the
teriereS with the rights of no other state, rather
than with the policy of restriction. The OPEN
Ing Of the Bo>phorus and the Dardanelles
should be merely question between Russia
and Turkey, in which foreign powers should
have no actual interest except to desire the
freedom of the seas and of the straits.
'But whether or not the Russians desire the
conquest OF India. or simply to gain a position
from which To annoy the English, it is the OBJ
J,rf,- If. l,.,l
upon a frontier which the Russians cannot be
allowed to oVerstep. Much us they might pro-
test and question, it is obviously impossible for
the English To insist upon frontier line drawn
through the steppe which they have no posi-
bttity oi defending and it is for their interest,
a. they wish further barren possessions, to
restrict themselves to what they really hold.
and to- draw the frontieras near India as is safe,
by which they can be nearer their own base OF
possible from theirs. 1t would seem
that the English made mistake
AIRY between AghaniSt;in and the Russian pro-
tected or tributary states. The tribes and petty
countries on the LETT bank of the ONus, although
at various times they have been subject to Al
ghanIstan, had frequently been entirely indie
pendent. and were OF the same Turkish
the tribes living on the right bank. 1t was there
fore always possible for HuSsia, in the
event of war, When all things are allowable. to
carry on intrigueS with such people After my
return from Central Asia had the honor Sew
er;tl times of being asked my opinion on this
subject by leading statesmen, and always held
that the mountain barriers, where they were
passes easily de!en>ible, were lar better Tor Eng
lISh purposes than the river. L remember par
iiculaIly insisting on this in severi, convers;t-
tions with the Prince of Wales, whom l found
particularly well informed the whole sub
Ject The great trouble oil the English in the
matter l. Aighanistan for it is wrong To
S-der A1@hanIsttn as one country, as il is really
composed of II variety OF tribes who hold only
slender allegiance To- the Ameer.-'
The wealth and resources of India are vast
almost beyond computation. To any conquer
ing sovereign she would be Il rich prize, and
10 save India from foreign Spoliation England
will give up its last man and the bottom dollar
in its national treasury for India. is one OF the
principal bases OF its dependence An Ameri-
can consul III England. who has made special
study of the development of India commerce.
SAYS:
The policy inaugurated by the government
OF India some twenty-three years ago of con-
structIng railways under government guaran-
tees and later by direct action. has resulted
IN largely increased supply TO England o. cot
ton and wheat. Before the railways were built
the wheat and cotton from the interior could
not he transported profitably To the seaboard,
ana frequently vast supplies of wheat We're
buried or burned To get rid of it. Now it can
be easily sent to tide-water at comparatively
small cost from many productive regions,
ana 1t is the supply OF cheap Indian wheat that
mas chiefly caused the great fall i'll price in
Great Britain during the past year. The agri-
cultural laborers in India are content with
from eight To nine cents day, and MANY OF
them can live rice daily cost of less than
two cents. The lands fertile. and the ryot
easily secures Il yield OF from nine to thirteen
primitive fashion OF tilllng the soil, which is
largely followed. The policy of the government
9i India III developing the country through
building railways and other public works is
now bearing fruit in the vast aud growing vol
uIne OF wheat and cotton now finding Il market
III other countries. Ii the great increase in
quantity keeps up for ten years To come in the
ratio II has during the past five years Indian
wheat and cotton are likely to find "a market in
the Seit-board towns in the United States before
many years, our duty on wheat to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
The first Indian railway was built in 1S53
Up to the end OF March. 1888, 1O,3l11. miles of
Indian railway were opened and 2.:}:;:, miles
We're sanctioned and under construction, MAX
ing grand total of 12.6:JOl.. at total cost of
St;sti $500 The present policy OF the govern
mcnt of India is to build about 800 miles of
new railway each year for the next five or six
years. Two main objects are kept in view i'm
constructing the new ilway system: IL protec-
ton against famine, and 90 TO develop the
natural resources of the country. The lament
able mortality OF the last great famine in India
where it is estimated 1000 900 souls persisted
of hunger-could have been largely averted had
there been railway connections between distant
portions of the vast empire.
The Indian wheat trade has develOped ran
idly during the past ten or twelve years. and
this surprising Increase has been the result of
the direct advantages which the SueZ canal
provided in the way of quick and cheap freight
from India. The export OF wheat from India in
1SSI-S2 was 2,99:,116 tons. This enormous
increase in nine years has arisen from the in
creased price which new railways and cheap
freights to England have secured for the wheat
growers of India.
.'In addition to the 10000, 900 acres now
available for wheat cultivation in India it is
estimated that with new railway lines. 5000
600 OF good wheat lands can be opened out in
the Puniab alone, \ competent authority gives
il as hi> opinion that the wheat lands of India
are fully equal in extent to the wheat lands of
the United States.
These facts are important and impressive
and should be duly considered by our people
for as the outlook now appears. the American
market and those of the South American states
must soon mainly provide consumers for our
American wheat. In discussing and adjusting
any future commercial policy in the country
this point should be kept prominently in view
The cheap and abundant labor of India en-
ables those who raise cotton TO produce it at
very low cost. Not only does this apply to the
Inland points. where farm hands or labOrers
are employed. but in large seaboard towns
also. Coolie laborers will work for from
So to Sl.3S month and provide their own
food and lodging. In remote agricultural dis
tricts good labor is obtainable as low as 50 so
per month, including food, or a little over
eight cents "a day. The largest proportion of
this Indian cotton is used the European
continent, where. owing 10 its cheapness an
increasing yearly consumption is taking place
The value OF last years export of cotton from
all lndlan ports was, In round numbers, S1S-
1O2, o9l.
New railways, cheap labor and low freipbtS
have enabled Indian producers to come to the
'front.' as successful competitors in the princip;,I
markets OF the world To such extent i'm fact
that the price of wheat is to-day lower in Great
Britain than IL has been during more. than 1OO
years. With war expeditions almost constantIv
ON the march, calling for immense supplies Ia
keep up the waste of campaigns. with extern
sive railways and other enterprises tostered nv
government going on IN India, ii is clear to see
that all these united sources of demand for SIM
plies, focused upon the manufacturers of
Great Britain, create a market for manu!actur.
ers OF an unprecedented character and in an