The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-25

from the Russian government this declaration
covers the point of honor involved Sir Peter
Lumsden's dispatches had made the whole case
plain. There is not an Engishman outside tho
Peace at any price Society who does not feel
that nothing short Of a complete disavowal OF
General Komaroff by his government and
complete restoration of the status quo can pre-
vent an almost immediate declaration OF war
That is the feeling to day. You will have had
abundant accounts of it as interpreted by the
press. But the press is as much governed by
its sense of the gravity of the case as Mr.. Glad
stone himself, and in most cases its words are
measured with equal care. Not, think, because
the writer's believe there will be any occasion to
modify violent expressions, but because violent
expressions are instlnctively put aside Dy the
more serious journals as untitled to be used on
the probable eve of gigantic contest.
Bitterly, indeed, must Mr.. Gladstone regret
that he gave credence to that hollow profession
OF Russian faith known as the arrangement" by
which the Russians in Afghanistan were to stand
fast Everybody quotes the terms of it to-day
and every body, including, doubt not, Mr.. Glad
stone himself, stands amazed that any human
being with the least experience of Russian ideas
and Russian methods of diplomacy, could have
been imposed upon by piece of craft so trans
parent as this. What Iquoted to you from NJ
Lessar will have shown You the humorous view
which the Russians themselves took of the mat
ter. The climax is reached in the declaration
Of the Russian chief Of staff on the kushk, that
he knew nothing of the strict order not to ad
vance or attack which, as his government as
sured the British government, had been sent to
General komarof and would be; repeated. But
comment on that may be postponed until NJ. de
Giers answers the question which Lord Gran
vile has put to him by telegraph.
Sir Peter Lumsden is probably as good man
as could have been found for the difficult post
he holds on the Afghan frontier. A hard headed
Scot is the description his friends delight to give
him. He is ffty-six years old, the SON of a
soldier. and himself soldier from his youth up
yyap nd lie 70 hoch hoo IN ha Eact Ia
served during the Indian mutiny; then in the
China war of 1860, where he contrived again to
bear a share in all the multifarious fighting that
went on. Then he rose to oe major general in
the Indian army and member of the Indian
Council In the latter capacity his experience
of civil affairs wide. Since ne has been in
charge of the Afghan Boundary Commission the
government have leaned on him with complete
confidence, and there is but one account of the
completeness with which he has justified it. He
journeyed to the scene OF his labors by way of
IlfiS, leaving London at the beginning of Octo
Der, meeting that Russian fire brand, Prince
DonoukoH korsakoff, route, breakfasting
with hint must have been grim meal-and
arriving ON the Afghan frontier by the LIST of
November, the appointed date. General Zelenoy,
also he met as he travelled The Russian COM
missioner, instead of going with him, betoek
himself to St Petersburg for further orders a
step which, followed as it was by his unex-
planned and prolonged absence, ought l think,
long Stree to have opened English eyes to Rus
sias real purpose.
Sir Peter Lumsden none the less entered upon
his work: spent five months amid the SHOWS and
almost arctic cold of those Central Asian
hills, surveying the whole country be-
tween the Murghab and Heri-Rud. His
armed escort does not exceed 400 men.
Like the mighty sportsman he is, he
relieved his labors with the theodolite by much
shooting of pheasants. His private letters de-
scribe the sport as better than anything known
in England. His reports to the government,
meantime, were models of soldiery and diplo-
matte correspondence. Terse lucid and always
to the point, say those whose who have read
them. He states facts, expresses his opinion
them, never argues gives results and rot pro-
cesses, accepts the full responsibility of his
views, and stood ready at any moment to act on
them. Over the Afghans he speedily acquired
an influence, and even won the confidence of
that mos suspicious Of peoples. Between him
and s1s 1sere eating Muscovite colonels descending
through the desert upon Afghan lands there is
perhaps but one point in common. They may
both be trusted to give good account of them
selves when it to fighting.