Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-18
ENGLAND WILL NOT WEAKEN
EURoPE0ENgRALLYF0R War
Nsrshes,e's Views mr.. Gladstone VIII Main.
tain British Hsner--The Teries VIII Back
ID the Government.


A London special to the Baltimore
american says The prospects Of peace
are no brighter than they were at this
time last week. There is lull in the
war excitement, but this Is due to the
long interval which must necessarily
clapse before a reply can be obtained
by the Government from Sir Peter
Lumsden. There is the hope, which
must ever be present even with the
most rabid anti-Russians, that some
thing will turn up in the mean time to
avert the horrors Of war; but what that
something will be no one ventures to
predict. Rumors are plentiful. Bis
marck is sometimes mentioned as a me-
diator, and the aged Emperor Of Ger
many is often spoken of because Of his
expressed anxiety for peaceful settle
ment Of the trouble. A strong impress
sion prevails that the former. in spite
of a threatened financial collapse in
Berlin, prefers war to peace. lie re-
CARDS Russia as his most dangerous
neighbor-ambitious, grasping, and UNI
scrupulous--and would welcome con-
test in which she might be Inundated
and shorn Of her strength. AS for
Emperor Williams scruples, they are
regarded as sentimental, and senti-
ment, though it has brought on
many wars, has never yet averted one.
had the honor of few moments
conversation this morning with Sir
Stafford Northcote, until recently the
acknowledged leader Of the Conserya-
tive party in the House of Commons.
He said he had scarcely a hope Of a
peaceful settlement Of the Afghan dis
pute. He did not believe that Russia
was sincere in her pacific expressions.
For more than year she had been pre-
pairing for the present emergency, and
though willing to gain her ends peace
fully in the East, had all along contem-
plated hostile meeting with England
as a probability. The Conservatives,
be said, would offer no factious oppo-
sion to the Government, but would
support all proper measures originated
BY it either for a peaceful or hos
tile solution Of the trouble. To al
lege no higher motive, the Government
had drifted into this ENHANCEMENT with
open eyes, and should be forced to
shoulder the responsibility of settling
it. 1t had been publicly known for
many months that Russia was massing
troops along the Afghan border and
building railroad in the direction of
Herat. The same wavering policy pur-
sued in the Soudan had been adopted
until recently in this instance. There
the warnings Of Gordon had been dis
regarded until falling Nile made it
impossible to relieve him, and here
action had been delayed until Herat
was almost in the hands Of the enemy.
1t would be folly for the Conservatives,
as a party measure, to take upon
themselves the conduct of war in
which England was already heavily
handicapped. "But," said he. " Eng
lshmen are not the men to kick
fellow when he is down. Our
honor is at stake. The Government
seems determined to maintain it. Its
measures, since it realized the necessity
for action, have been energetic and to
the purpose. There has been about the
movements Of Mr.. Gladstone thus far
abundance of caution, but no sign of
weakening. The most unrelenting of
war Cabinets could scarcely have done
more. / have no idea that he will yield
anything to the arrogant pretensions Of
Russia or violate the plighted faith given
to the Ameer of Afghanistan. The ru-
mors that this or that strip Of territory
is to be surrendered are utterly base
less. They are the outcroppings of a
public feeling disordered by excitement
and enforced delay, and are to some ex-
tent referable to the very natural suspi-
cions aroused by recent events in Egypt.
/ think Mr.. Gladstone will emerge from
this affair with credit to himself, what
ever may be the outcome, and as an
Englishman. putting party spirit behind
me at such crisis, | sincerely trust he
will. Should he not, however, you may
rest assured that his fall will be imme-
date and final. No ministry can last
an hour which attempts to tamper with
the present decided sentiment of the
country"
Conversations with other members of
the House of Commons, both Conser-
natives and Liberals, convince me that
the statement cabled you last week,
that war was inevitable, is correct as
far as coming events can be foreshad-
owed. and that a declaration of war
Will be published within thirty days at
furthest. Nor is there on the Continent
any violent opposition to fight. The
opinion is almost universal that Russia
is very dangerous and threatening
factor in European politics. 1t is not
credible that the present dynasty will
last twenty years longer, and the UNI
bounded enthusiasm with which all
classes in Russia hail the possibility Of
a struggle with n foreign Power has oc-
casioned no little apprehension in Euro
pean capitals. Released from the gall
ing tyranny which now paralyzes the
physical and mental energies Of the
Russians, in the first flush Of freedom
the Muscovite hordes might pour down
upon the rest Of Europe like an ava
lanche, as did the French a century
ago. and sound the death-knell Of all
existing dynasties. 1t is argued that a
sound drubbing now would place a
wholesome restraint upon the masses
in the event of a sudden collapse of the
Cars Government and measurably
lessen the impending danger Of irrup-
ton. There is every reason to believe
that the British Cabinet and the Sultan
thoroughly understand each other. and
that Turkish troops will be ready to CO.
oper4te with the British against Russia
as soon as they are needed.
THE GEAR LIKELY TO BE INFLU-
ENCED BY EMPEROR WILLIAM
GENERAL KoNARoFF's INFLUENCE
EXPLAINED.
[By cable TO the Dispatch.l
LONDON, April l7.-Seyeral days
must elapse before the Government will
be able to make definite statement of