St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-10
TIE .4NGIo-Rnss1AN nan


when he said war between England and
Russia was inevitable. Those who expected to
see the Russian retreat from a position which
he was supposed to have taken with tentative
views only will be disappointed by the news
OF yesterdays battle Notwithstanding all
the pacific assurances that have recently
been coming from St. Petersburg, the chip
has been knocked from the Afghan's shout
der and to England is presented the alterna-
tive OF fight or foot race To those who
have been studying the signs of the English
times it has been entirely clear that England
has been ready, if not willing, for the con-
flict for some time past. When the English
premier related to the house of commons
not long ago the several steps that had been
taken with Russia, on the Afghanistan
boundary question. there was gloom and
lmpressiveness in his manner which indi-
Gated plainly enough that there was in his
mind, at least, no hope of averting the calam-
ity of war 1t was stated at the time that
the queen had sent a confidential messenger
to Mr.. GLADSTONE urging definite action.
Recruiting has been going on all the while
in India and the British press has been tax
| ing it for granted that a great struggle was
to take place.
Russia, on the other hand, has been doing
all the work toward pacifcation with her con-
! tinued protestations of good intent This
sort of policy, however, has been in exact
line of experience that is naturally credited
to an aggressor. Russias desire was to de-
ceive England and throw her off guard until
the time should come to strike the first blow
AS long as the Russian empire remains intact
| there must be pressure downward toward
India. The opportunity has been watched
so that when England has been engaged in
other directions, the pressure has been in
creased with the hope of breaking through as
remote possibility, or of advancing the
Russian lines little further toward the goal
| During BEACoNsFIELD's administration very
little Roadway was made because that
astute Semitic was fully equal to the
master Of oblique diplomacy and was
quite up to the method of checking Russian
intrigue by theatrical demonstration, which
was effective because all the world knew the
jingo spirit behind him. The time for Rus
| England is engaged with her Irish troubles.
She is engaged in the preposterous Soudan
undertaking, and her Canadian dominions
are in commotion over the half-breed upris-
ing. If Russia ever intends to test the English
grit more favorable opportunity will never
be presented. 1t is altogether likely, however,
Russia will get all she wants. We have seen
| 70 In fIof H. 4 f6-b+ 4
now she is compelled to do it.
| So the war may be regarded as commenced
The Russian attack yesterday on the At
ghans, on the banks of the Kush, was the
initial battle of what promises to be the most
| desperate conflict of modern times. There
is no telling when and where it will end.
There is no certainty that every European
power will be drawn into it. The proba-
| 5ilities are that they will sooner or
later be aligned on one side or the
other-either allied with Russia or combined
with England While, with fearful eyes, We
look across the waters and deplore the useless
slaughter that must follow, still with bowed
heads and submissive hearts, regrettng our
inability to avert the calamity, we feel that it
| Is our uuty W take advantage OIL Ine clrcum-
stances over which we have no control. and
fill our American Golfers with the ducats we
hope to receive in return for the breadstuffs
and military supplies that we are ready to
furnish to the belligerents. 1t is an i'll wind
that blows no good, and our sails are set to
catch all the breezes of profit that may blow
from the field of European misfortunes. If,
contrary to our wishes and advice, the war
must come, then we repeat in the emphatic
language OF the eloquent HENRY-'let it
| comeln