The Portland daily press., 1885-04-29

10 end IN violence or rupture, we may at least
be able to challenge the verdict OF civilized
mankind, upon review of the correspond
encs and upon review OF the demands and
refusals, to say whether we have or whether
we have not done all that man could do by
every Just and honorable effort to prevent the
plunging of two such countries, with all the
millions that own their sway, into blOodshed
and strife. cloud cheers.) In my opinion,
the question before the committee at this mo-
ment is a simple and very narrow one. What
we present to you is a case for preparation. Is
there or is there not any cause for preparation2
(Cheers.) Look at the facts before us; try
them by that test, and by no other. DO not
urge your own foregone conclusions as to the
misconduct Of Russia or any one. Do not
enter into the judicial part of the case only,
bat also into that part of 1t which is pruden-
tial, and upon that aspect OF the case and that
alone asking for no credit as to the future and
no acquittal as to the past, we say 1t Is case
for preparation. (Cheers.) The facts within
your knowledge are enough to make II your
bounden duty SO to prepare therefor.
II / am asked for more informatlonS
my answer is this: "It is impossible for us
to give you full information. We could not at
this moment open up the correspondence that
has been going on. We could not lay before
you the unsfted information and rumors that
have reached us. We could not enable You By
any possibility to judge OF question that has
not yet reached state OF maturity for 1udg-
The evidence is not complete. The develop
ment is simply going forward. Do not let US
too BangaiDely point to favorable issue. do
not let us despair that reason and justice may
on both sides prevail over narrower and more
unworthy feelings. (Cheers.) We cannot give
you all the information we possess. Ii we did
give it it would not place you in position for
q conclusive Judgment. Were we to give the
past we should infallibly mislead you and
therefore we stand simply upon what is pateDt
and notorious and say that there is in those
patent and notorious facts, with which the
whole world is acquainted, cause and
abundant cause for preparations. Clear!
HsarD
Shall now in very few words sketch rap
idly aud slightly the outlines OF those patent
and notorious facts? The starting point OF our
movement in this case Is our obligation OF
honor to the Ameer who stands between us
and any other consideration OF policy. But
our obligations to him are not absolute. We
are not obliged, and God forbid that We should
ever be obliged, to defend him or anybody
else were he misled into a course OF tyranny
against the just resentment OF his subjects.
We are not bound to sustain him in any course
of evil but we have contingent obligation to
give him our aid and support and think
every one who hears me will say that obliga-
ton should be fulfilled in no stinted manner
(Heari HearD If it really be a living obliga-
tion contingent only upon this one condition,
that his conduct is such that We can honestly
approve it.
That ID the present condition of affairs in
connection with the Ameer of Afghanistan.
have stated distinctly that there have been
full communications between him and the
Viceroy of India, and that the language he
holds and the principles he announces are
those which absolutely entitle him to call on
us to act in concert and in council with him;
to act for him, and so far as we can with him
to protect him in the possession OF his JdSt
rights. (Cheers.)
After detailing how certain portions OF the
Afghan territory have become practically
Russian, the Premier says: We set ourselves
to bring about an agreement with Russia, by
which we hoped ell dangers might in great
degree be neutralized. That agreement was
that Russian troops should not advance or
attack provided the Afghan troops did not ad-
vance or attack. / believe this agreement was
accepted by the House as binding covenant.
1t was very solemn covenant, involving
great issue, and we believed it would be recog-
niZed as one of the most sacred covenants ever
made between two great nations, and that
there would be rivalry between the powers
to sift the incident that followed to the end,
and ascertain how it had come about and who
and where were the persons upon whom the
responsibility for it rested. (Hearl hearD All
this remains in suspense. What happenedY
The bloody engagement OF the SOt9
shall overstate nothing. l shall not
purposey overstate anything. All l say Is
this That that woeful engagement of the Both
of March distinctly showed that one party or
both had either through ill-will or through an
ditions of the engagement. We considered 1t,
and we consider it still, to be the duty of both
countries and above all l will say 1t is for the
honor OF both countries to examine how and
by whose fault this calamity came about.
Those who have caused such an engagement to
fail ought to become known to their own gov
ern ment and 20 each contracting party.
will not say we are even nov in possession OF
all the facts which create in our minds inn
pressons unfavorable TO the conduct OF the
attacking party. The cause of that deplora-
BILE collision may be uncertain and whose was
the provocation is a matter OF the utmost con-
sequence. We know that the attack was
Russian attack. We know the Afghans suf-
fered in life, in spirit and in repute.
We know a blow was struck at
the credit and authority Of a sovereign who is
our protected ally, and who had committed no
offence. All l say is we cannot, in that state
Of things, close this book and say we will look
into it no more. We must do our best to have
right done in this matter. Under these cir
| cumstances there is cause for preparation
| and hope the House will feel with me the
necessity we are under of holding the Soudsn-
| ese funds available for service elsewhere, and
| hope the House will not press upon us de-
| mand for time, which can have no other effect
| than propagatng here and elsewhere belief
| that there is some indecision in the mind Of
| Parliament, loud cheers, whereas l
believe that with one heart and one
soul and one purpose only, while reserving
| absolute liberty of judging the conduct Of the
| government and visiting them with its conse-
| quences the House will go forward to perform
| and meet the demands Of justice and the calls
| of honor, and will be subject only to justice
and to honor, and to labor for the purpose Of
| peace. Loud and general cheers).
The vote to pass the entire credit OF $780,
| 100000 en- bloc to the government, as Glad
stone had requested, was then put from the
| chair, and the credit in this form was at once
| agreed to without discussion, amid loud and
| prolonged cheering from both Sides
| LONDON, April 2S.--The Russians have oc-
| cupied Meruchak, 20 miles south of PeDjdeh,
| on the Murghsb river. The Ameer. while
| Careless about Penideh, attached great impor-
/ tance to Meruchak.
| ST. PETERSBURG, April 2S.-Russia has Or
| dered the mobilization of the Southern army.
1t is estimated that 100000 men will be
available in 40 days.
| BRUSSELS, April pa despatch to the In
| dependence Beige from st. Petersburg says
| council held at the palace today. at which the
| Czar presided, rejected the proposals made by
| M. DeGiers to adopt conciliatory measures to-
ward England.
| The reply of the Russian government to Earl
| Granville firmly maintains the tenor of former
| dispatches.