The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-05-08
ENGLAND's SHADOWS.

IL locks very much as though there were
to be no Anglo-Russian war. Premier
Gladstone has apparently sacrificed every
thing else to avoid Q war with Russia, and
the cloud that looked 80 dark week ago has
now = silver lining from circumference to
center. The peace policy, Of which Glad
stone Is the advocate and exponent, has
carried the day and jingoism Is disappointed.
II does not look to MS that England has
maintained It's prestige, or even it's honor, In
the past year, and that although not really
SO, this will 60 into history IS Its greatest
humiliation. There appears nothing In re-
lief, either in principle, diplomacy or feats
Of arms On the dark page Of its Egyptian
record. From the causeless destruction Of
Alexandra to the abandonment of the Sou
dan after Gordon's sacrifice, there is not one
incident that reflects credit on the govern
ment. The valor Of English soldiers on
fields Of useless sacrifice but emphasizes the
imbecility or supineness Of the authorities
who, with illimItasle means and eager
armies, FILTERED away the lives Of Its heroes
against the hordes of Egypt, aud gave up the
contest almost under the guns Of Its feet.
The colossal peril which threatened its in
tegrity in Afghanistan shielded 1t temporsri.
ly from the deserved criticism this abandon
ment invoked; but now that, In view Of the
murderous rout of Its Afghan allies holding
the English frontier at Penjdeb; the naughty
mil I'LL q ha
affair was discrejiled and Sir Peter Lums-
denis called for; the proclaimed authentica-
ton Of Russian aggression by the latter; the
extensive war preparations INDUCED In; the
war loan of eleven million pounds at the So
licitation of the ministry; the favorable ais
lance with Turkey and the crippling poverty
of Russia, that has made no concessions, ad-
missions or apology, the back down Of Eng
land, aud the recall of Lumsden and Stew
art, the Soudan affair seems but an ordinary
incident In q general policy Of humiliation.
While 1t Is doubtless the fact that Gladstone
was never in sympathy with the spirit that
led to the Egyptian troubles, there was but
one proper thing for England to do when
once in for the war and that was TO relieve
Gordon and suppress the Mahdi. And while
he may not be in sympathy with D'Israeli's
theory Of Q scientific frontier" for India in
the mountains Of Afghanistan, England is
to that policy; has a boundry
engaged in establishing 1t and is
In alliance with Afghan to maintain 1t.
Pending this, Russia encroaches on neutral
ground, kills q few hundred English allies,
refuses TO have the action of Its commanding
officer investigated; threatens to capture the
ate of India; masses Its troops in the south;
tries TO borrow war money and fails, but
keeps up a bold front, snd-England weak.
ems. Gladstone Is a great man and q good
man, but he Is not the man TO handle Eng
land creditably through a crisis like that
which has been and lie upon 1t. Information
III arbitration has Its merits, but 1t has come
Too late in this Instance for England to &C
cept 1t without loss Of prestige, and 1t may
be Of power; for Russia will now only accept
such arbitration rs II can take advantage of
IN the future. 1t may be that the sacrifice
IF Lumsden and arbitration will not avert
war, but even If it does the day Is but de-
erred, and those Of the Gladstone ministry
ire clouded and numbered. England has
90 much pride to TRANQUILITY chew in the
:ud Of reflection the events Of the past year.