New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-26
JUr U.lR ~ THE EAST.

Tie troubles in Afghlnstan are undoubtedly
serious only fIagmcntary news oil them has
been transmitted hihor, but II isssuilicient to
Indicate clearly the desperate state of affairs
which now prevails. Little by little the Amer
ha, cmbroilcd himself now with this tribe. now
with that until almost every province of his
ro,lu i # war. Nor are the disturbances alto
ccthcr domestic. On the eastern frontier the
standards Of foreign war have been raised rs
well. II was there indeed that the trouble
began The Amcer stroyc 10 establish his an
,ho,ity over the classic hills and dalcS of swat
and the adjacent regions bordering on British
India 20 aggressive was he that the lndlan
Goycrnmcnt had to check him by the use of
very plain language and an actual display of
military force on the road from Pcshawar 10
Cabul. In thc meantime llazaIajat reyolted.
This is the chief Of the central provinces oil
Afghanistan. occupying the very heart OF the
country. And while peace for the moment
reign, at the Khyber Pass, and the AiridS are
oIict the rebels Of lIazara seem 10 be gaming
ground every day. The Amer has sent against
Them half Of the garrison of Cabul, and has
called to his aid large irregular evicS OF troops,
dcspitc which efforts the rebellion is making
steady and omnouS progress.
The marrcllng Of these haf-ciyilzcd tribes
would signify little to the rest of the world
we're it not for the peculiar position when they
occupy AfghaniStan is the last remaining
.. buffer State between the British and Russian
empires Russian aggression has already re-
duced its compass in the northwest, while BRIT
ish influence is desperately cxerted at Cabul
to hold the Amer loyal to his British alliance
Since he owes his throne and his income en-
tirely to England, the Amer should he con
strained by gratitude To maintain that alliance
But gratitude is unknown to his dcceltiul healt
and he unqucstonably stands ready to yield
himself up to the highest bidder. just now he
is i'm a Surly mood toward England Tor check
ING his designs in Kairstan. He has refused
an offer of conference and arbitration on the
frontier question, and might even he mad
enough to come to al open rupture, were 1t not
for the outbreak in IIazarajat The latter he
cannot ignore, nor can he allow anything to
stand between him and speedy settlement OF
if For he is not the undiSputed monarch OF
homogeneous realm. He is the tituar Soyer-
oirn Of "A number of Earring and warning tribes,
some of which scarcely recognize his authority
At all, and none of which is Loyalty devoted to
him. He has kept his place only by shreWdly
hitting one tribe against another. and he well
knows that such an insurrecton as the present
may at any time destroy his unstable equl-
Gbrium and cast him from the throne Of Cabul.
| In the meantime while he is snaring at his
nolitcal creator and desperately battling against
| rebellion. his great enemy at the north Is watch
ful and ready to strike whenever the moment
seems opportune. Ishak Khan is at Merry, with
Russia behind him. He is not only claimant
IN the throne, but he is a claimant whose title
is about as good as that of the present occu-
pant and whose personal popularity through
ont Afghanistan is far greater than any which
| Abdurrahman has ever enjoyed. A few moro
successes on the part of the IIazaraS would
hiring into alliance with them all the tribes of
the northwest, including the city of IIcrat.
Should they then call in Ishak Khan and pro-
claim him Ameer, the days of Abdurrahman 5
,cign would be numbered, unless indeed Eng
land should send an army TO his rescue. That
England would do so is quite improbable Yet