The morning call., 1894-10-16

porter of the Associated Press in regard
to the illness of the Ameer of Afghanis-
tan. Said be:
'Should the question of succession arise
there Will certainly be serious trouble at
Cabul between the opposing parties, one
favorlng the succession of the elder son,
Sardar Habi-Bulla, the child of a wife of
low rank, who has already held a sort of
power at Cabul. The second party sup
ports the younger royal wife in the interest
Of her son, who is child. Upon a for
mer occasion, when the Amesr's death
was expected. this Queen mother made
preparations to seize the treasury and
gain the adhesion of the army. If the
Ameer dies the Europeans at Cabul will
be in danger from the fanatical attitude
of AfghanistaD, which is only suppressed
through the personal influence of the
Ameer.
1.-THE situation will cause the greatest
anxiety TO the Government OF Iudia. The
summoning of a special council is a very
unusual proceeding. and it is evident that
the Earl of Elgin considers the situation
10 be grave"
Abdurrahman Khan has long been one
of the most picturesque figures in Central
Asla-a leading actor on that stage whose
audience comprises the world Whether
as beggar for Russian ciemency or an
acceptor of English gold, refugee from
the wrath of his cousin. the son of Shere
Ali, or the ruler of Afghanistan, and as
such the chief bulwark of the English In
dian empire against the aggression of the
White Gar, the eyes of all men have fol-
lN s,a1 I'D d
his affairs were the worlds affairs and
that his wars might one day be the worlds
wars.
Abdurrahman Khan was the son of the
brother of Shere Ali, Ameer of Afghanis-
tan and friend of the English, and during
the civil war of 1864. when his father
AfZul Khan, would have seized the
reins of power suDposititously in the
interest of Russia, the son took leading
part on the side of his father and gained
several victories. Two great battles at
least were due directly to his ability as
military leader, and upon his fathers tenn
pnrary success in the north he was made
Governor OF Balkh and cemented his
power with the tribes by marrying the
daughter of the chief of the Bodak shan.
His power waned, however, and Yakoub
Khan. son of Shere ALI. beat him badly at
Baigab. and decisively at .Tinah Khan,
forcing him to cross The frontier and seek
refuge with the Russians. He was
kindly received, naturally. He was
OF the Afghan royal house, and
many of the tribesmen had followed
him to war. and would follow
him again when time served. General
Kaufman received the exile at Samarcand,
allowing him $4,000 rubles a year, and
Russia held a trump card in the game of
Central Asian affairs.
AT Samarcand Abdurrahman remained
until 1879. when he slowly made bis way
through Balkh to the Cabul frontier, with
the help of Russia it is certain, and with
almost equal certainty by the conniyance
of England. The shrewd Afghan was
playing both sides. and inclined at last to
the side Of the heaviest purse. In 1880 he
was formally chosen by the leading men of
Cabul as Ameer of Afgbanistan. and the
choice was ratified by the Indian Govern
ment, which also gave him a subsidy Of
e160,000 year. The English purse was
the heavier. and Abdurrahman accepted
the role Of defender of the Northern In-l
dian frontier. What complications vii
follow his death it is impossible to foresee,
but in the present disturbed state of Asia
they are more than apt TO be serious.