The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-25

at his own sweet will. Under such sys-
tenn it is necessary that the ruler should
take an interest in his country, and that
the government should be composed OF
men of ability and extreme honesty. But
tn Shah, like all eastern sovereigns, is
not in touch with the people, and is en-
tirely in the hands of his encourage. The
administration, from the relations OF the
Shah downwards, is corrupt. The posts
of governor of provinces are sold quite
openly, and almost at auction. and the
official appointed endeavors to extract in
the course Of a single year from the ter
ritory under his control the money which
he expended in securing the position.
'As for the sovereign. it is impossible
for him TO curb the proceedings of mis-
people. for ne has no troops. 1t is true
that an army exists on paper, but the
Shah is an irregular payer. and therefore
the soldiers are not trained. as they are
obliged, in order 10 obtain subsistence, TO
follow other occupations than the mill
tary one, with which, as a matter OF
fact, they have no connection except in
name.
"As for the population Of the country,
plundered and ruined. they have lost all
sense of national pride. A succession of
exceptionally severe winters has killed
off nearly all the cattle, and this increases
the difficulties of the unfortunate Per-
slams. Even If the government had
wished the peope-a thing, however,
which never happens-t,ley could not have
done So because the wealth OF the Shah
which al one time was enormous, is now
exhausted.
For these reasons the eyes Of the more
enlightened classes are directed to the
north, towards Russia, and in the south
towards England. Disturbances have all
ready occurred at Shiraz and other places,
and these are ominous signs, from which
it may be predicted that the ancient en-
pire of Iran will soon become the prey
Of Russia and England. The northern half
will go to the former, and the southern
TO the latter. It is impossible not TO
perceive indications that the British cab
met has for a long time desired this OBJ
ject and to that end built the railway
from Quota to Seistan. It is also quite
comprehensive that Russia should inter
est herself in the future of Persia, and
should employ all her efforts 70 subdue
Khorassan and the other Persian prov
inces near the Russian frontier.
at appears 10 me that the settlement OF
the Persian q/Istion Will not lead to any
difficulties, the more so as Russia recog-
nizes that Baluchistan is within the Eng
lisil sphere of influence and mas no desire
to dispute the fact
'As for Afghanistan. that is different
thing. and a more serious one. Neither
England nor Russia can rest indifferent
TO the question as to which shall rule
Afghanistan after the death of the pres
ent Ameer, VINO has been i'll for a dong
time past AS soon as The dies, doubtless
there will he revolts arising out of the
of the throne, which the son
of the Ameer and the other pretenders
will contend for among themselves. II
is to be presumed that England will back
up the claims Of her candidate. Mas
rulla Khan; that she will occupy Kabul
with troops, and will concentrate her mill
tary forces at Kandahar. Nor is it 20
be doubted that Russia will take similar
steps by occupying Herat and sending
troops into Afghan Turkestan. In the
meantime. the Afghan question is bound
20 become more and more acute, and the
slightest thing may precipitate a catas-
trophe. the more so as Russia is seeking
an outlet 10 the ocean for her Central
Asiatic possessions, and must. therefore,
sooner or later encounter Great Britain.
It is only to be hoped that prudence will
dominate the affair, and that the encoun-
ter Will not be an armed one. london
Telegraph ST. Petersburg Correspondence.