The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17
and welghty matters connected with the


and weighty matters connected with the
internal administration of my country"
Previous to this the eldest son had held
his own durbarS, conducted with the same
pOmp and ceremony as those of the Amer
himself, and the younger brothers, who all
had their separate houses in Kabul, were
required to attend these durbars just as
they did the fathers. and in this and in
many other ways, without any formal
recognition of him as the successor to the
Afghan throne, Habibullah long ago came
to be regarded as the one in practical train
ing for the position.
There is something very simple and di-
verting in the Oriental cunning with which,
while thus deliberately indicating his eldest
sons future and actually training him for
1t he declined TO make any declaration on
the subject. There is much criticism and
difference Of opinion as TO who will be my
successor on the throne of Cabul," he said.
Many guesses are made and people wonder
why L do not openly and publicly declare
my successor. On this question. however,
not only are foreigners kept in the dark,
but even my own countrymen and relations
have not been told my intentions"
And all the time he had little by little
been devoting upon the eldest son almost
all the functions of the throne and putting
his brothers in subordinate positions, re-
curing them to take their Instructions
TO him. And the Ameer was, of course, per-
fectly well aware of the inference that
would be drawn from this, and, indeed, in
tended it.
WHY The WAS NOT AN
NOUNCED.
"I have reason" he said, "for not MAX
ing any public declaration on this question
to ignorant, uncivilized people, but for the
information OF those who are gifted with
wisdom, diplomacy and common sense I
have given out very plainly and publicly
who is to be my heir by my action and the
practical work OF administration Of the
-,,AIs1 - 90 49, l~s.rI1-o rT1,ara -.
numerous reasons why 1 do not wish to
make any public declaration"
And the Ameer goes on to enumerate
some of them, apparently under the cur
ious impression that these reasons do not
apply to the case in which the heir is not
proclaimed, but manifestly put into train
ing. 1t has frequently occurred that the
life of an heir TO a throne has been en-
dangered, and therefore he prefers to con-
ceal his Intentions. There is the case of
his predecessor, Shere Ali; when he had
named his heir his other sons rebelled
against him. That was quite enough to
prevent him following the example. He
goes on very piously to point out that 'of
course the throne is the property of the
Almighty King of Kings, our Creator, who
appoints Kings as shepherds to guard His
flock" Abdur Rahman, therefore. leaves
II 10 Him to elect whOmScever He will,
though he evidently thought il advisable to
make every preparation for the possibility
of the choice falling where he himself would
AAdN6 u AaAA- A4Q NtSAOCEs lnOSt MIC KNEW
Afghanistan and its affairs knew tina il
was a constitutional country and the peo-
pie had full authority TO choose their own
rulers. He had, by the way, even after he
had himself reached the throne, TO do hf-
teen years of hard fighting before he fin
ally broke down all opposition. Neverthe-
less, IL was a constitutional government,
and he had often noticed that Kings who
had been forced upon the people against
their will had lost their kingdoms, and their
heads, too 1t would. therefore, be ridicu-
lous 10 force one Of his sons upon the
Afghans against their viii. II was best TO
leave IL for them to decide. Then, again,
examples were not wanting in history in
which, after nomination. heirs TO thrones
had put an end to the lives of their faith
ers 10 hasten their own time of ruling, and
he did not want TO cause disputes and
quarreis among his own family during his
lifetime. If they would only be wise and
stick 10 one of my sOns"-he scrupulous-
~ refrains from saying ~which-and be
united and one-hearted among themselves.
there would be no fear of the public peace
being broken.
For these reasons Abdur Rahman had
never ventured 10 name his heir. and pre-
ferred TO keep IL a profound secret. Mr..
NOW Lord CurZon," he says, was the
first European who found out what my
views on the subject were. In a humorous