New-York tribune., 1901-10-09
THE AFGHAN CRISIS.


The scene of international interest shifts
again with startling and tragic suddenness.
China the Persian Gulf, the Balkans and South
Africa are almost forgotten for the moment,
while attention is centred upon Afghanistan.
That rugged land. where fragments of forgot
ten peoples" dwell and where three great
pires meet, has long been regarded as destined
to be some day the scene of Titanic struggle,
in which not nations alone but races, will be
at stake. The day of such an Armageddon, 1t
is to be hoped, has not yet come. Yet the death
Of Abdurrahman Khan has made its dawning
possible as it has not been before for many
year. During the reign of that chieftain there
have been many changes on European thrones.
but not one Of them so momentous to the peace
of the world as this which now occurs at Cabul.
Elsewhere there are constitutions, alliances,
fixed policies and the constraints Of tradition.
of civilization and of international influences.
But in Afghanistan there are only the personal
will and the personal strength of the Ameer.
For years these have been known quantities.
They now become unknown and upon the de-
termination of their value, which must presently
come, will depend immense possibilities.
The late Ameer was called the Great Ameer.
He we'll deserved the title, and will doubtless be
known thereby IN future history. He was great
will, and in his breadth and accuracy of judg-
ment. He great in the power with which
he held the rival and sometimes warning tribes
Of Afghanistan in subsection TO his authority
and welded them into something like the SEM
blance of a united nation. There were no
Ameers Of Herat or Of Kandahar in Abdurrah-
mans reign. He was great IN his recognition
and Introduction of the arts OF civilization into
his half barbaric realm. But greatest Of all was
he, perhaps, in the success with which he main
tanned the independence and integrity Of Af
ghanistan between the two remorseless mill
stones of Russia and British India. A lesser
ruler would have sought safety-as he would
have supposed-in throwing himself into the
arms of one of the powers, and thus would
have invited the sure hostility of the other
Abdurrahman did not take that course but
while he was an ally, and a loyal ally, Of
Great Britain maintained that alliance on terms
which were void Of offence to Russia and
which constrained Great Britain to be constant
ly on its good behavior toward him. If. during
his reign, Russia made any advance toward the
border of British India the fault was not his
but that of the British Government Of that
time.
The questions Of supreme Importance now are
concerning his successor. Is Habibullah Khan
strong enough to hold the Afghan tribes be-
meath his sway? Will he be able to withstand
the insidious or the open attacks which Russia
may make upon the northern borders? Will he
succeed in preventing revolt and in suppressng
pretenders to the throne? There are more pre-
tenders than One just over the border, backed
by Russian diplomacy and Russian gold, who
are likely to seize upon this opportunity for
pushing their claims. OF Abdurrahman they
had wholesome terror. We shall see if Habi-
bullah is able to exert upon them a similar re-
straint. It must be said that all we know of
him is favorable He was long ago selected by
his father for the succession to the throne not
only because of primogeniture but also because
of his superior qualifications. He specially
trained by his father for the Ameership and
for some years has actually been a sort of CO.
sovereign with Abdurrahman, at all times exer-
cising imperial sway, and for extended
periods doing so alone and absolutely though
he had already succeeded his father. There
was at such times, of course always behind
him the mighty figure Of his father, ready to
assert himself whenever necessary. That sup
port will now be lacking. But there is reason
to hope that the lessons learned and the expert
ence gained will enable the Ameer to bear
sway at Cabul, and over Herat and Kandahar
with the same wisdom, authority and success
that marked his predecessors reign.